Advancements in clean technologies, breakthroughs in mobile applications and even space-age developments in video streaming were all honoured by the B.C. Technology Industry Association (BCTIA) Thursday at its annual Technology Impact Awards.
The June 5 ceremonies recognized achievements from across the province’s technology sectors.
Westport Innovations CEO David Demers was honoured as person of the year after leading the cleantech company through tremendous growth over the past two decades.
The Vancouver business specializing in natural gas engines originally started with a five-person team and now employs 1,000 people globally.
California-based Fortinet, which has a contingent of 500 developers and engineers working from its Burnaby office, took home the BCTIA award for company of the year.
QuickMobile received the award for emerging company of the year. The Vancouver-based company, which employs 180 people, developed a mobile meetings app with an always-on communications channel to engage participants beyond the day of the event.
Vancouver’s UrtheCast, which planted a pair of high-definition cameras on the International Space Station, was given the award for most promising pre-commercial technology.
UrtheCast is developing the first ultra-HD streaming video that will capture Earth from space.
The BCTIA also looked to the future by awarding three scholarships totaling $7,000 to a trio of high school and post-secondary students.
University of Victoria electrical engineering student Josh Ewart was given the top grant of $5,000. High school students Esther Inlayo and Kulvir Sekhon were both awarded $1,000 grants.
The full list of winners are below:
- Company of the year: Fortinet
- Person of the year: David Demers
- Emerging company of the year: QuickMobile
- Most promising startup: PHEMI Health Systems
- Excellence in product innovation: CoolEdge Lighting
- Most promising pre-commercial technology: UrtheCast
- Adoption of technology: FCV Technologies & WorkBC
- Team of the year: Schneider Electric
- Community engagement: Traction on Demand
