Why VITP?

Book Conference Facilities

Province of British Columbia

Premier’s Technology Council

In August 2001, Premier Gordon Campbell announced the formation of the Premier’s Technology Council, which is comprised of 23 members from the private sector and academia. The mandate of the council is to provide advice to the Premier on all technology-related issues facing British Columbia and its citizens.

To date, the council has published eight reports making a total of 128 recommendations to government. The council continues to publish its reports on a semi-annual basis, with the aim of making the province a global magnet for high-tech investment, growth and job creation.

Today, British Columbia is the most connected province in Canada, with more than 6 out of 10 of its citizens having access to the Internet. At the end of 2003, access to affordable, high-speed broadband service was available to 89 per cent of British Columbians. The province has strong Information Technology, Life Sciences, Alternative Energy, New Media and Wireless sectors and is home to the world’s leading fuel cell cluster.

The Premier’s Technology Council believes that with strong cooperation between the provincial government and private enterprise, British Columbia will be one the world’s top 10 technology centres.

Initiatives:

  • BC Energy Plan
  • BC Conversation on Health

BC Ministry of Advanced Education and Ministry Responsible for Science and Technology

The Government of British Columbia has given the Ministry of Advanced Education provincial responsibility for research and innovation, recognizing the strong connection between higher education and research, and people and ideas. Research and innovation will play a major role in shaping British Columbia’s future social and economic development, and in enhancing the province’s domestic and international competitiveness.

Within the ministry, the research, technology and innovation division works in collaboration with the province’s research universities, provincial life sciences and technology industry partners, other ministries, other provinces and the federal government to further British Columbia’s presence in a global knowledge-based economy.

The division provides leadership for provincial research and innovation policy and strategic planning, and has released the B.C. Research and Innovation Strategy. The strategy sets out a strategic and coordinated approach to research and innovation in the province. It builds on B.C.’s existing strengths and reputation for research excellence, and focuses on priority research areas including:

  • Life sciences
  • Technology
  • Clean technology
  • Natural resources

The division also administers the ministry’s major research funding program, the British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund, and provides funding support to the British Columbia Innovation Council, a Crown agency created to support science and technology innovation throughout the province.

The British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund provides funding for research infrastructure at post-secondary institutions. This fund provides 40 per cent toward the cost of a research project and is typically matched with federal funding through the Canada Foundation for Innovation.

British Columbia Innovation Council (BCIC): BCIC has been established as a one-stop point of access and support to high tech companies, educational institutions, technology industry awareness groups (including regional technology councils), federal science and technology agencies and university research labs.

Initiatives:

  • Campus 2020

BC Ministry of Economic Development

The purpose of the Ministry of Economic Development is to build a strong provincial economy that supports job creation and maximizes economic opportunities for the citizens of British Columbia. The Minister is also responsible for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and the British Columbia Asia Pacific Initiative. All Ministry initiatives are supported through policies, programs and public and private partnerships that:

  • ensure Canada is fully maximizing British Columbia’s Asia Pacific Gateway advantages and assumes its role as the national catalyst for Canada’s Asia Pacific success through strong leadership and a nurturing environment for business opportunities;
  • market and promote B.C. to expand investment opportunities, increase sales and export of goods and services and encourage immigration of skilled workers and investors;
  • enhance economic development and growth by maintaining a competitive business environment, increasing diversification of regional and provincial economies, providing infrastructure for a growing economy and responding to the increasing demand for skilled labour; and
  • provide leadership and oversee the province’s financial commitments required to host a successful 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and to create programs that maximize the economic and social benefits from hosting the 2010 Games in British Columbia.

Initiatives:

  • BC Renaissance Fund