The Innovation Ecosystem in BC’s Interior Region Asset Inventory The Innovation Ecosystem in BC’s Interior Region: Asset Inventory Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................... 2 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 3 Research Infrastructure .............................................................................................................. 6 Research Universities ............................................................................................................. 6 Research Infrastructure: Colleges and Technical Institutes ..................................................18 Federal Research Institutions in the Interior ..........................................................................20 Provincial Research Centres/ Institutions in the Interior .........................................................26 Other Institutions ...................................................................................................................27 Accelerators and Incubators ......................................................................................................31 Funding/Investment/Other Support ...........................................................................................38 Federal ..................................................................................................................................38 Provincial ...............................................................................................................................43 Regional ................................................................................................................................47 Venture Capital ......................................................................................................................49 APPENDICES ...........................................................................................................................53 Appendix A: Key Individuals: Researchers and Expertise .........................................................53 Appendix B: Key Sectors/Clusters.............................................................................................65 Appendix B1: Aboriginal Education/Culture/Health/Development ..........................................66 Appendix B2: Advanced Manufacturing .................................................................................69 Appendix B3: Agriculture/Agrifoods .......................................................................................73 Appendix B4: Digital Media and Information/Communication Technology .............................87 Appendix B5: Education ........................................................................................................91 Appendix B6: Environment/Ecology .......................................................................................93 Appendix B7: Forestry & Forest Products ..............................................................................96 Appendix B8: Green Buildings and Clean Technology .........................................................106 Appendix B9: Health/Life Sciences ......................................................................................115 Appendix B10: Mining ..........................................................................................................125 Appendix B11: Regional Socioeconomic Development .......................................................129 Appendix C: BC Interior companies in the BCIC Venture Accelerator Program ....................... 131 Appendix D: Maps ..................................................................................................................132 The Innovation Ecosystem in BC’s Interior Region: Asset Inventory “Talent and world-class capability can come from anywhere.” -Dr. John MacDonald, Chancellor, UNBC Born and raised in Prince Rupert, Dr. MacDonald holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was a faculty member at both UBC and MIT, and in 1968 co- founded MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates (MDA), one of Canada’s most successful companies. MDA is a global pioneer in high-resolution satellite imagery and as a world leader in space science and technology. Dr. MacDonald is currently the Chairman and CEO of Day4 Energy Inc., a supplier of new-generation photovoltaic modules and system solutions. He is also an Officer of the Order of Canada. 1 The Innovation Ecosystem in BC’s Interior Region: Asset Inventory Executive Summary Innovation -- the application of solutions that meet current or future societal or market needs -- is an important feature in our social and economic development. Innovation helps improve efficiency, productivity and our quality of life. This asset map provides an overview of the innovation network surrounding and connected to the Interior research universities (the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) in Prince George, Thompson Rivers University (TRU) in Kamloops and the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus (UBCO) in Kelowna) and Interior colleges engaged in applied research, identifying institutions, industries, communities, personnel, infrastructure and support systems that comprise the innovation “ecosystem” in the BC Interior region – a dynamic space with strong ‘network thinking’ where traditional and transformative economies, systems and cultures converge, create and innovate. The key assets in the BC Interior’s innovation ecosystem include: • Quality of Place – the Interior’s natural attributes, infrastructure, connectivity, economic diversity and quality of life attract strong academic and entrepreneurial talent working within the region and beyond. • Broad range of anchor/traditional and newer economic/industry sectors – Including forestry and forest products manufacturing, mining/mineral exploration, energy, agriculture (including viticulture), tourism, manufacturing, health services and life sciences, education, information/communication technology, digital media, advanced manufacturing, green building and clean technology. • Research Infrastructure – Three research universities (UNBC, TRU, UBCO), six colleges (Okanagan College, College of the Rockies, Selkirk College, College of New Caledonia, Northern Lights College and Northwest Community College) and a technical institute (Nicola Valley Institute of Technology); two federal research centres (Agriculture and Agrifoods Canada Pacific Agricultural Research Centre in Summerland and the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory in Penticton); Provincial laboratories/research facilities (Kalamalka Forestry Research Station in Vernon) and other centres (e.g. WIDC, OCI). • Innovation supports – Accelerators (Accelerate Okanagan, Kamloops Innovation Centre, Innovation Central Society, Kootenay Association for Science and Technology, Kootenay Rockies Innovation Council, etc.), Development Trusts (SIDIT, NDIT, CBT), Beetle Action Coalitions (SIBAC, OBAC, CCBAC), regional economic development agents, industry associations. • Interdisciplinary approach – smaller post-secondary campuses often facilitate more interdisciplinary research and often more direct interface with industries and communities, and also have the ability to be more nimble in pursuing and responding to collaborative research/innovation opportunities. • Investment – range of federal, provincial and private funding support. • Key Personnel – including over 20 Research Chairs in a range of disciplines and numerous experts in key sectors. • Existing clusters/regional strengths – advanced manufacturing, agriculture, aboriginal health, education and culture, clean technology and green buildings, digital media and information/communication technology, education, energy, forestry & forest products, health and life sciences and mining. 2 The Innovation Ecosystem in BC’s Interior Region: Asset Inventory Introduction Defining “the Interior Innovation Ecosystem” For the purposes of developing this asset map, the ‘Interior Innovation Ecosystem’ is defined as the industries, institutions, communities, personnel and infrastructure engaged in innovation in the area in which the three Interior region research universities (UNBC, TRU and UBCO) and Interior colleges engaged in applied research are located. For project scope management purposes, this innovation ecosystem mapping process was confined to the Interior region as defined above, but given existing partnerships/relationships between these three universities and the seven regional colleges in the southeast, northeast and northwest, and similar links to the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island, the Interior Innovation Ecosystem connects and provides benefits to the entire province. Defining “Innovation” For the purposes of developing this asset map, “innovation” is the application of solutions that meet current or future societal or market needs. This is accomplished through more effective products, processes, services, technologies or ideas that are readily available to markets, governments and society. Common drivers of innovation are: quality improvement, creating new markets, extending product range, reducing labor costs, improving processes, reducing materials, reducing environmental damage, product replacement, reducing energy consumption and regulatory