IBM, FortisBC, Government and Local Companies Seek BC Tech Solutions in Kamloops
KAMLOOPS, BC, Feb. 10, 2017 /CNW/ - The BC Innovation Council—a Crown agency of the Province—is helping B.C. companies find solutions to the challenges they face through a seven-city Regional Innovation Opportunities tour arriving in Kamloops today. The tour is intended to spark further innovation and job growth in B.C.'s regional economies.
Home to Thompson Rivers University's on-campus entrepreneurial community, The Generator and Kamloops Innovation, a member of BC Innovation Council's BC Acceleration Network, Kamloops has approximately 160 technology firms employing 1,440 people.
The tour is giving Kamloops' businesses the chance to collaborate with larger companies, government agencies and entrepreneurs, to find solutions to their business challenges. It is also an opportunity for companies to network and a chance to further build their businesses, leading to possible job opportunities and business markets that could expose companies to national and worldwide markets.
"This is a massive opportunity for businesses in Kamloops to gain first-hand access to significant business problems that can become a gateway to global customers," said Carl Anderson. "By bringing unique business opportunities to regions across BC, we're enabling people to build their businesses in the places where they live, while sparking growth, creating jobs and improving lives."
Examples of companies and the types of challenges that they will present in Kamloops include:
- IBM, seeking a way to track the location of technicians during field operations.
- FortisBC, seeking to leverage technology to increase the supply of renewable natural gas in a cost-effective way
- Munden Ventures Ltd, looking to track productivity of log harvesting equipment from multiple manufacturers in one dashboard.
- Lightship Works Inc, seeking an affordable and portable data connectivity solution for remote areas.
"The Regional Innovation Opportunities tour is bringing Kamloops innovators together with government and industry to find solutions to business challenges," said Todd Stone, MLA for Kamloops-South Thompson. "These solutions will rely on B.C. technology, potentially growing our tech sector and local jobs."
The first-of-its-kind tour will build a stronger network of tech companies throughout the province, giving local businesses in communities outside the Lower Mainland an opportunity to showcase their innovation province-wide and build their business where they live.
"The BC Innovation Council is bringing business opportunities to Kamloops through this innovation tour," said Terry Lake, MLA for Kamloops-North Thompson. "It's nice to see events like this helping raise awareness and growing the Kamloops tech scene."
The Regional Innovation Opportunities will visit six other communities between February 2 – March 6, 2017, including Prince George, Victoria, Castlegar, Nanaimo, Terrace and Kelowna. For more information about the challenges and the opportunities they represent, visit: bcic.ca/regional-innovation-opportunities
About BC Innovation Council (www.bcic.ca)
The BC Innovation Council accelerates the growth and success of BC companies by providing resources and market opportunities for applied innovations that solve challenges and drive competitiveness in BC industries. Through the annual #BCTECH Summit and support of the BC government's #BCTECH Strategy, BCIC is fostering the growth of competitive companies that generate revenue, produce high-paying skilled jobs and drive economic development in BC.
SOURCE BC Innovation Council
William Johnson, [email protected], Communications Manager, t: 604 602-5258
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