Vancouver, CANADA – July 6, 2020 — A Cleantech Cluster Strategy report, “Accelerating British Columbia’s Clean Economy: A Cleantech Cluster Strategy for the province of British Columbia,” was released today by Foresight Cleantech Accelerator Centre.
The report outlines a made-in-BC strategy designed to position British Columbia as a global centre for innovation, talent and capital to scale clean tech innovation. The report is based on the most extensive consultation with the clean tech industry ever conducted across the province, a cross-sector research and stakeholder engagement process with industry leaders, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), investors, government and academia.
“This strategy supports making bold moves to position British Columbia as a world leader in a clean technology economy that is expected to be valued at $2.5 trillion dollars in the next two years,” said Jeanette Jackson, CEO Foresight Cleantech Accelerator Centre. “Elevating clean technology and innovation across strategic sectors is a path forward for creating high-paying jobs, achieving CleanBC greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, and recovering responsibly from the current economic climate brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“Clean technology promises to provide for the health and financial safety of Canadians, their communities, and businesses,” said the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada. “Today’s release lays the groundwork for us to continue building a clean, healthy, and eco-friendly future for the next generation. I look forward to seeing the results laid out in the Cleantech Cluster Strategy Report.”
“Cleantech reduces environmental impacts, helps keep our industries on the leading edge of innovation and provides good jobs for people throughout the province,” said Michelle Mungall, B.C.’s Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Competitiveness. “This report reinforces the strength of the sector and the integral role that cleantech plays in building a sustainable future and economy.”
The Cleantech Cluster Initiative was a project spearheaded by Foresight Cleantech Accelerator Centre and funded by Western Economic Diversification Canada, the Province of British Columbia and Vancity, to articulate the clean tech clustering opportunity in British Columbia. A local 15-member Advisory Board provided feedback throughout the plan’s creation.
The report includes a matrix of BC technology competencies, gaps, competitive advantages and ecosystem players. It also reports on opportunities and recommendations for rapidly scaling clean technology and solving industry challenges related to achieving CleanBC goals. For more information, or to download the report http://corecleantech.com/
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For more information, please contact:
Astrid Nunez
604-358-5079
anunez@foresightcac.com
About the BC Cleantech Cluster Initiative
The BC Cleantech Cluster Initiative was funded by Western Economic Diversification Canada, the Province of British Columbia, and VanCity Savings & Credit Union. The project, launched in July 2019, brought together key stakeholders groups including small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), associations, industry, investors and the federal and provincial governments to put in motion a sustainable model to help advance British Columbia’s thriving cleantech sector.
Find out more at http://corecleantech.com/
About Foresight Cleantech Accelerator Centre
Foresight is Western Canada’s Cleantech Innovation Centre which supports the identification and validation of cleantech opportunities and the successful commercialization of solutions. We bring together industry, government, academia and technologists to innovate and enable a responsible, more sustainable tomorrow.
• 350 companies • 135 industry partners • $200 million capital • + 5000+ jobs.
Find out more at www.foresightcac.com and follow on Twitter @ForesightCAC
