British Columbia enjoys a rich history of innovation. From modern conveniences to medical breakthroughs to high-tech gadgets, British Columbians have long been contributors to the modern age. Mobile phones and mobile devices can trace their history to the pioneering work of Donald Hings, a Burnaby resident who developed the first walkie-talkie system in the 1940s. Breakthrough discoveries in medicine have been the result of the tireless efforts of researchers like Dr. Michael Smith, who created one of the foundational tools for diagnostics and treatment of genetic diseases, and Dr. Julio Montaner, who developed the protocol for the treatment of HIV-AIDS.
But what constitutes innovation? After all, the very definition of “innovation” is fraught with challenges. A simple query on Google reveals over 575 million search results. As author Scott Berkun writes, “innovation is often used as a shorthand to mean a new idea, where thinking that results in something better.” For companies, innovation takes on a broader meaning, driven by methods, strategies and results that change the trajectory of the organization.
Innovation and invention are not the same things. Invention often refers to a specific creation. Innovation, on the other hand, refers to the effect that the creation has on an industry, society or culture.
This subtle but important difference has helped to shape our work as a technology association and as an ecosystem champion. Our mission is to make B.C. the best place in the world to grow a tech company. In the 25 years that we’ve been supporting tech companies, we’ve learned that impact is an iterative process and innovation is fuelled through collaborative networks. These networks allow the exchange and interchange of new ideas, helping to stitch together and form something new. This is where innovation actually occurs and thrives.
Writer Steve Johnson refers to this as the “liquid network,” where lots of different ideas are brought together by people of different backgrounds and interests who jostle and bounce thoughts off each other in a “collision” environment – a space that leads to innovation. We call this an ecosystem.
Today, B.C. is home to a vibrant, diverse and successful technology-enabled economy that boasts the fastest-growing tech sector in Canada. According to a recent study by Deloitte, B.C. has the foundational capabilities to fuel a digital technology supercluster in Canada. Part of that supercluster is fuelled by the explosive growth of augmented-, virtual- and mixed-reality companies in B.C., prompting the launch of The Cube, a space that supports the growth and collaboration of augmented, virtual and mixed reality.
From the West Coast to all across Canada, B.C. can begin to initiate and engage companies, innovators and hubs across the country to make the “reimagined” future a competitive advantage for Canadian industries. The world is rapidly moving to a digital economy, and to prevail, a small country like Canada must be faster and smarter and work together or risk being left behind.
This year’s list of the top 50 innovators is indeed impressive. Not only are these companies creating new products and services, but they’re also impacting the very nature of the industries they’re serving. They underscore the diversity, strength and collaboration indigenous to the B.C. tech community and represent in spades the opportunity that we will see unfold over the next 25 years.
