Many of the big decisions that affect this industry, and most others, are made by government.
Government is supposedly run by the elected politicians (with all due deference to the professional civil service). So, why is that so many tech companies just ignore the political process or hope that they can leave it all to their lobby groups such as BCTIA, LSBC, WINBC etc. I know that there are a handful of hardworking, smart and generous tech executives who do most of the work trying to convince government to see that this industry offers us our best future.
Why do so many tech companies opt out of the political process? Look at it as part of your marketing budget with a very specific target market!
In BC we have a little over 4 million souls spread throughout this glorious province – less than 1/10 of 1 percent of the population of the world.
Many of our ‘friendly competitors’ in Canada and abroad have created a place for technology to call home. In some cases this happened by chance, in some cases by design, and occasionally by a combination of the two.
Given that we are social beings, we thrive on being around like-minded folks to reinforce our aspirations and ideas, to challenge our great visions, to share contacts and energy. It is the friends and family model.
The end game of most technological innovation is to create wealth, a better life and more opportunity – none of which matter much if we don’t have a setting in which to share it all. BC needs such a home, a heart and a technology central. I see the perfect setting in False Creek Flats in Vancouver, including the yet to be fully developed Great Northern Way Campus.
