The Government of Canada is making investments to create a world-leading, innovation ecosystem in British Columbia
Vancouver – British Columbia is quickly becoming a burgeoning hub for businesses creating immersive digital technologies. This includes virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and robotics, which can enhance our world in ways never thought possible. The Government of Canada is making strategic investments in local companies developing innovative technology with a growing global demand. This includes more than 230 immersive technology companies based in British Columbia.
To bring these companies together and inspire further innovation, Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada (PacifiCan), announced $312,000 in funding to the Frontier Collective Society.
Established in 2022, Frontier Collective promotes British Columbia’s tech industry, including virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and clean and biotechnology on the world stage. They help attract talent to Vancouver and grow investment and infrastructure for early-stage companies.
The funding, provided through PacifiCan’s Regional Innovation Ecosystems program, is supporting this week’s Frontier Summit in Vancouver, an annual convergence of local and global leaders, innovators, and investors in frontier technologies who are exploring partnership and financing opportunities. The Summit will help build capacity in the local ecosystem and position British Columbia as a global leader in the immersive technology space. This PacifiCan investment also supported Frontier Collective’s B.C. showcase at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas earlier this year.
PacifiCan is a dedicated federal regional economic development agency for British Columbians. The agency promotes growth and diversification in British Columbia’s economy by enhancing innovation, improving business competitiveness, and promoting inclusive growth.
“Vancouver represents the second largest virtual and augmented reality hub in the world next to Silicon Valley. Today’s investment reflects our ongoing efforts to make British Columbia a world-leader in immersive technology and create quality jobs and economic growth across the province.” – Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada