The government of British Columbia is investing $30 million over three years into its Integrated Marketplace program, aiming to expand opportunities for technology companies and create more high-paying jobs in the province.
The funding, announced in Budget 2025, follows a successful three-year pilot and was highlighted during the Web Summit Vancouver event.
“B.C. is home to a vibrant, accelerating technology sector, and Web Summit Vancouver is the perfect place to demonstrate what we have to offer investors, companies and talent looking for new opportunities,” said Diana Gibson, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation. “We want the world to know B.C. is open for business.”
The Integrated Marketplace program connects local tech companies with strategic testbed locations such as Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and Prince Rupert Port Authority, helping companies adopt commercially-ready products in real-world settings.
To date, four testbeds have been established: YVR, the Prince Rupert Port Authority, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, and the provincial health testbed managed by Provincial Laboratory Medicine Services.
Federal Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, Gregor Robertson, who also oversees Pacific Economic Development Canada, underscored the importance of the initiative.
“PacifiCan is a proud founding partner of Integrated Marketplace, which serves as a powerful launchpad for local companies, accelerating their growth and expanding their reach,” Robertson said.
Participating businesses, such as A&K Robotics and MarineLabs, have credited the program for helping them scale operations and access global markets.
“The Integrated Marketplace program helped accelerate our path to commercialization and global markets,” said Jessica Yip, COO and co-founder of A&K Robotics. “We are being approached by some of the world’s largest airport operators who want to implement our AI-enabled solution across their sites in Europe and Asia.”
MarineLabs CEO Scott Beatty described the program as pivotal for the company’s growth, citing support from Innovate BC that has enhanced product development and expansion.
“With Innovate BC’s support, we’ve accelerated product development, grown our team and expanded into new markets,” Beatty said.
Innovate BC, a provincial Crown agency, manages the Integrated Marketplace, helping businesses adopt technologies while mitigating associated risks. This support enables companies to build Canadian market references crucial for international expansion.
Peter Cowan, president and CEO of Innovate BC, praised the investment as a significant endorsement of the province’s innovation potential.
“This additional $30-million investment from the Province is a strong vote of confidence in B.C.’s innovation ecosystem and the real-world impact of the Integrated Marketplace,” Cowan said.
The funding supplements previous investments of $11.5 million from the B.C. government and $9.9 million from the federal government through PacifiCan.
Quick Facts:
- PacifiCan invested an additional $1.8 million in May 2025 through its Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative.
- Seventeen companies have participated in the Integrated Marketplace program.
