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RED_TechnologyBritish Columbia has a thriving and dynamic tech scene with significant growth potential, driven by a diverse range of companies, a strong talent pool, and a supportive ecosystem. Richmond’s competitive advantages for information technology businesses to locate here include direct air access for technical professionals through Vancouver International Airport, an established workforce drawn to Metro Vancouver’s highly sought after quality of life, and the existing cluster of veteran industry players such as Sierra Wireless, MDA Corporation and Norsat International.

With their innovations, local technology companies enhance the competitiveness of businesses globally in all sectors ranging from agriculture and aviation to life sciences and manufacturing. Our Federal and Provincial government partners offer several programs which are focused on increasing trade between local businesses in this sector and those in key markets.

With a strong base of established companies, incubation centres, education & training programs, access to capital and government tax incentive programs for research & development, the climate in Richmond and Metro Vancouver enables the attraction and expansion of world-class technology businesses.

What’s New

Shearwater introduces the Tern & Tern TX dive computers

Sage Construction Management launches to deliver powerful pre-construction and project management solutions

Ideon advances global clean energy innovation with Stanford University’s Mineral-X program

B.C.’s Helijet says it’s buying Canada’s first electric vertical-takeoff aircraft

MDA announces strategic expansion in the UK

Icicle ERP wins AgTech Breakthrough Award

Company Profiles

  Semtech (formerly Sierra Wireless) was founded in 1960 as a manufacturer of high reliability products. Semtech is a multinational technology innovator, enabling solutions that fuel a safer, more productive, more sustainable, and socially focused planet. Semtech acquired Sierra Wireless (founded in 1993 and headquartered in Richmond), in 2023.
 

Boeing Canada – Aeoinfo, with over 250 full-time employees, is named one of B.C.’s top employers. Boeing Canada – Aeroinfo provides advanced technical solutions to enable airlines to manage aircraft maintenance and increase operational efficiency. The company also provides eLearning, systems, and business advisory services to customers including Air Canada, CHC Helicopters, China Airlines, Northwest Airlines and United Airlines. In 2016 Boeing opened its new Labs division in downtown Vancouver.
 Logos-Norstat Norsat International Inc., founded in 1977 and based in Richmond, is a leading provider of communication solutions that enable the transmission of data, audio and video in remote and severe environments. The company’s products and services are used extensively by telecommunications services providers, emergency services and homeland security agencies, military organizations, health care providers, news organizations and Fortune 1000 companies. Customers include NATO, the United States Department of Defense, Marine Corps, Army, Navy and Air Force; FOX News, CBS News; Boeing, Reuters, Motorola, TESSCO, General Dynamics and others. Norsat International Inc. is a TSX-listed company that is consistently ranked among the top technology companies in Canada and the top 100 public companies in British Columbia. 
 Logos-Sage-2 Sage Software Canada Ltd. is a leading global supplier of business management software and services with over 6 million small to medium-sized businesses in 24 countries worldwide and $2 billion in annual revenue. In 1984, it acquired ACCPAC (a Richmond company) to add Simply Accounting – considered one of the best accounting solutions for small business in Canada – to its line of products and provide Sage with its first entry to Southeast Asian markets. The company, which has been a driving force in Richmond for the local high-tech sector, opened its new facility on Wireless Way in 2008 which employs over 300 people. 
Logos-Cognet Cogent Industrial Technologies Ltd. offers expertise in industrial automation and operational information management systems to the engineered wood, biomass, mining, facilities, water and power utilities industries. Cogent is committed to the advancement of a more sustainable world through corporate responsibility. This means balancing economic growth with a focus on environmental and social responsibility. Cogent is deeply honoured at the recognition of its successes through recent innovation and diversity awards and continues in the pursuit of building a world-class company that delivers solutions for competitive advantage. 
 

FLIR Integrated Imaging Solutions, Inc (formerly Point Grey Research Inc.) FLIR is one of the world’s largest and most innovative providers of high performance digital cameras for industrial, bioscience, traffic, and GIS applications. FLIR brings innovative sensing solutions through thermal imaging, visible-light imaging, video analytics, measurement and diagnostic, and advanced threat detection systems. All design, manufacturing and testing is performed out of the company’s Richmond facility. In 2016 FLIR Systems acquired Point Grey Research Inc for $253 million.
  Shearwater Research has captured a dominant market position among scuba diving computers with a distribution network of more than 600 dealers in 90 countries around the world. In doing so, it has overtaken significant competitors established in the market since the middle of the previous century. Shearwater is fundamentally changing the way people dive. By keeping ahead of competitors through innovation and timely implementations, Shearwater offers reliable electronics that empower divers. The combination of reliable hardware, flexible open algorithms, and unsurpassed customer service allows scuba divers to leverage their capabilities through the use of Shearwater products.
  IFS Canada Inc (formerly known as Clevest) workforce automation software that connects the mobile workforce to office operations. Built for energy and water utilities, our innovative solutions optimize any field activity or process, improving outage response times, worker productivity and safety, and helping utilities reduce their carbon footprint. With over 220 utility customers worldwide, Clevest’s solutions have been used to deploy over 35 million smart meters and service over 100 million energy and water consumers. Clevest integrates with 250 enterprise systems, and offers configurable solutions that can be deployed on-premise or in the cloud (Saas). Clevest’s growth has been recognized by Deloitte Fast 50 and PROFIT500, and our products have won awards from Microsoft and Esri.
Ideon Technologies Inc. Ideon is a world pioneer in the application of cosmic-ray muon tomography. Their Discovery Platform™ provides x-ray-like visibility up to 1 km beneath the Earth’s surface, with the ability to construct detailed 3D density profiles of subsurface anomalies. Their technological applications include mining, oil and gas, infrastructure and national security. This innovative technology allows them to drill less and discover more without using conventional mining methods. In 2022, Ideon won Innovative Enterprise Of the Year at the 45th Business Excellence Awards.
 Logos-Move

 

Top Producer Systems Inc. (Move Canada) is a Richmond-based leading provider of real estate sales, CRM and marketing software solutions throughout North America as well as internationally. In 2007, it received the BC Technology Industry Association award for Excellence in Product Innovation for its Market Snapshot tool, which allows realtors to offer their clients real-time listing updates and trend analysis. Top Producer was founded in 1989 and now has over 300 employees. 
McDonald Dettwiler & Associates (MDA) Well known for building the Canadarm for the U.S. Space Shuttle and International Space Station, MDA is one of Canada’s leading aerospace and information solutions providers with unique capabilities in earth observation and digital mapping. MDA was awarded a contract to design and build steerable antennas as part of the space security program. MDA was founded in 1969 and has over 4800 employees worldwide. In 2020, Toronto-based investment firm Northern Private capital bought the MDA assets from Maxar Technologies Ltd. 
 Logos-Vtech VTech Technologies Inc. is one of the world’s largest suppliers of corded and cordless telephones and a leading supplier of electronic learning products. In 1988, VTech established its Canadian research and development centre (one of three worldwide), and now has over 100 employees based in Richmond. The company also provides highly sought-after contract manufacturing services
 Logos-Boardcom Broadcom Canada Ltd. acquired HotHaus Technologies in 1999 in one of the largest communications software deals in Canada to become Broadcom Canada Ltd. The company designs and manufactures semiconductors for wired and wireless communications. The headquarters are now in California but the Richmond location continues to employ approximately 90 employees located in Richmond. 
 Logos-Wenco Wenco International Mining Systems was founded in 1986 and was originally the engineering division of a large BC coal mining company called Westar Mining. Wenco provides global positioning systems, wireless broadband communication, computer technology and software applications to create fleet management systems that improve mine operation. Customers are worldwide and include BHP Billiton plc, DeBeers, AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. and Teck Resources, with sales and support offices in North America, South America, Africa, Australia and Euroasia. Wenco was acquired by Hitachi Construction Machinery Co. Ltd. in 2009 and now operates as a subsidiary.
 

Change HealthCare – In 2017 parts of McKesson Corporation and Change Healthcare Holdings merged to create a new healthcare information technology company called Change Health Care, a global company operating in 120+ locations around the world. The Richmond location employs over 700 people. Originally founded in 1986 as ALI Technologies, it was the first company to develop an electronic picture archiving and communications system based on personal computer/client server technology to help hospitals capture, view, store and manage images from ultrasound exams.
Logos-Transoft Transoft Solutions Inc.,headquartered in Richmond, has developed software for transportation professionals including civil engineers, technologists, architects, and city planners since 1991.  Transoft’s engineers work closely with the world’s leading authorities including AASHTO, ITE, TRB, TAC, Austroads, CROW and the FTA to develop highly specialized applications serving more than 40,000 users in over 130 countries. Transoft Solutions has offices in Canada, Sweden, The Netherlands, the UK, Germany, Australia, India and China.
 Logos-Lucidea Lucidea Corporation delivers products and services for library automation and knowledge management to hundreds of businesses, law firms, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, financial services firms and government agencies. Founded in 1977 as SydneyPLUS, this is a privately owned company with over 50 employees based in Richmond and 3,000 clients in more than 50 countries.
Logos-Starsolutions Star Solutions is the pioneer of All-IP based wireless infrastructure technologies deployed in cellular networks, and delivers standards based CDMA, GSM and 3G solutions for mobile, fixed and portable network infrastructure. Their products are carrier class, highly integrated and leverage distributed network architecture. Customers world-wide depend on their products and technology as well as the technical support and expertise to support networks for broadband wireless data, rural telephony, maritime cellular, portable or temporary cellular networks, lab environments, and also military communications needs. In addition to customers in Canada and the U.S., Star Solutions supports network operators in over 15 countries. 
 Logos-Burton Icicle Technologies enables food companies to digitize, automate and ultimately simplify their operations. The technology consolidates food-safety, batch-processing, quality-assurance, vendor-management, traceability, and inventory control business processes into a single, unified digital platform. In 2022 Icicle won the ERP Software of the Year at the AgTech Breakthrough Awards.
Logos-Pelesys Pelesys Learning Systems Inc is a training solutions provider to airlines and airline training organizations. All Pelesys products and training solutions are designed using AICC and SCORM guidelines and have been approved for use in accordance with all regulatory agencies including JAR-OPS, FAA, CAA, CAAC, GCAA, and Transport Canada. In 2018 CAE acquired a minority stage in Pelesys.
Photon Control is a leader in Optical Sensor design and manufacturing for the world’s largest Wafer Fabrication Equipment (WFE) Original Equipment Manufacturers, as well as end users in the semiconductor, energy and manufacturing industries. In 2017 the company moved to its newly designed ISO certified manufacturing facility in Richmond. In 2021, they were acquired by MKS Instruments.
PressReader was founded in 1999 as NewspaperDirect, PressReader is the world leader in multi-channel newspaper and magazine content distribution and monetization and delivers 7000+ publications in 60+ languages throughout 120+ countries through its platform.

 

BusinessDirectory
Search our Business Directory for a complete listing of all Technology companies in Richmond.

Workforce

Local education & training programs are available to ensure our workforce is prepared to fill in-demand technology jobs such as software engineer and mobile application developer. For job seekers, current job postings can be found on the BCjobs.ca website or the T-Net job search portal.

  • UBC Department of Computer Science
  • SFU School of Computing Science
  • SFU School of Engineering Science
  • BCIT Computing & Information Technology
  • Kwantlen Polytechnic University

Research

  • Mitacs
  • SFU
  • BCIT Technology Centre
  • Digital Research alliance of Canada
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

Incentives

To search a database of grants, loans or financing programs relating to the information technology sector available from all levels of government, visit The Funding Portal. Some of the programs most beneficial to this sector are outlined below. 

Build in Canada Innovation Program (BCIP) integrates companies in the last stages of research and development into the Government of Canada’s procurement system and provided with testing, feedback and an opportunity to enter the marketplace with a successful application of their new goods or services. 

The Venture Acceleration Program includes structured access to valuable one-on-one coaching opportunities with experienced Executives in Residence and mentors, comprehensive training sessions and business clinics, and access to other Wavefront services including international market linkages, wireless training programs and events, state of the art wireless product development and testing infrastructure, and a mobile device library with more than 400 handsets and tablets. 

DataBC catalogue provides easy access to public government data. This tool, as well as the Spatial Data Infrastructure, is useful for application developers and researchers.

Tax Credit for Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) provides tax credits of 35% up to the first $3 million of expenses, and 20% on any excess amount related to experimental development, applied research, basic scientific research and certain types of technical support work. 

National Research Council (NRC) Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) provides software and wireless SMEs with technical assistance, financing and business advice that mean the difference between success and failure in a competitive global industry.

British Columbia Incentives & Tax Credits exemptions and deductions are available to encourage business investment and innovation. Provincial tax incentives and exemptions exist for R&D, international business activity, as well as machinery & equipment investments.

Sustainable Development Technology Canada funds technologies with demonstrated potential to both meet market demand and help achieve Canada’s environmental goals. The Foundation provides financial support, applies a rigorous due diligence process modeled on those used in the venture-capital world, and supports entrepreneurs with business advisory services. In doing so, SDTC de-risks clean technologies and helps prepare them for downstream financing. 

Venture Capital Programs encourage investments in British Columbia businesses by providing British Columbia investors with a 30 per cent refundable tax credit.

BC Tech Association Innovation Hub is is the largest member-led technology non-profit in British Columbia, and we’re dedicated to turning startups into scaleups. Our work supports members to grow and diversify their talent pool, acquire new customers, access capital and accelerate their scaleup journey.

Canadian Startup Visa targets immigrant entrepreneurs who at a minimum must demonstrate intermediate proficiency in English or French, complete at least one year of post-secondary education, and receive a minimum funding commitment of $200,000 CDN from a designated Venture Capital organization or $75,000 from an approved Angel Investor.

Innovate BC is a one stop service centre to connect innovators – large and small – with BC government funding, tools, resources and support.

LinksToFunding
Use our Funding Portal to search a database of all grants, loans and financing available to Technology companies.

Industry Networks

 

Featured Industry Partner:
BC Tech Association
The largest and most influential association representing BC’s world-class technology industries.
This industry-funded, member-driven organization represents a tech cluster of over 9,000 companies that employ nearly 90,000 people.
  • Innovate BC
  • New Ventures BC
  • Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Vancouver Section
  • Spring Activator
  • Launch Academy

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