A memo of understanding has been signed by close to 50 Pacific Northwest organizations including educational institutions, life science research networks, laboratories and new venture groups affirming the creation of the Cascadia Venture Acceleration Network, which will operate as a consortium supporting entrepreneurs and researchers across British Columbia, Washington state and Oregon.
The new network which will initially focus primarily on the cultivation of life sciences and clean technologies, extends the partnership that was established last September when the State of Washington and Province of British Columbia pledged their mutual commitment for collaboration in developing a regional innovation zone known as the Cascadia Innovation Corridor. The Corridor has since been expanded to include Oregon.
The goals of the consortium include the following:
- Identifying innovations ready, or nearly ready, for commercialization
- Introducing innovators to cross-border funding and support opportunities
- Facilitating cross-border trade and collaboration for innovators
- Redirecting non-commercial-ready innovations to research organizations
- Sharing activities such as workshops, seminars and other educational and networking events
“In line with the Government of Canada’s mandate to foster international partnerships in science, technology and innovation, the Consulate General of Canada in Seattle led the development of the Cascadia Venture Acceleration Network as a springboard from which to launch new strategic and regionally-focused initiatives targeted at entrepreneurs, innovators, and academic researchers in the Pacific Northwest,” said Lewis Coughlin, Consul & Trade Commissioner, Consulate General of Canada in Seattle.
“The Cascadia Venture Acceleration Network holds great potential for tech innovation: connecting research, industry, academia and investment across the Pacific Northwest,” said Bruce Ralston, B.C. Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology. “The Government of B.C. fully supports this significant agreement. By working together towards shared goals, our regions can create a powerful innovation economy that benefits from local talent and entrepreneurship.”
The signatories of the Cascadia Venture Acceleration Network MOU are as follows,
Washington State, USA
- Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence
- Alliance of Angels
- Cambia Health Solutions (a.k.a.) Cambia Grove
- Cancer Research And Biostatistics (CRAB)
- CleanTech Alliance
- Flying Fish Partners
- E8 Angels (Cleantech Angels)
- Life Science Washington
- Life Science Washington Institute
- Liquid Capital Northwest
- Readiness Acceleration Innovation Network
- SURF Incubator
- Technology Alliance Group for NW Washington (TAG)
- University of Washington (UW)
- Voyager Capital
- Washington State University (WSU)
- Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA)
- Western Washington University (WWU)
- WINGS – The Medical Technology Angels
Oregon State, USA
- Oregon BEST
- Oregon Bioscience Association
- Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN)
- Oregon Health & Sciences University (OHSU)
- Oregon State University
- Oregon Translational Research & Development Institute (OTRADI)
- Portland State University (PSU)
- Technology Association of Oregon (TAO)
- University of Oregon
- Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute (ONAMI)
- Oregon RAIN (Regional Accelerator & Innovation Network)
- Willamette Angels
British Columbia, Canada
- Accelerate Okanagan
- Accel-Rx (Health Science Accelerator)
- British Columbia Cancer Agency Branch
- BC Innovation Council
- BC Tech Association
- Cascadia Venture Forum
- Espresso Capital
- Foresight CleanTech Accelerator
- Kensington Capital Partners
- Innovation Boulevard Society (BC Health Tech Accelerator)
- Life Sciences BC
- Mitacs
- New Ventures BC
- Simon Fraser University
- University of British Columbia
- Victoria Innovation, Advanced Tech & Entrepreneurship Council (VIATEC)
- Wavefront
The event took place at the Cambia Grove, a health care-focused hub offering a shared space for the region’s emerging health care economic cluster of northwest innovators and entrepreneurs. [24×7]
