For Release
November 06, 2007
Vancouver, British Columbia — A series of new
outreach initiatives will strengthen British Columbia’s wireless
industry sector by developing a range of new business opportunities. These
include measures to accelerate innovation, achieve commercialization and
build new partnerships between wireless companies across the province
and internationally.
Through Western Economic Diversification Canada, the Government of Canada
is investing $165,000 in the Wireless Innovation Network Society of B.C.
(WINBC) for a variety of activities designed to nurture the emerging wireless
cluster in British Columbia including: a wireless cluster survey, industry
partnering events, marketing and promotion, strategic partnership development,
and an annual Service Provider Investment Forum.
“Through our investment of $165,000, the Government of Canada is
strengthening the business advantage of B.C.’s wireless sector and
helping to grow Canada’s already strong and respected technology
industry,” said Russ Hiebert, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable
Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada,
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic
Diversification. “Enabling Canadians to turn their ideas into reality
gives us a competitive edge in the global economy.”
“Having Western Economic Diversification Canada invest in WINBC
is a testament to the federal government’s ongoing support of the
future of wireless technologies and services in BC. It will help our fast-growing
wireless technology association to champion the growth and sustainability
of BC as one of the world’s leading wireless clusters,” said
Michael Bidu, Executive Director of WINBC. “Wireless is where the
whole world is going.”
Representing more than 250 member companies, the Wireless Innovation
Network Society of B.C. is the focal point for wireless in British Columbia.
The organization brings this diverse sector closer together by fostering
collaboration among early-stage wireless companies in B.C.
Western Economic Diversification Canada is a department of the Government
of Canada that works in partnership with the provinces, industry associations
and communities to stimulate and encourage diversification of the western
economy, as well as to represent the interests of the West in national
decision-making.
For additional information, contact:
Karl Yeh
Communications Advisor
Western Economic Diversification Canada
(604) 666-4714
Michael Bidu
Executive Director
Wireless Innovation Network Society of B.C. (WINBC)
(604) 602-5231
Web site: www.winbc.org
WD Toll-Free Number:
1 888 338-WEST (9378)
Web Site: WD is online at
www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
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Backgrounder
WINBC – Wireless development cluster Initiatives
The project supports the Wireless Innovation Network Society of British
Columbia (WINBC), a non-profit industry association, to foster the development
of the wireless cluster through activities, including: innovation acceleration;
commercialization and business development; prospecting for anchor companies
to establish offices in B.C.; building partnerships between SMEs and international
partners; and reaching out to wireless companies in rural areas in B.C.
through collaboration with other parties.
The project comprises the following elements:
Wireless survey - WINBC will conduct the third B.C.
wireless survey. Since the last survey was carried out two years ago,
there have been significant changes in the industry. A new survey will
provide a status update on the progress of the industry over the last
two years and will identify new wireless companies in B.C. and their
strengths and weaknesses.
Industry events to facilitate commercialization and innovation
- Organize four WINBC Face_Time events per year to match-make B.C. companies
with international players such as Navteq, Nokia-Siemens and Microsoft
and others via one-on-one meetings.
Marketing and membership - To extend WINBC's reach
to the Okanagan Region and Vancouver Island through joint events and
presentations with other regional technology organizations, hosting
four incoming groups and participating in three international events
per year to raise the profile of the wireless sector.
Strategic partnerships - Create new and maintain
existing partnerships locally, nationally and internationally, including,
Mobile Monday, Navteq, Bell Innovation Centre, Vancouver Angel Forum,
MX Alliance (Livingston, Scotland), CommNEXUS (San Diego, California),
Cambridge Wireless, Mobile Data Associations, VIATec Alberta, IDC Canada,
and many others.
Service Provider Investment Forum (SPIF) - SPIF
members represent venture capital or research and development (R&D)
groups of telecommunications service providers. WINBC will organize
an annual SPIF event to attract SPIF investors (15 plus) to meet companies
in Vancouver.
