Backgrounder: Island Economy To Benefit From UVic Tech Park Purchase

The sale of the Vancouver Island Technology Park to the University of Victoria is receiving support from high-tech leaders:

Eric Jordan, chair of the board of the Vancouver Island Advanced Technology Centre (VIATeC) and co-founder and chief strategy officer for PureEdge Solutions: “Having UVic assume leadership of the VITP will bring this region one step closer to achieving one of VIATec’s major goals—recognition of Vancouver Island as a national centre of excellence for advanced technology. As a new VITP tenant, VIATeC is looking forward to forging an even stronger partnership with UVic.”

“As a graduate of UVic and co-founder of a company that got its start at the university, I know first-hand about the key role that UVic plays in the growth of Vancouver Island’s high technology sector. The synergies that will emerge from this new partnership will help to keep Vancouver Island’s advanced technology sector growing faster than in any other region in B.C.” Contact: EJordan@PureEdge.com or 250-708-8101

George Hunter, president of Leading Edge BC, a not-for-profit organization that promotes technology investment in B.C.: “A University of Victoria-led technology park will become a powerful part of the success of B.C.’s technology sector. It’s the type of close collaboration between cutting-edge universities and tech companies that is so vital to marketing B.C.’s technology industry to the world and creating jobs here at home.” Contact: ghunter@leadingedgebc.ca or 604-683-6150

Dr. Don Rix, chair of the board of the BC Innovation Council and of MDS Metro Laboratory Services, a tenant in the VITP: “UVic’s acquisition of the VITP will accelerate the movement of research with clear economic potential out of university laboratories and into the marketplace. The University of Victoria has already demonstrated its capacity for innovation and leading-edge research and shown that it knows how to make successful tech transfer partnerships work.”

Contact: drix@quik.com or 604-737-7224