Businesses based on science and technology have a new advocate in Prince George.
The Innovation Central Society is a reboot of the defunct Innovation Resource Centre (that organization folded in 2010 after 15 years). It is funded and overseen by the BC Innovation Council, a Crown agency under the wing of the Ministry of of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation.
The local branch (there are eight others across the province) has been on the official books for several months, but only in the past 12 weeks has it been effectively operational since inaugural executive director Ernest Daddey was hired.
Daddey, a lauded scientist and entrepreneur based in the Lower Mainland (his background includes the development of high-tech inks and biodegradable plastics), moved here to begin the job of turning local innovations into commercial ventures or public assets.
"The north has a great deal of potential. I have already seen several projects that are not just good ideas, they are at the point of commercial readiness, but the innovators need help getting to the next level," he said. "That's my campaign, my mission, my focus. I'm passionate about solving industry problems and realizing social opportunities through research and product development."
There are several streams feeding his mandate, he said.
On one hand he is meeting with municipal governments around the region, like he did most recently with Mackenzie, to aid them through technology-related problems like readying their airport for potential use by commercial airlines; or working with regional districts to divert garbage away from landfills to productive alternative uses.
On another front he is analyzing the opportunities within the local region's innovation spectrum, like exploring the benefits of natural gas-powered commercial vehicles instead of gasoline or diesel; or taking the cutting edge distance education systems developed by UNBC and tailoring the technology for sale to other jurisdictions; or mining the region's forest industry for yet more uses for wood waste.
Yet a third mandate is to meet with the inventors and innovators of the region and help them turn good local ideas into good local business.
"We can't promise success for an invention or a technology-based business, there will be those who fail, but there will also be successes and the Innovation Central Society wants to do what it can to maximize those successes and reduce those failures," he said. "When you step forward onto a springboard, it can feel unstable and wobbly but we will work with you to feel more comfortable in the business position you're in, and help you catapult forward if we can. There are two sides to every innovation: working through the technological risks - how do you build it? - and working through the commercial risks - how do I sell what I've built? - and we are here to help with both those aspects."
Daddey is not alone in the society's ventures. In addition to the provincial umbrella he is working under, he also has a local board made up of representatives from the Prince George Chamber of Commerce, Community Futures Development Corporation, the National Research Council, Northern Development Initiative Trust, the Aboriginal Business Development Corporation, UNBC, CNC, UVic, Initiatives Prince George and the private sector.
The home of the Innovation Central Society's office is in the Community Futures Development Corporation's building: 1566 7th Ave. He can be reached by calling 250-562-9622 (office) or 250-612-8337 (cell).
