Government of Canada supports British Columbia innovators through Build in Canada Innovation Program

VANCOUVER, Dec. 8, 2017 /CNW/ -  Through the Build in Canada Innovation Program, the Government of Canada is supporting Canadian innovators to create inclusive and sustainable economic growth for communities across Canada.

Today, the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, announced that Government of Canada is investing more than $5 million to support 8 British Columbia-based innovators.

Pug Pharm Productions Inc. of Vancouver received a $428,490 contract for its Picnic™ Community Platform, a complete activity, gameplay and contesting platform that instantly turns any website, Facebook page, mobile application or online project into an engaging and interactive user experience. It will be tested by Natural Resources Canada and Public Services and Procurement Canada.

H+Technology Ltd. of Vancouver received a $1,029,466 contract for its innovation called HoloMAX, a scalable, completely customizable tabletop platform that converts digital content from a computer, tablet or smartphone into a 3D holographic experience. It will be tested by National Defence.        

Tanka (formerly known as OLII Technology Corporation) of Vancouver received a $575,851 contract for its OLII Forest Fire Detection, a software platform that detects, monitors and maps wildfires from high-resolution satellite imagery. It will be tested by Natural Resources Canada.

Octothorpe Software Corporation of Vancouver received a $369,159 contract for its Amadeus Decision System, a sophisticated yet easy-to-use solution that helps improve the effectiveness and efficiency of decision making. It will be tested by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

Nanozen Industries Inc. of Vancouver received a $541,184 contract for its Smart Ventilation Controller, a wearable monitor that detects dangerous dust particles in the air. It will be tested by National Research Council Canada and Health Canada.

Bionic Power Inc. of Vancouver received a $1,163,721 contract for its renewable energy innovation, the Knee Based Energy Harvester. The innovation captures energy produced by movement of the knees, and makes it useable as a remote power source. It will be tested by National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces.

World West Technologies Inc. of Vancouver received a $574,540 contract for its Mobius ESB, a platform that eliminates data integration challenges by providing simple and reliable conversion to modern systems. It will be tested by Public Services and Procurement Canada.

Two Hat Security Research Company of Kelowna received a $530,154 contract for its Project Haystack software, which uses a state‑of-the-art form of artificial intelligence called "computer vision" to identify illegal digital content. It will be tested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

The Build in Canada Innovation Program plays a vital role in fostering innovation in Canada. Since it was launched, the program has contributed to creating 1,684 new full-time jobs across the country and generated significant economic impact. With the support of this program, 50 different made-in-Canada innovations have been exported to 44 countries. This program is just one of the many ways the Government of Canada supports innovation and small and medium-sized businesses across Canada.

Canadian innovators can submit their proposals on the Build in Canada Innovation Program's website.

Quote

"Supporting the continued growth of emerging companies is essential to realizing Canada's potential as a global leader in innovation. Through the Build in Canada Innovation Program, our government is helping Canadian start-ups in Vancouver and across the country move their products from the lab to the marketplace while providing federal departments with state-of-the-art technologies."

The Honourable Carla Qualtrough
Minister of Public Services and Procurement

Quick facts

• Through the Build in Canada Innovation Program, the federal government buys pre-commercial, innovative goods and services and matches them with federal departments, which test the innovations and provide valuable feedback to the innovators.
• A total of 36 Build in Canada Innovation Program contracts have been awarded to British Columbia companies, for a total value of more than $15 million.
• More than 280 contracts, valued at over $122 million, have been awarded since the Build in Canada Innovation Program began in 2010.
• 80% of firms who benefited from the Build in Canada Innovation Program have successfully commercialized their products.

Associated links

Build in Canada Innovation Program

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SOURCE Public Services and Procurement Canada

Ashley Michnowski, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, 819-997-5421; Media Relations, Public Services and Procurement Canada, 819-420-5501, [email protected]