It’s no secret that Vancouver is trying to promote itself as the next tech capital. Vancouver Mayor Greg Robertson has continued to focus his term on growing local business opportunities as well as promoting sectors like technology, tourism and digital media. And the BC Tech Summit is part of that promotion.
One of the many people behind the BC Tech Summit is Greg Caws, a cattle rancher and entrepreneur who focuses on the technology sector in the community of Wardner. Caws likes the idea of wedding traditional industries around the province with cutting-edge innovations.
He cites several examples, like drones for prospectors that were designed in Nelson, a miniature camera developed in Vancouver that can descend down boreholes, and the robotic drilling rig that walks.
B.C. Innovation Council
Caws, who is the president of the Innovation Council, told CBC News Canada, “Every time you hear the bogeyman stories about, ‘Oh, our jobs are going to be taken,’ it never happens,” explaining that jobs once done using our hands are moving instead to being done using our heads.
The BC Innovation Council (BCIC) is a Crown agency and was founded in 2004. BCIC’s primary focus is in funding startup technology and entrepreneurs by way of programs, sponsorship and competitions that facilitate technology commercialization.
The Innovation Council partners closely with academia, government and industry organizations by encouraging the development and advancement of advanced and innovative technologies
Made in B.C. tech
Caws and his BC Tech team are hoping a “made in BC” showcase of home-grown technologies will shed light on the visionary achievements of businesses across the province. Caws also wants to get British Columbians excited about some of the futuristic innovations and technologies that are revolutionizing every industry.
The “#BCTECH Summit,” will be held at the Vancouver Convention Center, beginning Monday and running through Tuesday, January 19. The opening address will be given by Premier Christy Clark, followed during the day Monday by T.K. Rengarajan, Corporate Vice President, Technology & Research, Microsoft, who will speak on Creating technology that empowers others.
Other speakers over the two-day event will include Andrew Wilson, the CEO of Electronic Arts, author, inventor and futurist, Ray Kurzweil, and Elyse Allan, the President and CEO, GE Canada. According to the BC Tech Summit website, visitors will be able to see, feel and experience the latest in tech innovations, all made in B.C.
Some of the highlights of the BC Tech Summit include holograms, 3D printing, electric cars and a 4D Portal exhibit, demonstrations by startups, a coding camp, and speakers who will be simulcast to classrooms across B.C. It sounds like it will be an exciting two days.
