Fortinet opens USD $30m cybersecurity hub in Calgary

Fortinet has opened a USD $30 million cybersecurity innovation hub in downtown Calgary, expanding its Canadian footprint with a third campus.

The eight-storey, 122,000-square-foot building was acquired in September 2024. It will house a cloud point of presence, a cybersecurity community hub, a customer experience centre and a training facility.

The move builds on Fortinet's 26-year presence in Canada, where it already has campuses in Burnaby and Ottawa. Calgary was selected with support from the Government of Alberta, Invest Alberta and Calgary Economic Development.

The site is intended to bring security services closer to organisations in Alberta while supporting local data sovereignty and compliance requirements. Fortinet also plans to use it to test and validate security tools for critical infrastructure operators facing cyber threats.

Canada expansion

Fortinet's investment comes as governments and businesses place greater emphasis on protecting operational technology and critical infrastructure. Demand for expertise in these areas was one factor behind the Calgary project.

The new hub also reflects broader competition among Canadian cities to attract technology investment tied to cloud infrastructure, digital services and specialist training. Alberta has been working to raise its profile in those fields, with provincial agencies backing the Calgary site.

Inside the building, the customer experience centre is designed as a meeting point where customers, partners and industry figures can work with Fortinet staff on security issues. The training facility will provide hands-on cybersecurity education focused on skills development and awareness.

Fortinet is also creating a scholarship with the University of Calgary. Under the programme, one student studying computer science or engineering will receive GBP £3,000 a year for five years based on academic merit.

The award will support students in computer science, data science, computer engineering and software engineering. Fortinet described the scholarship as part of its effort to support local technology talent development.

Robert May, Executive Vice President of Technology and Product Management at Fortinet, linked the new site to closer engagement with customers and partners in Alberta.

"Having a dedicated, company-owned space in Alberta will enable closer collaboration with customers and partners across the province, providing a modern environment designed for innovation and future growth. The launch of our Customer Experience Centre further strengthens this by giving customers direct, hands-on access to our technology and expertise," said Robert May, Executive Vice President of Technology and Product Management at Fortinet. "Together, these investments demonstrate our long-term commitment to Canada and our focus on delivering real, tangible value to the organizations we support."

Public backing

Provincial officials and development agencies presented the investment as a sign of Alberta's appeal to international technology companies.

"Alberta is proud to recognize Fortinet and celebrate this milestone and major investment in the province. Investments like this diversify our economy, build a stronger workforce, and help Alberta withstand global economic uncertainty. We look forward to seeing our technology sector grow and thank Fortinet for the trust they've put in Alberta," said Joseph Schow, Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration of Alberta.

Invest Alberta said the project adds digital infrastructure as well as training resources to the province's technology base.

"Today's announcement marks another important milestone in Alberta's emergence as a global technology and innovation destination. Fortinet's investment brings together cutting-edge cybersecurity capabilities, world-class talent development, and critical digital infrastructure that will serve customers across Canada and around the world. This project showcases what can be achieved through a Team Alberta approach and reinforces our commitment to helping innovative companies choose Alberta to invest, grow, and succeed," said Keith Bradley, Acting CEO of Invest Alberta.

Calgary Economic Development pointed to the city's talent pool and business network as factors in the decision.

"Fortinet's decision to invest in Calgary reflects what more global companies are discovering: this is a place where you can find the talent, partnerships and momentum to build what's next. By bringing critical cybersecurity and cloud infrastructure to Calgary, Fortinet is helping create the conditions that allow ambitious companies to grow, scale and have global impact from the Blue Sky City," said Brad Parry, President and CEO of Calgary Economic Development.