Brain gain: Why global tech talent is choosing Canada

5 researchers and tech workers share why they are building their careers here.

For decades, the United States has attracted the world’s best and brightest in tech. But with recent funding cuts to research organizations, cancellation of international student visas and political pressure on post-secondary institutions south of the border, many skilled workers are considering its neighbour to the north.

Canada could be on the verge of a significant brain gain. In a recent poll of 1,200 U.S.-based scientists conducted by Nature, three-quarters reported that they’re considering relocating, and their top choices are Canada and the EU. Canadian recruiters report a surge in inquiries from not just the U.S. but from around the world, and institutions and companies are seeing an influx of international candidates.

Here, five researchers and professionals share why they’re choosing to work in Canadian tech.

Since moving to Canada in January, Evan Shelhamer has published several AI projects with collaborators from B.C., Quebec and Ontario.

Evan Shelhamer, 35

The big move: In January 2025, Shelhamer traded San Francisco, Calif., for Vancouver.

The new role: Assistant professor at the University of British Columbia in the computer science department, a faculty member at the Vector Institute and a Canada CIFAR AI Chair. “I work on deep learning and vision so that machines can learn to recognize useful information in visual data,” he explains.

The motivating factor: “I came here to work on the future I want — a future with a more collaborative and open approach to researching and developing artificial intelligence. I am working on pursuing open science in machine learning and computer vision; I want there to be more models in more hands rather than fewer models controlled by a few groups. And Canada and the Canadian AI community from coast to coast to coast offer the opportunity to make scientific progress, apply it and share it.”

Isabella Batten spent a summer in Toronto at the age of 21, and “had fallen in love with the city, its culture and its people,” she says. She jumped at the chance to work at a Toronto biotech startup.

Isabella Batten, 29

The big move: Batten left Dublin, Ireland in February 2025 and now calls Toronto home.

The new role: Batten works in research and development at biotech startup Noa Therapeutics.

The motivating factor: “With my background in medical science, the opportunities for professional growth in Canada are truly unparalleled. It’s recognized as a global leader in therapeutics and drug discovery, with most of the world’s top pharmaceutical companies — including Pfizer, Novartis, Roche and Johnson & Johnson — maintaining a strong presence here,” she says. “I knew that gaining experience in this environment would open career paths that simply aren’t as accessible in Ireland. What also attracted me here, compared to other global biotech leaders, was Canada’s inclusive work culture and views on work-life balance — factors that are increasingly important to me as I build a meaningful and sustainable career.”

The strength of Canada’s AI ecosystem was a major factor in Dieter Büchler’s decision to immigrate. “Amii was one of the first institutes to fully focus on AI, and it has been very successful in supporting AI researchers and connecting them with industry,” he says.

Dieter Büchler, 38

The big move: Büchler left Tübingen, Germany and settled in Edmonton last November.

The new role: Assistant professor at the University of Alberta, research group leader for Max-Planck Institute for intelligent systems, fellow at the AI institute Amii and CIFAR AI Chair.

The motivating factor: “I came to Canada to join one of the most active and renowned departments for reinforcement learning,” he says, adding that the opportunity to bring “more real-world robotics to this department and collaborate with the famous members of the computing science department was a wonderful prospect. It made the decision easy.”

Jackie Nolan has noticed a key difference in working for a Canadian company. It encourages “a broader, more global mindset,” she says, “while still being grounded in real-world impact.”

Jackie Nolan, 31

The new role: Nolan began working remotely as a sales engineer for Vancouver-based Novarc Technologies in January 2024.

The motivating factor: “The decision to join a Canadian company wasn’t just about a new job. It was about joining a forward-thinking team that’s helping shape the future of manufacturing,” she says. “Before researching Novarc, I didn’t know much about Canada’s tech ecosystem but quickly found out it has a lot to offer. There’s a real emphasis on innovation without losing sight of values like inclusion, balance and sustainability.”

Serial founder Sandeep Giri cites Canada’s diverse and inclusive culture as “a key factor in my decision to move.”

Sandeep Giri, 44

The big move: Two years ago, Giri relocated from Bangalore, India to Oakville, Ont.

The new role: A serial entrepreneur, Giri decided to build his latest company, an AI education platform called CloudxLab, in Canada.

The motivating factor: “Canada’s reputation for its diverse and inclusive culture was a key factor in my decision to move,” he says. “I was particularly drawn to the strong emphasis on innovation, the collaborative spirit within the industry and the significant opportunities for growth and development in emerging technologies.”

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