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DigiBC Welcomes the BC Government's Announced Investments in Tech and Innovation

DigiBC Welcomes the BC Government's Announced Investments in Tech and Innovation

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (May 16, 2017) - DigiBC, the Interactive and Digital Media Industry Association of British Columbia, welcomes the provincial government’s announced investments in post-secondary research projects through the B.C. Knowledge Development Fund, graduate degree scholarships, women-on-technology scholarships, co-op opportunities and entrepreneurial training for post-secondary students, as well as the expansion of the Provincial Nominee Program Tech Pilot at the #BCTech Summit. These accelerants will enable the continued success of our Interactive Digital Media (IDM) sector in B.C., as well as both adding to and growing the local talent. This creation of highly skilled, high-value employees is integral to the success of the province’s tech sector.  

The expansion of the Provincial Nominee Program Tech Pilot will greatly benefit B.C.’s creative tech sector. A local games studio in Victoria, Codename Entertainment, recently took advantage of the program with great success to hire a highly skilled producer/game designer to build on their recent accomplishments. “We will be far better positioned to capitalize on the success of our newest game, Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms, due to the program and we were amazed at how fast the process was,” said Eric Jordan, CEO, Codename Entertainment.

DigiBC is equally excited that the province is training home-grown talent. The additional investments in post-secondary research projects and the provision of awards and scholarships to encourage women to pursue technology are integral to ensuring the future growth of B.C.’s creative technology industry.

DigiBC represents the Interactive and Digital Media sector in B.C., encompassing video game, animation, visual effects, virtual reality and digital marketing companies that represent over 16,000 full-time employees.

 

About DigiBC:

DigiBC is the Interactive and Digital Media Industry Association of British Columbia. Our members include global companies such as EA (Electronic Arts), Sony Imageworks, Capcom, Microsoft, Relic Entertainment (Sega), and Namco Bandai, as well as a slate of homegrown success stories such as Hootsuite, Conquer Mobile, Hinterland Studios, PlaceSpeak, Finger Food Studios, Thunderbird TV and Archiact Interactive. These companies are creating innovative products and services in video gaming, animation, visual effects, and digital marketing across traditional and emerging platforms, including VR, AR, and MR.  Collectively, B.C. has hundreds of interactive and digital media companies, which employ over 16,000 people and generate billions in annual sales – making the sector one of the most significant contributors to British Columbia’s economy.

 

For more information, email Brenda Bailey at  brenda@digibc.org