Advanced Manufacturing in

Prince Edward Island

PEI’s Advanced Manufacturing Sector Snapshot

Opportunity is waiting in the Advanced Manufacturing sector in Prince Edward Island.  The manufacturing industry is rooted in the Island’s history, as the sector has grown so has its innovation and use of technology. PEI is now home to advanced Manufacturing companies that produce a variety of goods including packing materials, food & beverage products, marine technology, aerospace products & parts, and pharmaceuticals, contributing over 650 Million to the Island’s GDP.¹

In PEI companies benefit from our geographical location, stable economy, access to a skilled workforce, and increasing export potential.

    Competitive Advantages: 

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    Industry Landscape

    A diverse, innovative sector producing a variety of goods for export in sub sectors such as, Cleantech, Food & Beverage, Marine & Aerospace, Bioscience and more!

    Talent

    Home to a skilled workforce and post-secondary training programs supporting talent-pipeline development.

    Cost Effective Location & Business Supports

    A  cost effective location for business supported by a vibrant diverse, growing economy, industry expertise, and strategic funding supports. 

    A Place to Live that Works

    Beautiful and safe communities, minimal traffic, more affordable housing and a quality of life that is second to none.

    INDUSTRY LANDSCAPE

    Advanced Manufacturing companies in diverse subsectors like clean tech, aerospace & defense, marine technologies, bioscience and food development & Production grow and succeed in PEI due to strong partnerships between industry, government, and post-secondary institutions. Creating an ecosystem that supports increased innovation and competitiveness in the sector and market expansion.

     

    • Manufacturing companies contributed over $700 million to the Island GDP.²
    • Over 7,000 people currently work in the manufacturing sector in PEI.
    • The Island’s manufacturing industry has expanded fort the 12th consecutive year, growing by 6.6% in 2021.
    • The province is home to the University of Prince Edward Island’s School of Sustainable Design and Engineering – providing graduates the skills needed to support industry innovation.
    • West Royalty Industrial Park100-acre site home to adiverse mix of manufacturing and service businesses – leased space from 1,500 – 33,000 square feet
    • Slemon Parkhome to five aircraft hangers ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 square feet and an operational airport with over 8,000 feet of runway. Tenants also enjoy amenities like onsite residents, hotel accommodations and food service.
    • Charlottetown Airport Business Park Located minutes from downtown Charlottetown, the Airport Business Park is located at PEI’s only commercial airport. The Charlottetown airport is operational 24/7 and home to two runways, 5,000’ and 7,000’, three taxiways and two parking aprons.
    • Aerospace & Defence Tax RebateA tax rebate incentive for qualified aerospace and defence-related companies offers a full yearly rebate on all corporate income tax paid to the province of Prince Edward Island.

    In Good Company

    "Our company’s rural setting offers advantages not necessarily seen in larger urban centres. With staff living in close proximity and in rural setting themselves, they get to know each other. This creates a tight-knit community within the workplace and with it comes a greater sense of ownership and pride in everything they do. - Thane Smallwood, General Manager of PEI Bag Co.

    TALENT

    Skilled + Knowledgeable Talent

    The industry now employs over 7,000 individuals in PEI

    Loyal Workforce

    The average job tenure in PEI is over 8.5 years!

    PEI's Talent Pipeline

     

    • Home to two post-secondary institutions – training, and upskilling key talent for the advanced manufacturing industry.
    • 21 public post-secondary institutions to draw from in the Atlantic Canada region, 19 within a five-hour drive from PEI! 
    • A talent draw base of over 79,000 skilled individuals employed in Atlantic Canada’s manufacturing labour force.³
    • Access to the permanent Atlantic Immigration Program to support faster hiring of international graduates and internationally trained talent.
    • PEI’s Apprenticeship Program combines on-the-job training with classroom learning to provide learners with a certification in a designated skilled trade. 

    PEI’s Post-Secondary Institutions & Training Partners

    Cost Effective Location & Business Supports

    Prince Edward Island prides itself on providing its companies with the most advanced frameworks to support company growth – Including access to high speed internet across the entire province and world class infrastructure.

    Featured Programs for Advanced Manufacturing Companies

    Capital Acquisition Assistance supports Prince Edward Island businesses investing in technology, equipment, and infrastructure needed to grow their business and increase capacity and competitiveness. The program provides businesses with financial assistance to leverage other traditional and non-traditional financing and reduce risk.

    LEARN MORE HERE

    Food Product Development Assistance is available to Prince Edward Island businesses to access professional and technical assistance in creating or improving a new food product or process. This assistance can be used to develop and test new and improved products and processes, and other technical development-related activities.

    Funding through this program is intended to support the engagement of expertise as the business moves its product or process from the earliest stage of development through to commercialization.

    LEARN MORE HERE

    Export Trade Assistance provides support to Prince Edward Island small business and is available to active exporters and export-ready companies to explore new global opportunities. Support may be available for Innovation PEI’s Global Trade coordinated trade activities, including virtual trade initiatives, focused on international and domestic exporting; and bringing buyers and business partners to Prince Edward Island to strengthen business relationships or close sales.

    LEARN MORE HERE

    Marketing Assistance helps Prince Edward Island businesses with marketing costs to execute exporting plans and activities. The fund enables businesses to accelerate sales and increase their market reach.

    To be an eligible applicant, a business must be located in Prince Edward Island and:

    • be registered to do business and actively operating in Prince Edward Island;
    • manufactures, processes, or develops goods or services primarily for export;
    • operates within one of these strategic sectors:
      • bioscience
      • aerospace and defence
      • advanced manufacturing and processing
      • renewable energy and clean technology
      • information and communications technology
      • creative and cultural industries
      • first-of-its-kind exportable goods or services in other sectors may be considered.

    A business that has a defaulted outstanding debt obligation on file in the Province’s Central Default Registry is not eligible for Innovation PEI assistance.

    LEARN MORE HERE

    Export Trade Assistance provides support to Prince Edward Island small business and is available to active exporters and export-ready companies to explore new global opportunities. Support may be available for Innovation PEI’s Global Trade coordinated trade activities, including virtual trade initiatives, focused on international and domestic exporting; and bringing buyers and business partners to Prince Edward Island to strengthen business relationships or close sales.

    LEARN MORE HERE

    Visit our complete list of available business support programs here.

    A PLACE TO LIVE THAT WORKS

     Not only is Prince Edward Island the ideal location for business, it offers an opportunity to experience a quality of life that is second to none. With Prince Edward Island’s like-minded communities, thriving arts and culture environment, and coastal lifestyle, you are sure to find a place to live that works.

    Learn more about living in PEI.

    GET IN TOUCH

    Need more information about the Advanced Manufacturing Sector in Prince Edward Island? Get in touch with one of our team members to navigate opportunities and incentives, get in-depth industry information, and make connections with key business leaders.

    Brad Mix

    SENIOR DIRECTOR BUSINESS ATTRACTION

    Doug MacDonald

    Senior Investment Officer, Aerospace and Defence, Marine & Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Technology

    Sources

    1 & 2. Province of Prince Edward Island (2023). 2022 Preliminary Real GDP By Industry report. May 2023. PEI Statistics Bureau, Department of Finance https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/sites/default/files/publications/fin_gdp_by_ind.pdf

    3. Employment And Social Development Canada (2022). Industry Brief: Manufacturing Atlantic Region 2022. May 2023. Labour Market Directorate, Service Canada Atlantic Region. https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis/job-market-reports/atlantic-region/sectoral-profile-manufacturing