B.C.’s digital media sector stands to gain from a new research commercialization program that just received federal funding through Western Economic Diversification Canada.
The funding will enable Graphics Animation and New Media NCE Inc. (GRAND), a network of digital media researchers in 24 universities across Canada, to start commercializing its research.
Program funds total $649,000, of which the federal government contributed $399,000.
The program is designed to improve technology transfer and research commercialization. Among other things, it will involve networking events aimed at forging partnerships between digital media companies and GRAND researchers.
Grace Battiston, director of communications for GRAND, said those events will be a key way for B.C.’s digital media companies to gain from the program.
“Through the events [B.C. digital media companies will] be able to hook up with the researchers who are in the network and share knowledge, so that then makes their products stronger, better, more competitive,” she said. “And then it also turns into starting up new companies with new technologies.”
Battiston said that GRAND is working on 34 research projects across Canada, including one that uses video game technologies to help children with fetal alcohol syndrome or cerebral palsy.
The program expects to develop nine technology prototypes, conduct 40 demonstrations and bring nine technologies to market. The program will take place first in B.C. and then be expanded to Alberta in its second year.
Jenny Wagler
Twitter: JennyWagler_BIV