Driving Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Over the past decade, small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) have successfully partnered with BC Colleges to design and execute applied research, which in turn drives innovation and improves productivity. The federal government has recognized the importance of this form of partnership by giving colleges access to federal matching grants under the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). The provincial government also needs to recognize the value of applied research and introduce an action plan to encourage business and industry to partner with colleges and engage in applied research to drive innovation and increase productivity. The challenges facing Canada and BC in terms of productivity growth are substantial. On this measure, Canada is falling behind its major trading partners. And, while there is a stated goal to make BC the most productive province in Canada by 2015, British Columbia lags even further behind, ranking ninth among Canada’s provinces. Programs need to be put in place now to secure federal matching grants, to foster applied research and innovation and, in turn, to increase productivity to meet BC’s economic demands during the coming decade and beyond. Read about some of the ways our colleges are driving innovation and entrepreneurship: Okanagan College's Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Technologies & Renewable Energy  Conservation is partnering on advanced research with local companies.   Langara College & Rethink Advertising, a Winning Combination Making a Good Thing Better with Help from Okanagan College Students