BC Innovation Council
Encyclopedia
The BC Innovation Council (previously known as the Science Council of B.C.) is a Crown Agency
of the provincial government of British Columbia
, Canada
. Its mission it to promote the development of entrepreneurs and the commercialization of technology.
To achieve its mission, BCIC focuses its programs and efforts in the following four areas:
1) Program Area: Leadership
Example: Accelerate Okanagan: Throughout 2010, BCIC played an integral leadership role initiating and facilitating the successful merger of the Okanagan Science & Technology Council (OSTEC) and the Okanagan Resource & Innovation Centre (ORIC).
Example: Development of Science and Technology Regional Council in North-Central BC: BCIC is leading the process of forming a new council member of the BC Regional Science and Technology Network (BCRSTN) in north-central region of the province. In 2010, the Innovation Resource Centre ceased operations and has left a gap in resources and services available to technology entrepreneurs the region.
2) Program Area: Entrepreneurial Talent Development & Retention
Example: BCIC Mentor Program
Example: Entrepreneurship & Technology Commercialization Workshop: A series of seminars, business planning exercises, and coaching sessions designed to compel tech entrepreneurs to think critically about the true value, commercialization potential and positioning of their product idea.
Example: SFU Venture Connection: Launched in the Fall of 2008, Venture Connection offers training and support programs for SFU's entrepreneurs, linking student, faculty and local entrepreneurs with experienced advisors, funding opportunities, and other business connections.
Example: Young Innovator Scholarship: Supports innovative and entrepreneurial Grade 12 students entering a full-time science, technology and business programs at a post-secondary institution in BC.
Example: Innovation Exploration: A 2-3 day event for BC / Yukon regional Science Fair winners to give young scientists and innovators the opportunity to meet and network with leaders from BC’s science and technology development community and become more aware of the opportunities available in science careers. Participants are selected from top students who represent BC at the Canada-Wide Science Fairs and International Science Fairs.
3) Program Area: Commercialization of Technology
Example: entrepreneurship@: BCIC’s entrepreneurship@ incubator and accelerator program was created to address the need for the creation and launch of new, sustainable technology companies in British Columbia.
Currently, BCIC supports six entrepreneurship@ programs in BC: entrepreneurship@Alacrity, entrepreneurship@SFU, entrepreneurship@UBC, entreprenership@UVic, entrepreneurship@Wavefront and entrepreneurship@VITP
Program partners: The Alacrity Foundation, Wesley Clover, SFU, UBC
, UVic, Wavefront, VITP, WED, MITACS
, Ken Spencer, VIATeC
Example: BCIC-New Ventures Competition (includes Regional competition): The BCIC-New Ventures Competition is one of North America’s largest technology business-idea competitions and provides BC entrepreneurs and inventors with the skills, networking, mentoring and prize monies they need to successfully commercialize their business ideas.
4) Program Area: Technology Awareness
Example: CONNECT: A half-day technology conference uniting more than 1,000 members of BC’s technology community in an evening of networking and learning.
Example: Science Fair Foundation of BC (SFFBC): BCIC supports the SFFBC, a non-profit charitable organization whose aim is to sustain and enhance the science culture of the youth in BC and build BC's future by supporting science and technology education through the Science Fair program.
Example: metabridge: BCIC supports metabridge, an initiative that provides BC technology companies with direct connection and access to key international technology partners for customer, investment, strategic partnerships, mentorship and advisory opportunities.
Example: BC Technology Industry Awards: BCIC helps promote and celebrate individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the development of BC’s science and technology industry. Our support includes BCTIA Technology Impact Awards and the LifeSciences BC Awards.
Crown Agency
A crown agency was an administrative body of the British Empire, distinct from the Civil Service Commission of Great Britain or the government administration of the national entity in which it operated. These enterprises were overseen from 1833 to 1974 by the Office of the Crown Agents in London,...
of the provincial government of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Its mission it to promote the development of entrepreneurs and the commercialization of technology.
To achieve its mission, BCIC focuses its programs and efforts in the following four areas:
1) Program Area: Leadership
Example: Accelerate Okanagan: Throughout 2010, BCIC played an integral leadership role initiating and facilitating the successful merger of the Okanagan Science & Technology Council (OSTEC) and the Okanagan Resource & Innovation Centre (ORIC).
Example: Development of Science and Technology Regional Council in North-Central BC: BCIC is leading the process of forming a new council member of the BC Regional Science and Technology Network (BCRSTN) in north-central region of the province. In 2010, the Innovation Resource Centre ceased operations and has left a gap in resources and services available to technology entrepreneurs the region.
2) Program Area: Entrepreneurial Talent Development & Retention
Example: BCIC Mentor Program
Example: Entrepreneurship & Technology Commercialization Workshop: A series of seminars, business planning exercises, and coaching sessions designed to compel tech entrepreneurs to think critically about the true value, commercialization potential and positioning of their product idea.
Example: SFU Venture Connection: Launched in the Fall of 2008, Venture Connection offers training and support programs for SFU's entrepreneurs, linking student, faculty and local entrepreneurs with experienced advisors, funding opportunities, and other business connections.
Example: Young Innovator Scholarship: Supports innovative and entrepreneurial Grade 12 students entering a full-time science, technology and business programs at a post-secondary institution in BC.
Example: Innovation Exploration: A 2-3 day event for BC / Yukon regional Science Fair winners to give young scientists and innovators the opportunity to meet and network with leaders from BC’s science and technology development community and become more aware of the opportunities available in science careers. Participants are selected from top students who represent BC at the Canada-Wide Science Fairs and International Science Fairs.
3) Program Area: Commercialization of Technology
Example: entrepreneurship@: BCIC’s entrepreneurship@ incubator and accelerator program was created to address the need for the creation and launch of new, sustainable technology companies in British Columbia.
Currently, BCIC supports six entrepreneurship@ programs in BC: entrepreneurship@Alacrity, entrepreneurship@SFU, entrepreneurship@UBC, entreprenership@UVic, entrepreneurship@Wavefront and entrepreneurship@VITP
Program partners: The Alacrity Foundation, Wesley Clover, SFU, UBC
UBC
- Universities :* University of British Columbia, a major Canadian university with its main campus in Greater Vancouver* UBC Okanagan, the campus in Kelowna, British Columbia* UBC Thunderbirds, the athletic program of the main campus- Athletics :...
, UVic, Wavefront, VITP, WED, MITACS
MITACS
Mitacs is a Canadian national, not-for-profit research organization.----MITACS Telekomservice GmbH is a global communications service provider having its presence in the area of mobile, fixed lines as well as long distance telephony services....
, Ken Spencer, VIATeC
Example: BCIC-New Ventures Competition (includes Regional competition): The BCIC-New Ventures Competition is one of North America’s largest technology business-idea competitions and provides BC entrepreneurs and inventors with the skills, networking, mentoring and prize monies they need to successfully commercialize their business ideas.
4) Program Area: Technology Awareness
Example: CONNECT: A half-day technology conference uniting more than 1,000 members of BC’s technology community in an evening of networking and learning.
Example: Science Fair Foundation of BC (SFFBC): BCIC supports the SFFBC, a non-profit charitable organization whose aim is to sustain and enhance the science culture of the youth in BC and build BC's future by supporting science and technology education through the Science Fair program.
Example: metabridge: BCIC supports metabridge, an initiative that provides BC technology companies with direct connection and access to key international technology partners for customer, investment, strategic partnerships, mentorship and advisory opportunities.
Example: BC Technology Industry Awards: BCIC helps promote and celebrate individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the development of BC’s science and technology industry. Our support includes BCTIA Technology Impact Awards and the LifeSciences BC Awards.