Applications open for Digital Nova Scotia’s 2026 TechQuity Award

Across Nova Scotia, efforts to improve representation and access in STEM and technology education continue to grow—from provincial initiatives and post-secondary supports to community-led programs focused on African Nova Scotian learners.Digital Nova Scotia’sTechQuity Award was created as one contribution to those broader efforts, supporting African Nova Scotian students pursuing post-secondary studies in technology-related fields and helping create more equitable pathways into Nova Scotia’s growing tech sector. Applications for the 2026 award are now open.“The TechQuity Award is about more than financial support, it’s about helping create pathways into Nova Scotia’s growing tech sector for students who have historically been underrepresented,” said Owen Sagness, CEO of Digital Nova Scotia. “We want young African Nova Scotians to see that there is a place for them in this industry, and that their perspectives, experiences and ideas are essential to shaping its future.”Established through a $100,000 endowment fund, the award provides annual financial support to students studying areas such as computer science, information technology, cybersecurity, engineering and digital innovation.Now entering its third year, the TechQuity Award reflects a wider conversation taking place across Nova Scotia about representation, access and opportunity in STEM and technology education.In recent years, the Province of Nova Scotia has expanded initiatives focused on improving outcomes for African Nova Scotian and Black students, including targeted scholarship and enrichment programs, equity strategies and advisory groups focused on representation and student success across the education system.That work has also been reflected across Nova Scotia’s post-secondary sector, where universities and colleges throughout the province have continued expanding scholarships, mentorship opportunities, student supports and equity-focused initiatives aimed at improving access and outcomes for African Nova Scotian and Black learners. At the same time,research across Canada’s tech ecosystem continues to show representation gaps for equity-deserving groups, including Black professionals and other underrepresented communities, whilereports focused specifically on Black representation in tech have found Black talent remains underutilized in one of the country’s fastest-growing industries.For Digital Nova Scotia, the TechQuity Award is one piece of that larger effort—helping reduce financial barriers, increase access to opportunity and support the next generation of African Nova Scotian talent entering the province’s tech workforce.Applications for the 2026 TechQuity Award are now open.More information, eligibility details and application instructions are available at:https://digitalnovascotia.com/programs/digital-nova-scotia-techquity-award/