BC digital supercluster selected to receive portion of $950 million in federal funds

Calling it a “landmark day for tech and innovation in the province,” BC’s Jobs, Trade and Technology Minister Bruce Ralston announced that a BC-based digital supercluster consortium has been selected to share a portion of $950 million in federal innovation funding.

“From new and emerging technologies like AR/VR and quantum computing, to traditional industries like natural resources and manufacturing, the digital supercluster will help grow our tech sector and create economic opportunities for the people of BC,” said Ralston.

See also

• Trudeau shortlists BC group supported by TELUS for $950-million supercluster
• Report: Vancouver ranked in top 20 most high-tech cities in the world
• Vancouver ranked the best city in the world for startups: report

Led by TELUS, Microsoft, Teck, Canfor, Shoppers Drug Mart, Providence Health Care, and the University of British Columbia, the bid is supported by the BC Tech Association and over 200 other partners including 25 post-secondary institutions.

“Our government is making a multi-million dollar investment in 2,900 additional tech spaces for students,” said Melanie Mark, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training. “More homegrown tech talent will help to meet the demand from the growing tech sector for a skilled workforce.”

The winning BC-based digital consortium was one of five different supercluster submissions to Canada’s Innovation Superclusters Initiative, involving BC-based companies and organizations.

“This is… a game-changer for BC,” said BC Tech Association president and CEO Jill Tipping. “The supercluster consortium will accelerate the development of innovation in key industries, will fast-forward Canada’s digital economy and put B.C. on the map as a global leader.”

Over the next decade, the supercluster is projected to fund more than 100 collaborative projects involving over 1,000 organizations, the government said.