By Daryl Major

Innovation tour could open bigger markets to mid-island tech companies

Feb 27, 2017 | 7:47 AM

NANAIMO — A unique job opportunity coming up for mid-island tech companies.

The BC Innovation Council is bringing their Regional Innovation Opportunities Tour to the Vancouver Island Conference Centre in Nanaimo on March 6. Carl Anderson, the Innovation Council President and CEO, said the tour pairs local tech entrepreneurs with big companies including IBM, FortisBC and the BC Safety Authority.

It’s a platform for industry, government, and regional stakeholders to communicate and discuss their innovation challenges with B.C. researchers, companies and entrepreneurs.

“They’re actually coming in with ‘if you can build this for me, first of all, I’ll be your customer, and second of all you’re going to sell a lot of it,’” said Anderson. “It essentially allows jobs in the region, in the communities where you are, to grow.”

Some of the companies are also looking at moving away from what has worked in the past to something more 21st century. One of those, according to Anderson, is the BC Lottery Corporation.

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“They’re looking for the next generation of games,” he said. “They recognize that where they are, how to do it they’re not necessarily going to grow that sector in that manner. But they want to connect with other people in other ways so it’s wide open.”

Other companies at the event in Nanaimo include IBM, FortisBC, BC Stats and the Climate Action Secretariat. All of them will be presenting challenges with the possibility of opening up huge markets.

“And that’s probably unique to the moment where we are which is so cool,” said Anderson.”You can work in a regional community and build a world wide company. It’s just so wild.”

The event runs from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. You can register at the Innovation Council website or in person at the VICC.

daryl.major@jpbg.ca