British Columbia Innovation Council

On September 24, 2009 the New Ventures BC (NVBC) Competition came to a close as the winners were announced and prizes awarded at a special event at SFU's Segal Graduate School of Business. As one of the largest technology business ideas competitions in North America, the Competition awarded $300,000 in total prize money to three deserving companies who battled alongside seven other finalists in the final round of competition - business planning and pitching.

BCIC is proud to once again be the lead partner of the NVBC Competition and support the commercialization of innovation by working together to connect tech entrepreneurs with the tools and resources needed to successfully take their ideas to the marketplace. This year's competition saw a record 179 entrants vying for top prize, including 58 from regional BC - double that from 2008. Last year, BCIC partnered with the nine regional science and technology councils that make up the BC Regional Science & Technology Network (BCRSTN) and NVBC to help build a stronger regional BC technology sector. Together, the organizations coordinated their efforts to promote awareness, and ultimately participation in NVBC's 2009 competition, particularly from companies within their regions.

The 2009 NVBC Competition Winners are:

$120,000 BCIC First-prize package
LightIntegra Technology Inc. - ThromboLUX, a new medical device for testing the quality of blood-platelets prior to administering blood transfusions, resolves the health-care industry's current inability to distinguish between effective and ineffective platelets.

$63,000 BCIC Second-prize package
Etalim Inc. - New solar-power technology inexpensively converts the sun's heat into emission-free electricity.

$37,000 BCIC Third-prize package
Lungpacer Medical Inc. - A therapeutic medical device that prevents diaphragm muscle-disuse atrophy in critically ill patients who must use mechanical ventilators for breathing.

Additional prizes acknowledging sustainability, economic impact and bioenergy solutotions:

$40,000 BC Hydro Sustainability prize
Etalim Inc. - New solar-power technology that inexpensively converts the sun's heat into emission-free electricity.

$20,000 BCIC Economic Impact award
GR Green Building Materials Products Inc. - New ‘green' roofing and siding materials made from naturally abundant limestone and recycled plastic bottles and bags.

$20,000 BC BioEnergy Network prize
Bluekey Energy - Technology that converts pulp mill waste into synthetic crude oil.

About New Ventures BC
Established by SFU Business, New Ventures BC is operated by the non-profit BC Ventures Society and made possible through the generous support of private and public sponsors, as well as volunteer mentors, speakers and judges. For more information about New Ventures BC, or to find out more about the seminars and competition, visit www.newventuresbc.com.