Advancing from Best Small City in North America to Best Small City Globally
Kingston, Ontario – January 28, 2025 – Kingston Economic Development Corporation is proud to announce that Kingston has been recognized as the “Best Small City in Energy & Environment Ecosystems Worldwide” by StartupBlink, marking a significant advancement from its previous recognition as the top small city in North America. The recognition took place during The Startup Ecosystem Awards 2025 online ceremony to recognize the achievements of startup ecosystems around the world in which Kingston secured the 38th position globally in the Energy & Environment sector rankings, establishing itself as the highest-ranked small city worldwide in this category. For the past five years, Kingston remained the top small city in Canada for the strength of its startup ecosystem.
“Congratulations to Kingston, Canada for achieving the remarkable distinction of being recognized as the Best Energy & Environment Startup Ecosystem among small cities worldwide,” says Eli David Rokah, StartupBlink CEO. “It is particularly exciting to see a city with a population under 500,000, like Kingston, secure a position among the top 40 ecosystems globally—a true testament to Kingston’s leadership in sustainable innovation.”
StartupBlink, the world’s most comprehensive startup ecosystem mapping and research center, ranks over 100 countries and 1,000 cities annually. This recognition builds upon Kingston’s strong foundation in sustainable innovation and its commitment to climate action, being the first Ontario municipality to declare a climate emergency. This commitment allows companies to start in Kingston and have the support system to lead innovation in green buildings, carbon capture and storage technologies
battery materials, rare earth minerals recycling, and water treatment technologies.
Abdul Razak Jendi, Investment Manager of Sustainable Manufacturing at Kingston Economic Development Corporation, accepted the award on behalf of the organization. Jendi remarked, “Kingston’s success in the energy and environment sector highlights our city as a centre for startups dedicated to addressing global challenges and creating positive environmental impact. Driven by the city’s mandate for sustainability, , we’ve seen remarkable growth in sustainable manufacturing technologies. Our ecosystem’s strength lies in its diversity. From Cyclic Materials groundbreaking work in magnet recycling to Distributive’s distributed compute platform revolutionizing the tech industry, Kingston continues to nurture startups that are shaping the future of clean technology. This award belongs to all participants in our ecosystem who work tirelessly to foster an environment where innovation thrives.”
“This global recognition reflects Kingston’s evolution from a regional leader to a worldwide benchmark in sustainable innovation,” says Norman Musengimana, Business Development Manager, Startups and Entrepreneurship at Kingston Economic Development Corporation. “Our ecosystem’s strength lies in the collaborative spirit between over 45 academic institutions, research centers, and industry partners, creating an environment where sustainable technologies can flourish and scale globally.”
For more information about Kingston’s cleantech ecosystem and start-up business programs, visit investkingston.ca
Media Contacts:
Daniel Solorio
Marketing & Communications Manager
Kingston Economic Development Corporation
613-329-9270
solorio@investkingston.ca
