Accelerating B.C. innovations to market with the Integrated Marketplace

British Columbia is home to a thriving technology sector that's helping Canada enhance productivity, competitiveness, health and safety while reducing emissions. But how can we bring B.C.-made innovations to market faster so they can be adopted quickly throughout the economy?

Enter the Integrated Marketplace — an initiative delivered through Innovate BC  that brings B.C. organizations together with local technology providers to develop solutions while addressing decarbonization, safety and efficiency.

With $11.7 million in investment from PacifiCan’s Regional Innovation Ecosystems and Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative programs, and $41.5 million from the Province of B.C., the Integrated Marketplace uses key industry testbeds like airports and seaports to develop, test and implement solutions. This helps companies better understand how their technologies perform in real-world scenarios, making it easier for them to scale-up, increase exports, and create jobs.

There are currently four testbeds in operation: Vancouver International Airport, Prince Rupert Port Authority, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and the Provincial Health Services Authority. Each testbed includes a group of industry participants that are working on innovative technologies, digital solutions and health tech innovations that reduce environmental impacts, enhance productivity and competitiveness, and strengthen health and safety. Once a project is complete, its solutions can be shared across its industry and scaled-up. 

Here are some exciting projects being tested through the Integrated Marketplace.

Vancouver International Airport

• Drones that assess runways, reducing the need for fleet vehicles and lowering emissions
• Electric powered ground support equipment to support airport operations
• Electric-cabbed tractors to replace two internal combustion engine baggage tractors, reducing emissions and cost while improving efficiency and reliability

Prince Rupert Port Authority

• Zero and low-emission heavy-duty trucks that significantly reduce operational greenhouse gas emissions and support transportation sustainability goals

Vancouver Fraser Port Authority

• Digital tools to optimize the supply chain, increasing operational reliability and expanding port capacity
• An electric water taxi designed to reduce emissions while maintaining operational capabilities
• A high-tech crane aimed at semi-automating a manual process on railcars, improving health and safety
• An AI-driven system for improving forecasting and decision-making related to wind, wave and visibility conditions
• Software that analyzes rail and marine traffic around the Second Narrows Rail Bridge to calculate the optimal schedule for raising and lowering the bridge
• A forecasting system designed to predict container volumes in advance, improving supply chain operations

Provincial Health Services Authority

• Instant and remote pathology reviews for B.C. health authorities, which will improve access to healthcare services for British Columbians with critical conditions like cancer
• Software designed to decrease reliance on antipsychotic medications and physical restraints commonly used to manage delirium among critical care patients

These initiatives not only meet industry needs but contribute to a stronger, cleaner and healthier future for B.C. They offer local solution providers the chance to work with major customers and expand into new markets.  The Integrated Marketplace shows how local efforts can inspire global progress and drive meaningful change for everyone.