The artificial intelligence sector in British Columbia has more than doubled in size over the past two years, with nearly 600 companies operating in the space.
The provincial government says it is looking to support local development and commercialization of AI and quantum technologies.
Gregor Robertson, Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada, this week announced an investment of over $17 million for eight B.C. tech businesses.
“Across B.C., ambitious entrepreneurs are harnessing the power of AI and quantum technologies to turn ideas into market ready solutions,” says Robertson.
“By commercializing and adopting cutting edge innovations, these companies are strengthening Canada’s domestic technology base and sharpening our global competitive edge,” he says.
With the firms set to showcase innovation at Web Summit Vancouver, PacifiCan’s investment “is helping these innovators scale faster, attract international attention, and showcase B.C.’s ingenuity on the world stage,” the minister stated.
Human in Motion Robotics is receiving $3M to commercialize a personal mobility exoskeleton by integrating AI into its core technology, filing for intellectual property protection, and scaling manufacturing for use beyond clinical settings into home and community environments.
“We see a future where intelligent wearable robots seamlessly restore mobility and independence in everyday life,” say co-CEOs Siamak Arzanpour and Edward Park. “This investment accelerates that vision—enabling us to integrate AI at the core of our technology, expand into homes and communities, and establish Canada as a global leader in transforming human mobility through robotics.”
Semiconductor innovator Dream Photonics is receiving $1.2M to establish domestic pilot manufacturing of optical interconnects that enable AI and quantum chips to communicate.
“Dream Photonics is solving one of the most challenging aspects of manufacturing AI and quantum hardware—getting the light in and out of the photonic chips, and into optical fibres,” says Lukas Chrostowski, chief executive officer.
BioConscious Technologies will get $1.5M to commercialize Endobits, an AI platform that can detect a medical event at its earliest stage for patients with diabetes.
MLVX Technologies, known as Metaspectral, garnered $2.5M to enhance equipment and expand workforce as it commercializes advanced AI-powered imaging systems which help recycling facilities quickly and accurately identify and sort different materials.
Based in Abbotsford, music technology company Musora is receiving $5M to build a new in-house studio and enhance its digital platform with AI enabled features that personalize learning experiences.
Victoria’s Starfish Medical is getting $600K to hire AI talent and upgrade tech equipment to accelerate medical device design.
ThisFish, which attracted CFIN funding in 2025, garnered $650K to scale its AI-powered camera system that automates quality control of seafood.
And VRIFY, which secured private financing last year, is receiving $2.9M to build tools for mining companies to analyze mineral resources more efficiently using complex geological data.
In 2025, Web Summit brought 15,727 attendees from 117 countries to Vancouver.
Since its creation in 2021, PacifiCan has invested nearly $400 million in B.C. tech companies.
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