BC Innovation Council Brings Real Business Opportunities to Surrey Tech Innovators with BC Growth Opportunities (#BCGO) Tour

IBM, Schneider Electric and Rio Tinto among companies looking to meet with Surrey tech talent to solve their innovation needs

SURREY, BC, Oct. 20, 2017 /CNW/ - The BC Innovation Council, a Crown agency of the Province, is promoting innovation across British Columbia through the BC Growth Opportunities Tour (#BCGO), which stopped off in Surrey this morning. The six-city tour aims to grow regional economies across the province by connecting companies with business challenges to local innovators. Solving the business challenge gives the local innovators entry to an immediate market, providing them with an excellent growth path.

BC Innovation Council's #BCGO Fall 2017 tour is looking to build off the success of the inaugural tour, which took place earlier this year. As a result of the first tour, 600 connections have been made, six cross-sector deals have closed, and over 30 deals are currently under discussion.

"The #BCGO tour is bringing industry leaders together with Surrey innovators to collaborate and develop new ideas," said Bruce Ralston, Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology. "By working together, local innovators are gaining a competitive edge, while businesses are enhancing our economy and creating job opportunities for people across the province."

"BCIC's #BCGO events give local tech innovators a chance to network, meet potential customers, and gain access to real business opportunities," says Carl Anderson, President & CEO of the BC Innovation Council. "The connections that are made at these events have the potential to accelerate business growth in communities all across the province."

BCIC's #BCGO Surrey event featured 12 organizations presenting their business challenges, including BC Lottery Corporation, FortisBC, and Rio Tinto, among others. Examples of some of the tech and innovation needs presented included:

• A game design challenge for new games to engage with non-traditional partners more effectively and help bring new gaming content to market by BC Lottery Corporation
• A need to efficiently capture carbon from residential natural gas appliances by FortisBC
• A solution for providing low cost air quality monitors that can accurately measure very low concentrations of SO2 in all seasons, by Rio Tinto

The tech sector in Surrey is steadily growing and currently has over 670 technology firms employing nearly 5,000 people. The BC Innovation Council currently funds two accelerators in the region, Foresight Cleantech Accelerator Centre and Innovation Boulevard, which are contributing to the rise of its strong and diverse tech sector. Surrey is also home to two post-secondary institutions ? Simon Fraser University and Kwantlen Polytechnic University ? which offer tech-focused programming.

#BCGO Fall 2017 will continue next week in Kelowna, and end the following week in Kamloops. For more information about BCIC's #BCGO tour and how to register, visit http://bcic.ca/events/bc-growth-opportunities/.

About the BC Innovation Council (www.bcic.ca)

The BC Innovation Council, a Crown Agency of the Province of BC, accelerates the growth and success of BC companies by providing resources and market opportunities for applied innovations that solve challenges and drive competitiveness in BC industries. BCIC is fostering the growth of companies that generate revenue, produce high-paying skilled jobs and drive economic development in BC.

SOURCE BC Innovation Council