There are six main areas of an innovation ecosystem to focus on: Culture, Leadership, Activities and Engagements, Policies and Infrastructure, Role Models, and Resources.
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We use these pillars to guide our conversations and actions — not all pillars are weighted equally. Like any natural ecosystem, having the right balance is crucial. The left half of the balance/scale is the why and how we choose to do things (our motivations and the manner we choose to act and engage) whereas the right half embodies what we do (the actions that happen in an ecosystem).​

Culture is the foundation of any innovation ecosystem. It is the shared values and actions of members in the community which ultimately determine the success of new initiatives. In the Rainforest, our culture is defined by the Social Contract. The contract sets the expectations for behaviour and is reinforced when each member acts accordingly. Each person signs the Social Contract as an individual, not on behalf of an organization.

​There are role models across the ecosystem. They embody characteristics that others wish to emulate. They are builders, influencers, and connectors, or they may be emerging changemakers who can transform an ecosystem through inspiration. Role models can be uniquely personal and also general to the community.

​Activities that promote innovation and actively encourage engagement across a diverse array of participants are an essential part of a thriving innovation ecosystem. Activities and engagement are often used as an element in considering ecosystem vibrancy and connectedness. Ecosystem activities should be balanced between organizational drive (top down) and grassroots led (bottom up).

​Leadership roles are both assigned and assumed, formal and informal. Leaders must have a clear understanding of the motivations, experiences, and perspectives of all participants for the collective potential within the innovation ecosystem. “Big L” leaders are decision-makers typically in positions to realize the potential, convey perspectives, and rally groups to influence outcomes for innovation. “Little l” leaders are the ones who, without title or explicit authority, take initiative and make things happen at a grassroots level.

Policy and Infrastructure is the structural landscape the ecosystem exists within, though it may change over time. Actions and interactions between organizations, departments, physical spaces, and policies play a role in enabling and supporting innovation. Policy creates the boundaries that we must both work within, and at times, push against. ​

Resources are foundational elements and can include tangible elements (physical) and intangible factors (including knowledge and human talent). A balance of resources available in quality, quantity, and origins can support innovative potential through both generation and implementation. ​

Measuring the Pillars

How do you measure something as intangible as innovation? The Rainforest Scorecard was introduced to Alberta in 2016 as a tool for assessment, dialogue, and action to improve the health of the innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem in each city. ​Our method has the Rainforest Alberta community score how effective each pillar is working in relation to each other. These measurements are calculated into a score out of a possible 1000 points.

Calgary and Edmonton each have a unique scorecard and scores their cities respectively.

Local Results