A booming tech scene is not only transforming B.C.’s economy, but the lives of its citizens.
On March 14 – 15, the second #BCTECH Summit will showcase this transformation to an audience expected to number in the thousands.
Exciting #BCTECH Summit news today: full program, keynotes and more! https://t.co/xrC5wh6ycU @BCGovNews
— Innovate BC (@innovate_bc) November 25, 2016
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Why B.C. Started the Summit
The province built the summit into its tech strategy. According to a B.C. government news release announcing the 2017 event, the #BCTECH Summit is an initiative of the #BCTECH Strategy, part of the BC Jobs Plan, which includes a $100-million BC Tech Fund along with programs to develop talent and help tech companies reach new markets. The event is presented by the province together with the BC Innovation Council.
The first summit, held in January 2016, set a goal of 1,000 attendees and drew more than 3,500, the release said. For the second edition, Microsoft signed on as title sponsor and a new Future Realities Room was added, giving B.C. companies a dedicated space to show off augmented, virtual and mixed reality applications.
“The tech industry continues to be a core driver for B.C.’s economy, and has grown by an impressive 14 per cent in the past two years,” says Shahrzad Rafati, founder and CEO, BroadbandTV, “Now is the perfect time for us to evolve beyond Silicon Valley of the North and collectively define who we are and what we stand for.”
Advances in the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, cleantech, and autonomous vehicles will all be on the agenda, along with keynote addresses from thought leaders such as Ben Parr, author of Captivology, and IBM.
“There is incredible innovation happening in British Columbia,” says Shirley Vickers, president and CEO, BC Innovation Council, “And the #BCTECH Summit will showcase global thought leadership and position our province as a beacon of transformative tech for the world to see.”
What Was on Offer
The agenda went well beyond keynotes. The government release promised sector-specific deep dives on how technology is changing industries across the province, from natural resources and agriculture to health and digital media, plus networking receptions and Techfest by Techvibes, a recruiting event connecting hiring companies with tech talent.
There was a strong business-to-business focus too. Shortly before the event, the province said the summit would facilitate more than 200 business-to-business meetings between small and medium-sized companies and larger tech firms and government agencies. The same release noted that B2B meetings at the 2016 summit had resulted in an estimated $4 million in investment, 33 new jobs and more than $800,000 in deal flow.
Register for #BCTECH before December 20 to take advantage of early bird pricing.
How the 2017 Summit Went
The second summit, held at the Vancouver Convention Centre, sold out ahead of time, with more than 5,000 participants expected, over 220 speakers and more than 300 exhibitors. Around 1,500 school-aged students also took part in Youth Innovation Day activities, and the summit opened on March 13 with #BCTECH on the Terrace, a free public celebration at Jack Poole Plaza that included the lighting of the Olympic and Paralympic Cauldron.
When it wrapped, the province announced that the #BCTECH Summit would become an annual event. It said the 2017 summit brought together over 5,000 business and technology leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, academics and students, with more than 3,000 registered delegates and more than 1,000 organizations represented.
What Came Next
The event kept growing. The 2018 BCTECH Summit ran from May 14 to 16 at the Vancouver Convention Centre and drew roughly 9,000 attendees, according to UBC’s Institute for Computing, Information and Cognitive Systems, which took part.
Vancouver has since landed an even bigger stage. In May 2025, Web Summit Vancouver brought more than 15,000 tech leaders, investors, startups and media from over 130 countries to the Vancouver Convention Centre, according to Trade and Invest BC. It was Web Summit’s first North American event and replaced Toronto’s Collision conference, and more than 300 B.C. companies took part.
For B.C. founders, the lesson from the summit’s early years is that a local showcase can do real work. Face-to-face meetings with buyers, investors and government agencies turned into measurable deals, and a tech scene that Shahrzad Rafati wanted to move “beyond Silicon Valley of the North” now hosts one of the world’s largest tech conferences.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was the second #BCTECH Summit held?
The second #BCTECH Summit took place on March 14 and 15, 2017, at the Vancouver Convention Centre. It opened on March 13 with #BCTECH on the Terrace, a free public celebration at Jack Poole Plaza.
Who organized the #BCTECH Summit?
The summit is presented by the B.C. government and its Crown agency, the BC Innovation Council. It is an initiative of the #BCTECH Strategy, which includes a $100-million BC Tech Fund.
How many people attended the #BCTECH Summit?
The first summit in January 2016 drew more than 3,500 people against a goal of 1,000. The province said the 2017 summit brought together over 5,000 participants, and the 2018 summit drew roughly 9,000 attendees.
What did the #BCTECH Summit offer businesses?
The 2017 summit facilitated more than 200 business-to-business meetings between smaller companies and larger tech firms and government agencies. B2B meetings at the 2016 summit resulted in an estimated $4 million in investment and 33 new jobs.
What major tech conference does Vancouver host now?
Vancouver hosted Web Summit Vancouver in May 2025, which drew more than 15,000 tech leaders, investors, startups and media from over 130 countries. It was Web Summit's first North American event and replaced Toronto's Collision conference.