Second intake aims to help growing businesses scale up
VANCOUVER -
Summary
Through a second call for applications, early-stage B.C. tech companies developing new technologies can apply for funding to them demonstrate their technology, pivot their product to appeal to new markets, grow their companies and create good jobs for people in B.C.
"Our government is focused on helping B.C. companies navigate punitive, unjustified U.S. tariffs by working with the private sector to grow a stronger, more resilient economy that's less reliant on the U.S.," said Adrian Dix, acting Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth. "That's why we're supporting more early-stage tech companies to grow and create jobs by reaching new industrial customers as part of our Look West strategy."
Connecting technology to more support
Through the Integrated Marketplace platform's Early-Stage Demonstration Call (ESDC), the Government of B.C. is providing as much as $2 million to support pilot-scale demonstration of new technologies that have the potential to benefit businesses in sectors such as air and marine transport and logistics, health, forestry, emergency management, maritime, mining and critical minerals. These sectors are global and open up customers for B.C. companies in nearly every market.
As many as 40%of eligible project costs, to a maximum of $500,000 per project, will be provided to support pilot-scale demonstrations of made-in-B.C. technologies. The call is designed to help B.C. companies bridge the gap between technology development and commercial adoption by creating opportunities to:
The information is critical to companies looking to increase sales to new customers.
"Early-stage hardware companies face a gap: customers want proof in real conditions, and proof costs money," said Meiz Majdoub Jr, CEO, Mostar Labs. "The Early-Stage Demonstration Call closes that gap. With the Province and Innovate BC behind us, Mostar Labs is deploying the LilyPad floating clean-energy platform to displace diesel at a remote coastal site, with a real end user at the table. That is how a B.C. startup earns its first reference customer and stays anchored in British Columbia."
Following the first intake of the ESDC, which supported 14 projects across B.C., a second intake will provide further opportunities for B.C.-based companies to demonstrate and validate innovative technologies in real-world environments. Applications will be accepted from Sept. 28 until Oct. 30, 2026, through SurveyMonkey Apply.
"B.C. companies are developing technologies with the potential to solve real challenges across our economy, and proving those solutions in the environments they're built for is a critical step towards adoption," said Peter Cowan, president and CEO, Innovate BC. "Through this second call, we're helping our innovators on their path to market, strengthening key provincial sectors and advancing the Province's Look West strategy."
Part of the Look West Strategy
This work is part of the Province's Look West plan for jobs and industry, which outlines B.C.'s vision to deliver jobs and opportunities by strengthening the workforce to develop a more independent economy that can stand on its own.
This includes delivering major projects quicker, diversifying markets and growing targeted sector, such as technology, aerospace, marine, AI and quantum, life sciences, agriculture and construction innovation.
Quote:
Rick Glumac, Minsiter of State for Artificial Intelligence and new Technologies
"For B.C. businesses, one of the biggest challenges can be moving an innovative technology from development to commercial success. The Early-Stage Demonstration Call helps companies bridge that gap by providing opportunities to prove their solutions in real-world operating environments, build credibility with customers and investors, and accelerate growth. This type of support is how our government is acting on the commitments we made through our Look West Strategy and will help grow our economy."
Quick Facts:
During the first call, 14 companies across five sectors received a total of nearly $3.5 million (up to $500,000 per project) for pilot-scale demonstrations of new technologies.
B.C.'s investment in the Integrated Marketplace includes as much as $41.5 million from the Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth and $11.7 million from the Government of Canada through PacifiCan.
Learn More:
To learn more about the ESDC, visit: https://www.innovatebc.ca/integrated-marketplace-early-stage-demonstration-call
To read about previously funded projects, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/33581
Learn about Look West: Jobs and Prosperity for a Stronger B.C. and Canada strategy: https://gov.bc.ca/LookWest
To learn about the Integrated Marketplace, visit: https://www.innovatebc.ca/programs/integrated-marketplace
For information about Innovate BC, visit: https://www.innovatebc.ca/
Contact:
Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth
Media Relations
250-880-5179