Quantum computing holds a very bright future because of its ability to solve complex problems that are currently beyond the capabilities of a traditional computer.   To harness B.C.’s growing global reputation as a leader in quantum computing, a new Quantum Algorithms Institute is being established at Simon Fraser University’s (SFU) Surrey campus. The institute is part of the B.C. government’s vision to promote the City of Surrey as a second Lower Mainland downtown and to build an innovation corridor that will drive economic growth and create good jobs and opportunity for people in Surrey and the Fraser ... continue reading

There are several thousand companies around the world in the virtual reality/augmented reality (VR/AR) space. Vancouver, British Columbia, is considered one of the top five VR/AR hubs in the world.   What has contributed to Vancouver’s prominence? While various factors come into play, talent and expertise provide the foundation: Vancouver’s VR/AR talent pool runs deep. With a long, firmly established history in film and gaming, Vancouver has benefited from the spin-off of this expertise into VR/AR, where the technologies used in creating visual effects and animation are complementary to creating immersive exper... continue reading

British Columbia has always been at the forefront of green innovation. Home to some of the top clean tech companies in the world, our province exports a significant volume of products and technologies globally to countries like the United States, Europe and Asia. British Columbia is also a leader in clean energy, with 98% of our electricity coming from renewable resources. With climate change being a crucial global concern of our time, the Province is embracing a cleaner future with a B.C.-specific approach. In December 2018, the Government of British Columbia announced CleanBC, a plan to reduce climate pollution and create low-c... continue reading

In June 2019, Premier John Horgan embarked on a nine-day visit to Europe. The objectives of this visit were to commemorate D-Day, as well as to expand economic ties and to promote British Columbia’s strengths in clean energy. The Premier’s first stop was to Juno Beach in France to observe D-Day ceremonies alongside Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. It was the 75th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy, and the ceremonies served to remember the British Columbians and Canadian soldiers who fought and sacrificed for our freedoms. Victory came with great sacrifice – 359 Canadian soldiers were killed on D-Day... continue reading

British Columbia’s fresh and diverse seafood products took centre stage at the B.C. Seafood Expo in Comox Valley on Vancouver Island earlier this month. The B.C. Seafood Expo ran from June 12-13, 2019, in conjunction with the B.C. Seafood Festival, an annual event that has now become the largest seafood festival in Western Canada.  The expo brings together seafood buyers, aquaculture experts, industry leaders and government representatives to showcase the diverse offerings of B.C’s seafood industry. The two-day expo featured several local trade show exhibitors, guest speakers from the industry and provided a ve... continue reading

British Columbia has a progressive and thriving information and communications technology (ICT) ecosystem, made up of more than 5,300 companies and over 62,700 jobs that focus on software, information technology, Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, telecommunications and electronics manufacturing. Working with world-class research facilities and top-ranked universities, B.C. companies are at the forefront of developing innovative solutions and game-changing platforms. With multiple technology clusters in cities like Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna, the province is an attractive destination for major global compa... continue reading

British Columbia has one of the most diverse agrifood and seafood industries in the world, exporting over 500 agriculture commodities and close to 200 different seafood products. Our high-quality food products are in demand globally, from seafood and livestock products to fruits and vegetables. At Trade and Invest British Columbia, we offer assistance to firms through local staff and a network of trade and investment offices around the world. This includes supporting companies at international trade shows to connect them with buyers and distributors. For example, we have supported B.C. companies at the following events in recent... continue reading

Small businesses in British Columbia will be getting increased support to grow internationally with the expansion of Export Navigator. Export Navigator helps B.C. businesses become export-ready through community-based export advisors who connect businesses with programs and services that are unique to their business needs. These specially trained advisors provide personalized support to help businesses navigate the many export-related services available and tackle the logistics of customs certifications and other export requirements.The program expansion includes personalized support for businesses owned by Indigenous peoples, wo... continue reading

British Columbia has a strong reputation for technology innovation, which offers a range of investment opportunities. One example of this innovation can be found in the province’s publicly-funded healthcare system—B.C.-based LifeLabs is Canada’s largest community lab, with services ranging from standard lab testing, to genetic and naturopathic testing and developing new technologies. It has been serving the healthcare needs of Canadians for more than 50 years. With over 350 service centres supporting over 124 community groups, LifeLabs performs over 110 million pathology tests every year. A leader in medical la... continue reading

The trade mission to Korea and Japan in March 2019, led by Bruce Ralston, Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology, and George Chow, Minister of State for Trade, succeeded in advancing trade relationships and showcasing B.C.’s strengths in key sectors. The six-day trade mission included more than two dozen meetings and events aimed at promoting new trade opportunities in Japan under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and in Korea through the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA). British Columbia was the first Canadian province to send a trade minister to Japan since the CPT... continue reading