Catalyst, RBC's global tech expo celebrates 10 years

For the last decade, our Tech@RBC community has come together each year at Catalyst, our in-house internal technology expo, to share knowledge, learn from one another, and explore innovative tech solutions that are being built, tested, and deployed across RBC.

The global expo brings together thousands of technologists (and tech afficionados) across RBC to explore the tools, ideas, and breakthroughs shaping the future of financial services. For our tenth anniversary in 2024, we hosted our biggest expo yet – a day of tech demos, learning labs, and keynote conversations with subject matter experts who are driving innovation.

Catalyst 2024 wasn't just bigger, it was sharper.

More than 4,000 RBC employees attended Catalyst 2024 in nine regional events in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. And while the event has all the hallmarks of a big tech expo – renowned speakers, networking, swag and excitement, the star of the show was definitely the cutting-edge work. A major thread throughout the event was the real-world application of artificial intelligence (AI) in financial services - not just proof-of-concepts, but demonstrations of live systems that are scaling and driving impact for our business and clients. RBC teams shared how they’re embedding large language models into client-facing channels, using machine learning to strengthen fraud defenses, and rethinking workflows with intelligent automation.
Attendees explored:
- 115 interactive booths representing teams and projects from RBC and some of our biggest partners
- 94 technical expert talks on subjects like AI-assisted software development with RBC’s developer platform Helios, our journey behind modernizing fraud detection with machine learning, and unlocking possibilities by integrating external tools.
- One global hackathon attended by 199 participants

"Each year, from coast to coast, Catalyst brings together our brilliant tech community to hear from our experts and showcase the latest and greatest RBC technologies that are transforming the future of banking. There has never been a more exciting time than now to learn, grow, and make an impact as a technologist at RBC.”– Ish Pahuja, Director, Innovation and Technology

Why it matters (and why it's not just for show)
Catalyst is a global experience, bringing together talent across various regions to learn, problem solve, and inspire. It’s the common ground where, for example, a local developer in Toronto can learn how a data scientist in London tackled a problem they’ve been stuck on. It fosters talent, fuels curiosity, and offers opportunities for early-stage engineers to demo solutions to senior leaders in a safe and encouraging space.

As transformative technologies like AI become more deeply embedded in RBC’s strategy, Catalyst is one of the few spaces where teams building AI and those applying it, sit shoulder-to-shoulder to shape what responsible and practical deployment can look like at scale.
“At the heart of Catalyst is a learning experience; one where you hear about challenges and accomplishments across various lines of business and start to make connections and synergies to work together and breakdown silos to drive impactful solutions.”

A reflection of our culture

Catalyst is a true reflection of the Tech@RBC culture, one that is curious, cutting-edge, and inspiring. Our tech community holds space for learning, development, and innovation and whether you are sharing a demo at Catalyst or attending to learn something new, you will leave feeling motivated knowing that RBC is pioneering leading technology that is sure to shape the future of financial services.

Catalyst makes one thing clear: innovation at RBC isn’t top-down, it’s owned across teams and individuals driving our future forward. Curious what it’s like to build where learning, collaboration, and real-world problem solving go hand in hand? Explore careers at Tech@RBC.
To learn more about our open roles, visit Tech@RBC