Government of Canada supports British Columbia augmented reality startup through Build in Canada Innovation Program

GATINEAU, QC, Nov. 20, 2017 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is committed to growing the economy, strengthening the middle class and helping those working hard to join it. Through the Build in Canada Innovation Program, the Government of Canada is investing in Canadian innovations to create inclusive and sustainable economic growth for communities across Canada.

The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, today announced the Government of Canada is investing in a technology software used to build location-based augmented reality applications and games.

Motive.io, of Burnaby, British Columbia, received a $482,000 contract to work with Canadian Heritage to produce location-based, augmented reality experiences in the nation's capital.  Canadian Heritage will use Motive.io's platform to bring the history, stories and cultural heritage of Canada into life for city visitors.

This investment was made through the Build in Canada Innovation Program, which helps Canadian innovators land their first sale and have their innovations tested by the Government of Canada. This program is just one of the many ways the Government of Canada supports innovation and small and medium-sized businesses across Canada.

Canadian innovators can submit their proposals on the Build in Canada Innovation Program website.

Quotes

"Through the Build in Canada Innovation Program, our government is supporting companies like Motive.io by testing their innovations in a real-life setting and providing important feedback to help them get their products to market faster. These businesses are developing innovative, cutting-edge technologies, while strengthening our economy and creating good jobs for the middle class."

The Honourable Carla Qualtrough
Minister of Public Services and Procurement

"Our government is pleased to collaborate with Motive.io and the Build in Canada Innovation Program as the testing partner for this exciting and innovative gaming guided tour app platform. We will continue our efforts to support and promote our creative industries as they continue to innovate and grow."

The Honourable Mélanie Joly
Minister of Canadian Heritage

"We're thrilled to be working with Canadian Heritage. Their eagerness to leverage new technologies to bring history to life and create engaging experiences has been fantastic. The Build in Canada Innovation Program is what made this possible and it's a great example of how the government can proactively grow a Canadian technology business."

Ryan Chapman
Chief Executive Officer, Motive.io

Quick facts

• Augmented reality, commonly abbreviated "AR," is computer-generated content overlaid on a real world environment. Augmented reality hardware comes in many forms, including devices that you can carry, such as handheld displays, and devices you wear, such as headsets, and glasses.
• The Motive.io platform allows users to create a personalized, location-based mobile application without the use of coding, to deliver content to engage visitors and audiences.
• Building an app that uses location (GPS or types of places) and augmented reality is a technically difficult and costly project. This platform allows users to create this kind of app or game faster and at a lower cost.
• More than 270 contracts have been awarded under the Build in Canada Innovation Program.
• A total of 35 contracts have been awarded to British Columbia companies, for a total value of more than $14 million.
• More than $120 million has been awarded in contracts since the Build in Canada Innovation Program began in 2010.

Associated links

Build in Canada Innovation Program

Follow us on Twitter

Follow us on Facebook

SOURCE Public Services and Procurement Canada