The Province is investing $6.6 million in two cutting-edge clean technology projects – one that will create synthetic gas from waste wood to generate heat and power, and another for windows that darken in sunlight and lighten at the flick of a switch, announced Blair Lekstrom, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources on behalf of Iain Black, Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development.

“These latest investments from our Innovative Clean Energy Fund are helping to move new technologies that have been proven on a small-scale into the marketplace. This creates jobs for British Columbians and strengthens B.C.’s leadership in the world’s green economy,” said Black.

“With a total commitment of more than $60 million to 41 projects across the province, the ICE Fund is tackling climate change head-on by supporting B.C. clean energy innovators and entrepreneurs who are pioneering new technologies, new approaches and new ideas,” said Black. Read more

Written by: Carla Wilson, Times Colonist Reporter, March 19, 2010
Link to video:  UVic Business Video

When Victoria businessman Peter Gustavson gave $10 million to the University of Victoria’s faculty of business Friday he described himself as the “happiest guy here today.”

That’s because Gustavson remembers his own days as a student, working full-time while attending the University of Manitoba — with the help of $2 a week in gas money from his grandmother. “I know what it’s like to struggle to find money for tuition and living expenses.”

The contribution is one of the largest gifts ever given to the university — previous large donations include $17 million from the Michael Williams estate and $11 million from Bob Wright, head of Oak Bay Marine Group.

“Your gift will help many young women and men transform our world,” dean of business Ali Dastmalchian told Gustavson.

The donation will be used to establish an endowment for scholarships, professorships and research in the faculty of business. Dastmalchian said the contribution will allow the faculty to continue to introduce new programs, such as a new PhD and master’s in global business.

Gustavson, 52, founded Custom House Global Foreign Exchange in 1992 at Government and Wharf streets. He sold it last year to Western Union for $370 million US. Read more

Check out the TD Power To Play 2010 Lauch on ‘A’ Channel News March 3, 2010. Featuring: Hudson Mack, Tim Cormode and Chris Chase. With guest appearances by Sarah Glenn, Carley Julien and Kevin Chapman. The date of Power To Play is May 2nd, 2010 at the Vancouver Island Technology Park.

Back by popular demand, Power To Play 2010 will take place May 2nd at the Vancouver Island Technology Park and surrounding area. There will be more teams, new and exciting challenges and five zones for your family, friends and colleagues to cheer you on and join in the fun – including a participatory Family Zone.

Power to Play is designed by Alan Bishop (challenge designer for TV shows Survivor and Amazing Race, and Eco Challenge participant). Power To Play proceeds will go directly to Power To Be: reducing wait lists, purchasing equipment and increasing access to outdoor education programs. Read more

LifeSciences British Columbia today announced the recipients of the 2010 LifeSciences British Columbia Awards. They are:

Genome BC Award for Scientific Excellence:

- Drs. Marco Marra, Rob Holt, and Steven Jones – Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre

Innovation & Achievement:

- Dr. Andy Hoffer – Lungpacer Medical

Leadership Award:

- Mr. Don Avison

Medical Device Company of the Year:

- Neoteric

Life Sciences Company of the Year:

- Cardiome Pharma Corp.

These awards are presented annually by LifeSciences British Columbia to recognize individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the development of British Columbia’s life sciences industry across all sub-sectors, from biopharmaceuticals and medical devices to bioproducts and bioenergy – sectors which are critical to the economic future of the province and country. Read more

Vancouver scored highly as an Olympic venue despite weather concerns. Equally impressive, the Winter Games also scored well in terms of their energy efficiency.

According to Pulse Energy’s Venue Energy Tracker, the software technology that measured the 17 days of athletic contests, the games were the most energy efficient Olympics ever.

The total energy savings achieved at the games was 906 MWH, which is the equivalent of a 15 percent reduction in energy use. To put it in perspective, says a Pulse Energy spokesman, that is enough energy for Canadian Gold medalist Katie Weatherston to play 1.7 million full hockey games or for Canadian ski-cross member Julia Murray to race down the ski-cross course 100 million times.

IOC president Jacques Rogge has declared that the 2010 Winter Games could stand as a sustainability blueprint for all future Games. Read more

On March 2, the British Columbia government introduced its 2010 budget, and the federal government tabled theirs two days later.  Given the economic backdrop and the debt aversion shared by both governments, their respective budgets share a common approach: spending will be contained; cuts will be modest; there will be no tax hikes or cuts; and, each predicts that revenues will eventually grow and bring back balanced budgets. Both levels of government are counting on revenue growth exceeding spending growth to balance the books.  In the medium term, this leaves little room for major spending initiatives. The following are some highlights from both budgets as they are relevant to BCs technology sector.

Clean Energy Sector
BC’s clean energy technology sector continues to benefit from the provincial government’s commitment to build a green economy.  This is demonstrated through the earmarking of $100M over three years.  These funds will support three priority areas: clean transportation infrastructure; wood-based bio fuels; and, new forms of electricity generation.  While a portion of these funds will replace the Innovative Clean Energy Fund (ICE Fund), which is scheduled to wind down over the next three years, the budget did include incremental dollars, and signifies the province’s commitment to support a key growth area for the technology sector. Read more

UK— The Royal Mail has teamed up with eBay data analysis firm Advanced E-Commerce Research Systems (AERS) to launch a new service to help direct marketers target the households likeliest to buy their products.The new insight tool merges AERS’ eBay transaction data with Royal Mail’s delivery information. Data is anonymous and aggregated to a postcode level and aims to provide clients with an overview of the types of product a household buys on eBay and how much they spend. Information will be refreshed monthly.

Antony Miller, Royal Mail’s head of media development, said: “This kind of insight is invaluable to brands, helping them to boost their campaign return on investment by improving planning and reducing wastage through better targeting.

Read more

On March 4, 2010, Canary Foundation Founder Don Listwinwill speak to high-tech executives in Victoria, BC regarding current issues that face the technology sector and the incentive to adapt the industry as a whole. Mr. Listwin, one-time Executive Vice President of Cisco Systems and current member of the National Cancer Institute’s Board of Scientific Advisors, will specifically address how the lessons learned in the technology and business realms can improve the way we view life sciences and personalized medicine.

At Cisco during the rise of the Internet, Mr. Listwin now exercises many of the practices learned as a technology mogul to leverage the potential of early detection cancer research at Canary Foundation and on the External Advisory Board for the Center for Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence (CCNE) at Stanford University. With an innovative approach, Mr. Listwin is fusing basic business concepts with medicine, creating new and different means of research that are independent of traditional government grants. Mr. Listwin seeks to build the foundation that connects the very best cancer researchers with entrepreneurs and venture capitalists so that their breakthroughs will have the best chance of saving lives. Read more