Today's News

Vancouver, BC, February 20, 2018--(T-Net)--The Discovery Foundation, committed to the development and sustainability of the science and technology sector in BC, today announced the winners of their annual competition for Technology Education Programs. $300,000 in total will be awarded to 12 agents in three funding categories.

"I was overwhelmed by the quality and quantity of the applications this year, which have more than doubled since 2017", says Dr. David Harper, Discovery Foundation CEO. "This year we challenged agents to propose programing that prioritized diversity and inclusiveness, and the response was impressive. I am confident that the agents we were able to fund will play a significant role in growing the tech sector and forwarding BC's competitive advantage. I am proud to announce that all of our programming now prioritizes under-represented groups in tech, in particular women and First Nations. Of the 12 programs funded, five are exclusively for women and two are for First Nations entrepreneurs."

The three award categories and winners are listed below. Please see our website, http://www.discoveryfoundation.ca/tep for more details on the programs.

Major Programs ($50,000) have a significant impact of the BC tech sector by providing mentorship to new and growing companies.

1. ACETECH: Discovery Foundation Leadership Development Program

2. SFU Venture Connections: Discovery Foundation Tech4Impact Program

3. Women's Enterprise Centre: Discovery Foundation's EM3 (Entrepreneurial Mindset Mastery & Mentoring) Program

Continuing programs ($20,000) provides funding to existing smaller scale initiatives.

1. Emily Car Living Labs: Discovery Foundation's Mentorship Program

2. Indiginext: Discovery Foundation's Before Vancouver Program

Junior Achievement BC: Discovery Foundation's JA Success Skills Program

3. PurposeFive: Discovery Foundation's Women Leaders in Tech BLAST (Business Leadership, Acceleration Strategies, Technology) Program

4. Vancouver Economic Commission: Discovery Foundation Capital Mentorship Program

5. Wavefront: Discovery Foundation's Vertical RevUP Program

New Programs ($10,000) are specifically directed towards improving diversity in the B.C. technology sector.

1. New Ventures BC: Discovery Foundation Startup Connector Program

2. Women in Communications and Technology: Discovery Foundation's Speed Mentoring Program

3. Women Tech Founders: your Discovery Foundation's Women Tech Founders

Since 2010, the Discovery Foundation has provided approximately $3-million to foster science and technology in BC. Beginning this year, the foundation is also funding research in the greentech/cleantech sector and supporting an investigation of how to best promote diversity and inclusiveness in the BC tech sector.

Also new this year are post-secondary scholarships, awarded by our partners at BCIT and SFU, that reward students who show great promise, have financial need, and are from an under-represented group in BC tech. The Discovery Foundation Diversity Scholarships will help these students complete their technology, business, and entrepreneurship programs so they can contribute to employment and economic development in BC.

About the Discovery Foundation

A registered charity, the Discovery Foundation has been an enabler of the science and technology sector in BC since its formation in 1979. Its principal activity is the delivery of the Technology Education Program via agents that provide education and guidance to entrepreneurs in BC. The foundation also provides funds for research and scholarship.

The Discovery Foundation currently receives all funding through the independent and self-sustaining organization, Discovery Parks Investments Ltd.