Summary

• Applications open until Dec. 21, 2025, for early-stage demonstration call, with another call planned for 2026
• $2.5 million total (up to $500,000 per project) available for pilot-scale demonstrations
• More opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises to move closer to commercial adoption of their innovations

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B.C. businesses developing new technologies that align with key sectors in the Look West economic plan can now apply for new funding to help them demonstrate innovative solutions to real-world challenges, so they can grow and create good jobs for people in B.C.

“This new funding helps B.C.‘s small and medium-sized companies validate their technologies in real-world settings and move closer to commercial adoption,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth. “It’s part of our Look West economic plan to drive growth and deliver innovative solutions at home and around the world.”

Helping businesses bridge gap

The early-stage demonstration call, delivered by Innovate BC through the Integrated Marketplace platform, is providing as much as $2.5 million in funding to give B.C.-based small and medium-sized businesses the opportunity to:

• demonstrate the performance of their innovations
• attract early customers
• move closer to full commercial adoption

“Innovate BC’s early-stage demonstration call gives B.C.-based small and medium-sized enterprises a clear path to demo new technologies with clients at the table,” said Scott Beatty, CEO, MarineLabs. “This kind of collaboration de-risks adoption and delivers measurable benefits for industries and communities across the province. MarineLabs has seen first-hand how effective the Integrated Marketplace is, and we look forward to the boost this program will bring to the province’s innovation ecosystem.”

As many as 40% of eligible project costs, to a maximum of $500,000 per project, will be provided to support pilot-scale demonstrations of made-in-B.C. technologies. Applications for the 2025-2026 intake are open until Dec. 21, 2025. Another call for applications is anticipated to launch in mid-2026.

“VoxCell has established a breakthrough vascularized tissue technology, validated core scientific milestones, and secured collaborative interest from leading institutions, such as BC Cancer,” said Karolina Valente, CEO, CSO and co-founder, VoxCell. “To reach commercial readiness, we now need external support to generate third-party performance data in real workflows. The Innovate BC early-stage demonstration call provides the exact mechanism required to bridge this final gap, enabling us to demonstrate the impact of our technology, accelerate adoption in British Columbia and position a homegrown company for global scale.”

This work is part of the Province’s Look West plan for jobs and industry, which outlines B.C.’s vision to deliver jobs and opportunities by strengthening the workforce to develop a more independent economy that can stand on its own.

This includes delivering major projects quicker, diversifying markets and growing targeted sectors, such as technology, aerospace, marine, AI and quantum, life sciences, agriculture and construction innovation. 

Quotes:

Rick Glumac, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence and New Technologies –

“Helping B.C. companies demonstrate and prove the impact of early-stage technology in real-world environments is one way our government can support the growth of our tech ecosystem and help position B.C. as a leader in emerging sectors like AI and quantum, as outlined in our Look West plan.”  

Peter Cowan, president and CEO, Innovate BC –

“The Integrated Marketplace is creating a launchpad for B.C. companies to test and showcase their technologies where it matters most – on the ground, in real operational environments. This new call builds on that success by helping businesses bridge the gap between development and full-scale deployment, enabling us to nurture homegrown technologies that strengthen industries and communities, creating greater prosperity for British Columbians.”

Quick Fact:

• B.C.’s investment in the Integrated Marketplace to date includes as much as $41.5 million from the Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth.

Learn More:

• To learn about MarineLabs, visit: https://marinelabs.io/
• To learn about VoxCell, visit: https://voxcell.com/
• To learn more about the Early-Stage Demonstration Call, visit: https://www.innovatebc.ca/integrated-marketplace-early-stage-demonstration-call
• Learn more about Look West: Jobs and Prosperity for a Stronger BC and Canada strategy: https://gov.bc.ca/LookWest
• To learn more about the Integrated Marketplace, visit: https://www.innovatebc.ca/programs/integrated-marketplace
• For more about Innovate BC, visit: https://www.innovatebc.ca/