New funding to boost B.C. innovators
B.C. has opened a new round of funding to help local businesses turn promising technologies into real-world solutions and jobs. The early-stage demonstration program targets companies working in sectors that align with the province’s Look West economic plan, such as technology, clean industry and advanced manufacturing.
The province says this support will help small and medium-sized firms validate their products in real environments, close the gap to commercial adoption and compete at a global scale. Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth Ravi Kahlon framed the move as a way to drive growth while delivering innovative solutions at home and abroad.
How the early-stage call works
The funding is delivered through Innovate BC’s Integrated Marketplace platform, which matches made-in-B.C. technologies with real customers and use cases. The current call offers up to $2.5 million in total, covering as much as 40% of eligible project costs to a maximum of $500,000 per project.
Projects must focus on pilot-scale demonstrations that prove performance, attract early customers and move solutions toward full deployment. The 2025–26 intake is open until Dec. 21, 2025, with another call expected in mid-2026, giving growth-minded firms a clear timeline to plan their proposals.
Real-world adoption, not just ideas
Companies already using the Integrated Marketplace say the model reduces risk for both innovators and buyers. MarineLabs, which deploys smart ocean buoys and marine data tools, calls the program a “clear path” to demo technology with clients at the table and capture measurable benefits for communities and industry.
VoxCell, a B.C. firm developing vascularized tissue technology for health and life sciences, says external support to generate third-party performance data is key to getting from lab success to commercial readiness. For them, this call provides the “missing step” to prove impact inside real workflows and scale a homegrown company to global markets.
Part of the Look West economic plan
The early-stage demonstration call is one piece of the broader Look West strategy, which aims to build a more independent B.C. economy that can stand on its own. The plan focuses on delivering major projects faster, diversifying export markets and growing targeted sectors like aerospace, marine, AI and quantum, life sciences, agriculture and construction innovation.
Provincial leaders say helping companies test early-stage technology in real-world environments is critical to building a strong tech ecosystem. The goal is to position B.C. as a leader in emerging fields while creating good-paying jobs and resilient industries across the province.
Integrated Marketplace as launchpad
Innovate BC’s Integrated Marketplace has become a key launchpad where B.C. companies can trial their technologies in real operational settings, from ports and energy sites to health and municipal infrastructure. The province has committed more than $41 million so far to build out this platform and its projects.
By backing pilot projects and helping firms bridge the gap between R&D and full-scale deployment, the program aims to keep more intellectual property, jobs and economic benefits in B.C. For innovators, it offers both funding and a direct line to potential long-term customers.
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