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Investing in innovation and technology to support trade growth and strengthen supply chains at the Port of Vancouver

A new partnership between the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and federal and B.C. governments will progress new programs to improve cargo movement through Canada’s largest port  

Vancouver, B.C.: The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is partnering with the Government of Canada and Province of B.C. through the Integrated Marketplace program to collaborate on innovation and technology to enhance the reliability and efficiency of trade through the Port of Vancouver—improving trade competitiveness for Canadian businesses and access to the everyday goods Canadians rely on. 

Delivered by Innovate BC, the Integrated Marketplace has received $9.9 million from the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada (PacifiCan) and $11.5 million from the provincial government which will support establishing the Port of Vancouver as a testbed where digital initiatives can be developed that will help ensure existing and future infrastructure gets used to its full potential. 

The federal and provincial government funding comes through Innovate BC’s Integrated Marketplace Initiative—which is supporting sustainable economic growth and innovation across B.C. including at the ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert, and Vancouver International Airport. 

“Technology and digitalization offer an exciting opportunity to strengthen the Port of Vancouver’s efficiency and resiliency, as well as enhance its ability to recover from disruptions such as the supply chain challenges caused in recent years by the pandemic and extreme weather events,” said Peter Xotta, vice president of operations and supply chain at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, the federal agency mandated to enable Canada’s trade through the Port of Vancouver. “The Port of Vancouver is unique in how it encompasses a broad variety of customers and supply chains, and we recognize the importance of developing digital infrastructure and enhancing data exchange to increase the capacity and reliability of the gateway to improve Canada’s competitiveness as a trading nation.” 

The Port of Vancouver testbed will initially focus on developing digital tools that integrate into existing physical infrastructure to expand capacity and reliability of trade through the Port of Vancouver, including: 

• Creating tools to better anticipate demands on the busy marine-rail corridor by the North Shore rail bridge 
• Leveraging data and predictive analytics to provide longer-horizon cargo forecasts to the gateway, to support planning 
• Using data capture tools to deliver near real-time visibility into how containers are moving through the port system, to support efficiency 

The new tools will be part of the port authority’s Connect+ program, which brings together all of the digitalization and optimization initiatives led by the port authority to increase capacity and build stronger supply chains at the Port of Vancouver. 

Innovate BC’s Integrated Marketplace initiative is building networks of industry partners to identify challenges and foster the implementation of innovative technological solutions that help decarbonize, increase competitiveness, and improve health and safety across B.C. This will open doors for B.C. companies to prove their technologies, and commercialize, sell and export new products and services while de-risking adoption for local industry partners. 

Quotes 

“British Columbia is brimming with the talent and innovative solutions needed to position Canada as a global leader in clean technology. By linking local innovators with opportunities to demonstrate new products, we are accelerating the adoption of made-in-B.C. technology both domestically and abroad. PacifiCan’s support of the Integrated Marketplace is a critical step towards making our industries more competitive, creating good quality jobs, and paving the path to a net-zero future for all Canadians.”  

• The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada

“Canada’s innovative, sustainable cleantech solutions are key to our future prosperity. Today’s announcement will allow Innovate BC to support Canadian businesses to scale and grow right here at home while becoming global clean-tech leaders. The world needs more Canada and the Integrated Marketplace initiative creates the right conditions to deliver it.”  

• The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development 

“Innovation is at the heart of our economy, and the key to supporting our StrongerBC goals of clean and inclusive growth. This investment into the Integrated Marketplace is a great complement to the province’s work and will support more good, sustainable jobs and opportunities for British Columbians. We look forward to working together to develop more made-in-B.C. innovation that will reduce emissions as we support important B.C. industries such as the Port of Vancouver companies to grow and reach international markets.” 

• The Honourable Brenda Bailey, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation 

“The Integrated Marketplace is a unique, high-impact program that offers B.C. solution providers a pathway to develop, test and market homegrown innovation while also de-risking technology adoption for local industry. This funding from PacifiCan bolsters the incredible potential that Integrated Marketplace has for developing our innovation ecosystem and will enhance opportunities for our innovators to make their mark here and worldwide.” 

• Tomica Divic, Interim President + CEO, Innovate BC 

“This announcement presents an exciting opportunity for B.C. airports and ports to work with local tech companies to solve challenging business problems and at the same time reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. This Integrated Marketplace also increases export and trade opportunities for B.C. companies and provides sustainable solutions that can benefit all British Columbians.”   

• Gerri Sinclair, B.C. Innovation Commissioner 

Media contact  

Alex Munro  

Senior communications advisor  

604.340.8617 

[email protected] 

About the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and the Port of Vancouver 

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is the federal agency responsible for the shared stewardship of the Port of Vancouver. Like all Canada Port Authorities, we are accountable to the federal minister of transport, and operate pursuant to the Canada Marine Act with a mandate to enable Canada’s trade through the Port of Vancouver, while protecting the environment and considering local communities. The port authority is structured as a non-share corporation, is financially self-sufficient and does not rely on tax dollars for operations. Our revenues come from port terminals and tenants who lease port lands, and from port users who pay various fees such as harbour dues. Profits are reinvested in port infrastructure. The port authority oversees the use of port land and water, which includes more than 16,000 hectares of water, over 1,500 hectares of land, and approximately 350 kilometres of shoreline. Located on the southwest coast of British Columbia in Canada, the Port of Vancouver extends from Roberts Bank and the Fraser River up to and including Burrard Inlet, bordering 16 municipalities and intersecting the traditional territories and treaty lands of more than 35 Coast Salish Indigenous groups. The Port of Vancouver is Canada’s largest port, and the third largest in North America by tonnes of cargo. Enabling the trade of approximately $305 billion in goods with more than 170 world economies, port activities sustain 115,300 jobs, $7 billion in wages, and $11.9 billion in GDP across Canada. 

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