Commercialization

Research parks are an important bridge between innovators tucked away in university labs and entrepreneurs looking to commercialize radical, new ideas. Research parks create opportunities for tech innovations to be commercialized and make a real impact on the world by providing affordable, collaborative workspaces to technology sector start-ups.

But research parks can’t do it all. In many instances, there is still the need to teach innovators how to move their ideas from conception to commercialization.

To help close the gap between educational institutions and BC’s technology sector, Discovery Foundation’s recently launched Technology Education Program helps educators prepare students and entrepreneurs for the new marketplace reality.

Discovery Foundation has engaged industry and commercialization leaders BCTIA, Wavefront, ACETECH, SFU Time Centre, and BCIT for the Discovery Foundation Technology Education Program. Programs such as ACETECH’s Discovery Foundation Market Entry Program for technology entrepreneurs and the Vancouver Greentech Exchange’s The French GreenTech Connexion help connect students and entrepreneurs with the skills needed for commercialization.

Programs like these help innovators move their inventions from the bench to the marketplace with input from research experts and major players in the technology industry. It’s a dynamic partnership that will help diversify BC’s economy to include knowledge capital.