British Columbia’s cozy spot next to the ocean equates to a mild climate with fertile grounds. This has been the driving force that has created a diverse agriculture and food sector, with a plethora of seafood species, hundreds of farm, fish and food products and a world-renowned wine industry. COVID-19 has disrupted the supply chains and business plans of many agri-businesses in recent months. Federal, provincial and municipal governments, working with industry associations, are putting in strong efforts is to assist affected businesses and to help these companies adapt to business models that will help them thrive in the ... continue reading

As businesses transition to remote work and digital operations, the high-tech industry has become indispensable. Platforms to support remote work activities, e-commerce, virtual events and other digital solutions are flourishing. According to the 2020 CBRE North America Tech-30 report, Vancouver ranks first in North America for high-tech software job growth, leading the 30 top tech markets in the U.S. and Canada. Compared to other high-tech hubs, Vancouver has moderate office rents and a growing industry labour pool that make it the third-best market in North America for resiliency and growth. Other tech-growth cities in the prov... continue reading

New year, new technology, new format, the same sterling opportunity for networking, engagement and innovation. The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) will be ringing in the New Year with a virtual event running January 11th-14,th to showcase  the latest and greatest gadgets and software. The year 2020 saw historic levels of necessity and invention, and CES 2021 will have it all on display. Several companies from British Columbia will be in attendance as part of the TechWest delegation.   CES is an industry convention centred around tech companies, start-ups, suppliers, purchasers, and other consumer electronic businesses... continue reading

British Columbia’s transportation sector was hustling and bustling before the pandemic, as our province is situated at the commercial crossroads of Asia-Pacific and North America. COVID-19 set off a domino-effect of challenges from personal health to the viability of industry. The resilience and adaptability of British Columbians have been tested as we adapt to the new normal. Companies and industry associations quickly jumped on their feet to create new opportunities to face this behemoth challenge. While still reeling from the impact, the transportation industry has found flexibility and resilience contributing to sustain... continue reading

Even in uncertain times, the people and companies that redefine the global tech industry are forging ahead. For three days in December, seven British Columbia (B.C.) technology companies will come together virtually for the world’s largest tech conference. The annual Web Summit, typically hosted in Portugal, has gone virtual, allowing more than 100,000 attendees and 2,500 start-ups from 150 countries to participate. Seven B.C. companies will join them for trade and investment opportunities, masterclasses, innovative roundtable events, networking with web giants and experts from every industry and lead generation. Conf... continue reading

British Columbia has one of the largest artificial intelligence (AI) hubs in Canada. Our AI companies are continuing to grow, with 40% of them looking to expand outside of North America for a primary market. Established international technology companies like Amazon, Fujitsu and Tableau are also turning to B.C. to grow their AI capacity and they are helping to enhance the province’s reputation as a hub of digital technology and innovation. The Government of British Columbia offers a range of initiatives to support the AI sector, including the $100 million BC Tech Fund, which provides early-stage capital to emerging tech co... continue reading

A robot uprising is unlikely in our near future. Humanity is decades away from the type of artificial intelligence we’ve seen in Hollywood movies. But there are tasks that artificial intelligence, machine learning and automation can do amazingly well. Agritech is one industry that is embracing innovations of that kind and marrying them with existing food production processes.   Agritech is the art and science of producing more with less. Its goal is to produce more nutritious, affordable and abundant food with less space, water, soil, energy, fertilizer, chemicals and waste. The technology is not always new, but the ... continue reading

South Korea is enjoying a blueberry boom. Sun-kissed, plump and juicy, B.C. blueberries’ naturally balanced sweet and tart flavour and intense blue colour make them an appetizing and beautiful addition to any meal. Fresh or frozen, this small-but-mighty berry is jam-packed with nutritional benefits. It’s an irresistible combination, and it has roused Korean consumers’ appetites. The BC Blueberry Council and Korean agri-food distributor Erum Food System have reached an agreement to supply frozen B.C. blueberries to South Korea's Provence Bakery and the major coffee shop franchise, Hollys Coffee. Pr... continue reading

British Columbia offers tremendous potential for the application of new technologies to agriculture and food production to help strengthen the sector.   AquacultureWest Coast Fishculture's fresh steelhead are native to the Pacific Northwest and favoured by seafood lovers and discerning chefs. West Coast Fishculture is developing and testing new, alternative technology that advances humane harvesting, sustainable fish farming practices and proprietary cage technology, including through its AgriMarine Floating Closed Containment System.   Breeding and GeneticsOkanagan Specialty Fruits Inc. (OSF) is a dynamic agr... continue reading

What makes a city a truly great place to live – so great that it tops a list of desirable cities worldwide? It's a hot debate, with everyone measuring and weighing different variables.    If you are an investor or site selector, locating in one of those genuinely exceptional cities can go a long way towards supporting your recruitment and retention of the best, most talented professionals. Canada is proud to be home to three of the Top 10 Most Livable Cities in the World in 2019; Vancouver, British Columbia is the world's sixth most livable city.    The Economist Intelligence Unit (... continue reading