British Columbia Innovation Council

News Release | February 26, 2010

VANCOUVER - B.C. innovators whose advanced sports technologies are used by everyone from Olympic athletes to people just starting to exercise were on display today for international businesses and media here for the 2010 Winter Games.

"This showcase event celebrates British Columbia's contributions to sport safety, athletic competitiveness and healthy living," said Ida Chong, Minister of Healthy Living and Sport, who earlier dropped the puck at a demonstration game of Paralympic sledge hockey at Robson Square. "These innovations are helping athletes turn in their best performances ever, and encouraging the rest of us to enjoy the benefits of being physically active."

B.C. innovations at the Sports Technology & Innovation event at the BC Showcase at Robson Square included state-of-the-art computers to measure performance, technology to charge batteries by human movement, cutting-edge equipment to prevent snowboarding and ski jumping injuries, interactive software that encourages physical fitness, and sustainable athletic apparel.

"B.C. is a world leader in sport research and commercialization of new technologies because we nurture our talent, fund infrastructure, and help new companies attract the investment they need," said Iain Black, Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development. "By capitalizing on the 2010 Winter Games, we expect to see growth in this sector continue in the Olympic tradition - faster, higher and stronger."

British Columbia companies at today's event include:

• Bionic Power, producer of wearable technology that generates enough energy from the motion of walking to charge a laptop or the equivalent of 25 cellphones.
  
• EA Canada in Burnaby, one of the leading video game development studios in the world. The studio produces EA SPORTS Active, the number 1-rated interactive fitness product on the market for the Nintendo Wii.
  
• Katal Innovations, developer of the Landing Pad, which prevents injuries by cushioning skiers and snowboarders when they fall during a jump.
  
• Progressive Health Innovations, whose foot- and ankle-strengthening technology helps athletes improve their performance and recover from injuries.
  
• Darim, whose core technology in video encoding, transmission, and decoding hardware and software now includes new developments in virtual reality sports active entertainment technology.
  
• Coretection, which has created compression shorts that prevent injury and improve performance and core stability.
• lululemon, known for its yoga-inspired clothing that encourages people to stay active.
  
• Boardroom ECO Apparel, which specializes in custom design and manufacturing of technical, fashionable, environmentally friendly clothing made from recycled polyester, organically grown cotton, rayon from bamboo, recycled cotton, wood pulp and coconut shells.
  
• SoundOfMotion, which has developed technology to turn a Bluetooth phone into a one-degree precision cycling computer that monitors speed, acceleration, cadence and power. Today the company announced AlpineSport - an application for sports performance monitoring with audible feedback, strides monitor for cross-country skiers, and gravity and airtime detection for skiers and snowboarders during jumps.
  

Hosting the showcase were the Ministry of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development, and the B.C. Innovation Council.

"BCIC is proud to partner with the government of British Columbia to give B.C. technology companies a chance to build relationships with international business leaders in sport and wellness," said Dean Rockwell, CEO of the B.C. Innovation Council. "I congratulate the companies here today for their achievements - and look forward to future partnership announcements."

Also attending the event was Tim Walzak, B.C. regional innovation chair in sport technology, which is supported by the Province's Leading Edge Endowment Fund. Walzak is head of SPIN, the Sport Innovation Centre at Camosun College, which focuses on applied research to help build the link from sport, applied research and high performance athletes to the product development business.

"SPIN helps move the technological development and integration work done with Olympic and Paralympic athletes into health and wellness applications for everyone," Walzak said. "We're proud to take part in this showcase, which brings together innovators, leaders and visionaries to meet and exchange ideas in an atmosphere of celebration."

The B.C. government has invested $1.7 billion in research and innovation since 2001. It also supports early-stage investment in technology companies through tax credits and venture capital programs, and offers one of the lowest corporate tax rates in North America.

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Media Contacts:

Lindsay Thom
BC Innovation Council
604.602.5249
604.999.3290 (cell)

Kirstan Gagnon
Ministry of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development
250.387.7614
604.218.4606 (cell)

Rob Duffus
Communications Director
Ministry of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development
250.356.9428
250.812.2433 (cell)

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