We asked our contributors some questions about their reflections on 2020 and what they are excited about in 2021. Here’s a Christmas gift - their ideas and insights.
Jeff White
Our team were resilience in adapting and serving our portfolio of researchers and entrepreneurs. We grew our research funding, our partnerships, launched a COVID-19 Emergency Fund with NBHRF and ACOA, and launched an Early-Stage Commercialization fund with ACOA and Innovacorp too.
For 2021, we will see continued building of momentum and renewed confidence. We will enter the year with the notion that it is because of being here, we can deliver world-class research and support companies solving global opportunities.
I invite our ecosystem to be part of owning and building the Atlantic Canadian Innovation story. Share and support the success of everyone!
Malcolm Fraser
Innovacorp | LinkedIn | Twitter
I am especially proud of our team’s ability to shift gears quickly after the start of the pandemic. In a short time, we were able to engage with our clients, understand what they needed to get through a difficult economic shift and get the resources out in record time. Since April we have put out or committed over $6M dollars in investment that has leveraged an additional $78 million in capital into our portfolio companies. Our start-up founders demonstrated how remarkably agile they are – weathering the storm, making tough decisions, being extra resourceful, even finding new opportunities during the crisis.
2021 is going to be an exciting year. If history teaches us anything, challenging economic circumstances instigates more innovation and the corporate change required to realize the value of innovation. This means more companies/ideas coming out of our region and faster progress for those in market already.
Kendra MacDonald
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster | LinkedIn | Twitter
Our accelerated ocean solutions program call for proposals in response to the impacts of the pandemic on ocean sectors resulted in an overwhelming response with more than 250 project ideas, more than 400 organizations engaged, 36 projects approved since March and 20 projects announced this year. The energy is exciting! 350 members and growing!
In 2021, we will build on this momentum as an ocean nation and building back bluer! Our projects will be hiring and training resources. We are seeing an increase in international interest in what we are doing and that will continue to create incredible opportunities for our companies. We will see a further increase in the number of tech companies that will see opportunities in the ocean and that a strengthened ocean technology supply chain will have the opportunity to bring their solutions to the world.
The world is noticing what is happening in Atlantic Canada and Canada, and we are building incredible companies with the support of great organizations throughout the region.
Kathryn Lockhart
Though new to this ecosystem, I am nothing but optimistic for 2021. The year will be what we make it, and from what I see, our region has all the right ingredients to take our tech industry to the next level. Our pursuit to find, shape, and launch baby unicorns will keep us busy and energized at Propel as our coaches continue the important work they do, helping build foundational skills of quality founders and supporting their journeys. Bring on 2021!
Barbara Ells
While 2020 was a challenging year, entrepreneurs and tech companies from across the Atlantic Region have shown their resilience and determination in moving forward. We have seen success demonstrated in many ways – from pivots, to partnerships, to financing, to acquisitions, all of which will lead to continued growth in the region.
In 2021, Venn is excited to continue working alongside innovative clients and ecosystem partners to increase the global visibility of Atlantic Canada and the innovative products that we offer to the world.
Tyson Johnson
We reflect on a year that will be remembered for many reasons. 2020 placed the digital economy under a spotlight and all citizens, from the shop floor to the boardroom, are now keenly aware of the need for resiliency and security in the digital landscape across which we all operate. This has created increased opportunities for technology companies and entrepreneurs to grow and develop new, innovative ways to support the global digital economy. Cybersecurity firms we work with have reported record years with the services they provide.
Gaps are also being identified as the world goes ‘digital’, and in particular the ability to secure the digital supply chains across the world and the interoperability of technologies across sectors. This has created opportunity for new business and we anticipate companies across Atlantic Canada to innovate and fill these gaps that the market identifies. Best of luck to everyone in 2021.
Eric Cook
The pandemic was devasting for many and disruptive for most, and we are looking forward to 2021. An intervention or crisis can stimulate change, some of which leads to innovation. Three positives as we look forward to the new year are:
An appreciation for technology. Videoconferencing, cloud computing and other technologies are invaluable during the pandemic and are sure to be adopted, improved and incorporated in our businesses.
An appreciation for value from the supply chain. The pandemic saw a shift from the drive for lowest price to a more complete value model (delivery, quality and price). Delivery was especially important; suppliers that could remain operational and continued to deliver were essential. This also drives the buy local movement and is likely to provide re-shoring opportunities.
An appreciation for productivity. Similar to the supply of materials, the supply of labour became significant. Some businesses are already analyzing their dependence on low cost labour and looking to advanced technology to help improve productivity. More businesses are recognizing that advanced manufacturing technology is applicable for small and medium sized businesses and this is a positive.
I hope your business can benefit from technology to help recover from the pandemic and have a prosperous future.
Larry Shaw
Ignite Fredericton | LinkedIn | Twitter
The pandemic shook our economy to the ground and the impact and stress that we have endured was nothing short of dramatic. Our hearts go out to those who battled the disease and the family and friends of those that lost that battle. We still saw glimmers of opportunities and hope. We saw New Brunswickers dig deep and join forces to implement change and some of those changes are important to keep. As with many organizations and businesses, the people made all the difference.
Looking ahead, I’m most excited for the opportunity we have in cyber security. That comes as no surprise since we invested $7M of equity and took on the financial and operational accountability for the Cyber Centre. We are proud that this is the largest capital program in Canada dedicated to cyber security. Cyber, in many ways, has similarities to other strategic initiatives in the past and has the potential for hundreds of jobs, significant investment attraction opportunities, and will be attractive to both existing citizens/labour market and that of newcomers.
Wayne Sumarah
Digital Nova Scotia | LinkedIn
Throughout this unprecedented year, Digital Nova Scotia continued to focus on advancing the growth of Nova Scotia’s tech sector, and the province’s digital economy. As we’ve seen during the pandemic, the tech sector plays a leadership role in transforming and accelerating economic growth as the digital economy gains momentum. We face a future with incredible opportunities, including increased productivity and innovation across all sectors.
We offered great programming this year partnering with Tourism NS to offer a digital assistance program, we launched the Skills for Hire program in partnership with Bluedrop Learning Networks, we partnered with the Discovery Centre to host a series of Digital Discovery Camps for youth, and we had outstanding winners, both individuals and organizations, at our 2020 Digital Diversity Awards.
Paul Eisner
Mariner is completing its best year ever, despite the pandemic. We focused on our services and solutions that could be marketed and delivered remotely. We assisted clients on accelerating their digital transformations that were suddenly top priority. All the great digital transformation strategies down the list, went to the top and became a priority in 2020. I believe these accelerations will lead to a seachange of productivity improvements over the next few years for both the public and private sector.
And we grew! Mariner increased our consulting base by almost 100 new team members. We hired local, we hired new Canadians, we hired grads, we hired people who had moved away from the region and we brought them home! Make no mistake, 2020 will be remembered as a difficult and tragic year from almost all perspectives. Happy Holiday’s and here’s to looking forward to 2021!