Office of the Premier
Premier Christy Clark and B.C. technology companies are in Japan to promote the sector’s world-class capabilities as a leading technology hub and to form new partnerships with Japanese investors and technology companies.
As part of Premier Clark’s trade mission to Asia, leading Japanese venture capitalists, investors and technology companies attended a British Columbia government technology investment seminar in Tokyo to hear presentations from four B.C. tech companies: D-Wave Systems, H+ Technology, Press Reader and Vanedge Capital.
“On this mission, we are embarking on a new chapter in our trade relationship with Japan, showing major Japanese investors and technology companies what B.C. has to offer,” said Premier Clark. “Our province is home to world-class innovators and technology companies – combine that with our proximity to Asia, competitive business environment and multicultural society, and there is no limit to what B.C. and Japanese companies can achieve by working together.”
Another major highlight of Premier Clark’s mission to Japan was participating in the 2016 Canadian-Japanese Scientific and Cultural Exchange meeting on Quantum Computing via Quantum Annealing, hosted by B.C.-based D-Wave.
The two-day scientific and cultural exchange meeting, which was sponsored in part by the Province of British Columbia in collaboration with the Embassy of Canada in Japan, brought together approximately 60 senior Japanese government officials, industry representatives and academic leaders to raise awareness of quantum computing and demonstrate D-Wave’s strengths and capabilities in the sector as the world’s first quantum computing company.
“British Columbia has a healthy tech startup ecosystem that has flourished in the last few years,” said D-Wave president and CEO Vern Brownell. “It’s what has helped D-Wave grow from the brainchild of a University of British Columbia graduate student into one of the most innovative companies in the world. In Japan, we are sharing our vision for the future of quantum computing and encouraging B.C.-Japanese collaboration to propel this industry forward.”
British Columbia’s technology companies have secured new deals and partnerships in Japan. For example, Greenlight Innovation, a leading global supplier of battery and fuel-cell testing equipment, confirmed a recent agreement with Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology to sell an electrolyser testing unit for advanced research on energy-storage devices.
In addition, Japan-based Toray Composites (America), Inc., a subsidiary of Toray Industries, signed memberships at the University of British Columbia’s Composite Research Network (CRN) for future research and collaboration. Toray’s membership will be a major contribution to British Columbia's aerospace sector, giving other member companies the opportunity to connect and work with the multinational corporation on joint projects.
Premier Clark also opened the BC Technology Investment Seminar in Japan, which gave B.C. tech companies the opportunity to connect with major Japanese technology investors and companies. At the seminar, Premier Clark encouraged the Japanese investors and companies in attendance to attend the 2017 BC Tech Summit. The summit, a key element of the #BCTECH Strategy, is a major technology conference that showcases B.C.’s vibrant technology industry and brings together businesses and organizations, tech providers and global thought leaders.
Making it easier for B.C. technology companies to access new markets is a key commitment in the #BCTECH Strategy. Trade missions are a critical part of that – helping technology companies make face-to-face connections with international trading partners to secure new investment and propel economic activity and job creation throughout the province.
Quick Facts:
- The British Columbia technology sector employs more than 86,000 people.
- B.C. has approximately 9,000 technology companies, generating $23.3 billion in revenue in 2013.
- British Columbia has attracted major Japanese gaming companies, including Bandai Namco Studios, CAPCOM and Valhalla Game Studios.
Learn More:
For more information on the Premier’s trade mission to Korea, the Philippines and Japan, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/stories/trade-mission-to-korea-the-philippines-and-japan
For more information about B.C. trade and investment opportunities, visit: http://www.britishcolumbia.ca/
Learn more about the BC Jobs Plan: http://engage.gov.bc.ca/bcjobsplan/
