The Wellness Cluster
Wellness is recognized as a C-Prosperity seed cluster. As part of the cluster process, working groups consisting of key leaders in the wellness cluster have come together to work on shared challenges. These were challenges that no group or company could tackle on their own. They needed the strength and collaboration of working on teams that involved other components of the cluster.
To overcome their challenges they decided to develop a shared solution. The shared solution is called an Action Initiative and the action initiative for the Wellness cluster is called the Wellness Initiative.
For more information about the Wellness Action Initiative
Background information
Defining the wellness industry is still a work in progress as it encompasses many different elements of the health industry. Wellness is a multi-disciplinary consumer-driven industry with elements of traditional health, alternative health, biomedicine, communications (telecom and health services) and recreation.
Calgary has many strengths that will benefit the wellness cluster. Calgary has the reputation of being a healthy city with a healthy lifestyle. It has as fertile environment for health and wellness research and it has been successful in identifying the best practices that have contributed to Calgary being a healthier community.
With enhanced sustainability of the health system, healthier businesses and firms and enough capital attracted to develop the Wellness cluster as a competitive cluster, the wellness industry has a great potential to flourish.
Cluster inclusions
In Calgary, there is a growing presence of several segments:
- Telemedicine and telematic services
- Biomechanic products
- Active lifestyles training and care
- Vitality and resort care
It is expected that new market segments will grow as wellness begins to serve and create products in the region.
Global outlook
As wellness is an emerging and "new" cluster, there is very little data available. Therefore, traditional industry benchmarking is not feasible at this time. However, there is evidence of clustering of this industry: many companies, solid growth, and innovation feeding growth.
Challenges
The outlook for this cluster is very healthy as Calgary has many strengths that will benefit the wellness cluster. Some market hurdles facing the wireless cluster are:
- Fostering Innovation
- Cultivating Formation
- Enabling Growth
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