#BCGO Tour Brings Business Opportunities to Local Tech Innovators in Prince George

More than 60 local innovators, eight presenting companies attend #BCGO kick-off event

PRINCE GEORGE, BC, Sept. 22, 2017 /CNW/ - The BC Innovation Council, a Crown agency of the Province, is promoting regional innovation across British Columbia through the BC Growth Opportunities Tour (#BCGO), which kicked off this morning in Prince George. The tour aims to grow regional economies across the province by connecting companies with business challenges to local innovators.

#BCGO Fall 2017 is looking to build off the success of the inaugural tour, which took place earlier this year. Since February, over 600 connections have been made, six cross-sector deals have closed, and over 30 deals are currently under discussion.

"#BCGO is helping connect large established companies, like Prince George-based TimberTracks, with local innovators to collaborate and bring new ideas to market," said Bruce Ralston, Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology. "These partnerships have the potential to grow B.C.'s regional economies, create new jobs, bolster our innovation sector and further drive B.C.'s overall economy."

#BCGO Prince George featured eight presenting companies, which included FortisBC, Rio Tinto, and Prince George-based TimberTracks, who presented a need for real-time analytics and dynamic value-added reporting to enhance customer and industry value proposition.

"#BCGO is all about facilitating introductions between companies looking for B.C. tech solutions and business leaders across the province," said Carl Anderson, President & CEO of the BC Innovation Council. "By connecting real, market-drive challenges with local tech innovation, we're accelerating business growth in communities all throughout British Columbia."

Prince George has an emerging tech sector, with over 80 tech firms that employ nearly 1,000 people. The Prince George tech industry is buoyed by a thriving bioenergy sector, a local tech accelerator in Innovation Central Society (ICS), and two post-secondary institutions with tech-focused programming.

#BCGO Fall 2017 is off to an exciting start and will continue next week in Nelson for the second stop on the tour.  For more information about the remaining #BCGO events, click here.

September 29^th – Nelson
October 13^th – Victoria
October 20^th – Surrey
October 27^th – Kelowna
November 3^rd – Kamloops

About BC Innovation Council (www.bcic.ca)

BC Innovation Council (BCIC), a crown agency of the Province of British Columbia, encourages the development and application of advanced or innovative technologies to meet the needs of industry in BC. BCIC accelerates technology commercialization by supporting start-ups and developing entrepreneurs. With its partners, BCIC delivers programs and initiatives that promote company growth, resulting in jobs, increased revenue, and economic development in BC.

SOURCE BC Innovation Council