The brightest among BC’s emerging technology entrepreneurs and businesses were honoured last night as two distinct awards competitions were celebrated together: the 2010 BCIC Awards and the BCIC-New Ventures Competition Awards (BCIC-NVC).

The BCIC Awards recognize the incredible achievements of BC’s technology entrepreneurs – highlighting their valuable contribution to BC’s technology community. They focus on the entrepreneurial talent of individuals as well as the commercialization potential of companies in the early stages of technology commercialization.

2010 BCIC Award Winners:

2010 BCIC Ripples of Hope Award for Biotechnology & Entrepreneurship – $35,000

  • Dr. Rhonda Wideman, UBC’s Prevention of Organ Failure Centre of Excellence (PROOF)

2010 BCIC Emerging Technology Award – $25,000

  • DuVax, Mr. Barry Duplantis and Mr. Neil Duplantis

2010 BCIC Entrepreneurship Fellow Award – $25,000

  • Dr. Bozena Kaminska, SFU Professor, Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Wireless Sensor Networks

The BCIC-NVC is one of North America’s largest technology business-idea competitions. The annual five-month, four-round B.C. competition is like a boot camp for business startups, addressing the special interests of BC’s early-stage technology companies and supporting BC’s emerging technology industry.

This year New Ventures BC is celebrating its 10th anniversary and a renewed commitment from BCIC as Lead Partner of the program. Last night, it was formally announced that the annual technology business idea competition will now be called the BCIC-New Ventures Competition (formerly the New Ventures BC Competition) in recognition of BCIC’s continued support in delivering the program each year.

BCIC-New Ventures Competition Winners:

$123,000 BCIC first-prize package:

2010 New Ventures BC Competition Winners – Hiretheworld.com

$65,000 BCIC second-prize package:

$38,000 BCIC third-prize package:

The following additional prizes acknowledging sustainability, economic impact and bioenergy solutions:

$40,000 BC Hydro Sustainability prize

  • SOLEGEAR Bioplastics Inc.

$20,000 BC Bioenergy Network prize

  • Quadrogen Power Systems

$20,000 BCIC Economic Impact prize

  • SOLEGEAR Bioplastics Inc.

The 2010 BCIC-NVC attracted more than 140 applicants. In the first time in the history of the competition, a bioenergy company took home the BC Bionenergy Network prize PLUS another prize. This is also the first time the jury has awarded three prizes to one company.

The BCIC Awards and BCIC-NVC Awards were handed out last night at the SFU Segal Graduate School of Business.

NVBC and BCIC Awards Tonight