Exploring Opportunities for Big Data in Oceans and Agriculture

Big Data Congress brings together leading thinkers and innovators

July 6, 2017 – Halifax, NS – Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

The ability to learn from complex amounts of big data is helping entrepreneurs and businesses make informed decisions about keeping our food safer and becoming more environmentally responsible. That is why the Government of Canada is supporting the Big Data Congress 2017 (BDC2017). The conference will provide insights on how companies can use big data to propel global competition and growth in the oceans and agriculture sectors.

BDC2017 is aimed at helping Atlantic Canadian businesses understand and find innovative ways to use transformative trends in information and the collection of data to help make crucial decisions to improve the bottom line. The Government of Canada understands that idea sharing at conferences such as this, has the potential to expand business activities between Atlantic Canada and international markets.

Today, Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament for Halifax, announced the Government of Canada is supporting the development and delivery of the 2017 Big Data Congress with a $100,000 non-repayable contribution through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s (ACOA’s) Business Development Program. MP Fillmore made the announcement on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA.

This year’s congress will showcase Nova Scotia as a leader in data analytics and demonstrate the vital role analytics play in the innovative advancement of the oceans and agriculture sectors. It will feature keynote speakers, as well as panels, workshops and networking events. This year’s Big Data Congress will be held in Halifax, Nova Scotia from November 6-8, 2017.

This investment builds on the Government of Canada’s new approach to economic development through innovation. Over the next five years, all six regional development agencies, including ACOA, will invest a total of $1.5 billion to strengthen innovation capacity and economic growth across the country. Part of these investments will support initiatives such as the Big Data Congress that assist regional businesses with the development of new technologies to boost their ability to grow beyond our border and compete globally.