CV TECH ROUND TABLE OCTOBER

Transcription

1 CV TECH ROUND TABLE OCTOBER Facilitator Notes Prepared by: Meaghan Cursons [January 2015]

2 THE QUESTIONS The purpose of the October Tech Round Table was to bring together a diverse group of individuals engaged in the Comox Valley tech sector for an open and creative discussion about the following topics: a) What is happening right now in the sector locally? b) What do we think would benefit the sector right now? By whom? From whom? c) What our local vision of the sector in 5 years? (small groups) d) What should we do Right Now? What s Happening in the Sector Now? (brainstorm) Comox Valley - Bricks and Mortar - Entrepreneurial led work hub, grassroots North Island College - IMG Advisory committee, strong linkages with employers, actively engaged with 15+ employers right now. Innovation Island for the region, federal and prov. funding, focused on scalable business currently, could expand. CVEDS is working with Innovation Island. Campbell River Creative Industries Council a not for profit, board led, funding through City Council, First Nations and NIEFS, members not only from CR NI Games Nanaimo - Maker Space - entrepreneurial led, interesting model, rent based on membership MeetUp.com - tech entrepreneurs Oceanside Digital Media - Qualicum Beach studio used for meet ups, examples of how we organize ourselves Entrepreneurial Directory under development in Q.B., island wide content Workpqb.com project of the Chamber in QB Welcometoqb.com - visitor focused, Town of QB funded, entrepreneurial led/not lame. Nanaimo Square 1 - co-work space Technoholics Sudonymous Team Generous did an animated film for Habitat for Humanity, high end animators joined forces in CR/QI to support the development of a short film 2

3 Plans for a symposium NIC led in the new year The Web Posse with members we should be doing stuff here! High potential for entrepreneurial/industry led sector development We are YQQ The Update Company Hinterland Studio Tech Talent - professionals living here and working around the world Challenges and Opportunities for the Sector Opportunities Positive outgoing community Lower cost of living and high quality of life 3 craft breweries and a distillery (or 2) the customers are here! Geographic proximity to large cities and airport/float plane access Cost of real estate (relatively) NIC is a big asset Proximity to like minded communities our neighbours The opportunity for this to be grassroots Intellectual capital and talent that is here right now Start Up Communities as templates. Businesses are best at business development, not government Challenges Lack of capital/cash Lack of people, critical mass not here yet Lack of cohesiveness and hospital project preoccupation We re complacent, we re awesome Lack of clarity about what this sector actually is? Who is it? Government and EC Dev still focused on things that are not tech and gov. moves slowly BC Government s attitude about communities north of the Malahat, relegated to resource extraction Our belief that we need to government to do this we don t Local government is restrained and not allowed to subsidize directly Communications disconnect between multiple local government, CVEDS, Chamber, SD 71 and NIC, layers of bureaucracy Governance of the CV, too many jurisdictions reduces critical mass, less opportunities Anxiety between the formal and the informal, dependent vs. independent 3

4 No current organization to move the agenda forward We re all really busy What do we think would benefit the sector? A Tech Directory listing local resources, similar to Innovation Island but more local, more robust, reflects tech diversity (viatech) Creating Tech Community/A Hub - support between peers, coming out from the underground, people working from home wanting to connect and create community, a support network, it needs to coalesce, mixers and networking! A Central Convening Body sector initiatives not just falling on one person, people showing up, like the web posse, but maybe stronger, better, evolving, connected to Hub and Directory. Industry Led Marketing/ Investment Attraction creative grassroots marketing of the sector, recognition of the scale and value of the sector marketing, support for/avoid burnout by volunteers as sector champions. A paid person perhaps? Too much work to be done for a volunteer. Advocacy Advocacy for better travel options, rents. Financial support for this perhaps (local ec. dev dollars?). Developing and committing to a sector growth strategy for the Valley. Facilitate the start up economy! Tech Sector Branding as above, industry driven, with a champion/coordinator with funds attached. Assess the size of the sector, is tech to large a net, or too small? Marketing to diverse audiences including investment attraction. A Connected K-12, NIC and Business Community direct connections to local trades, better post secondary/industry bridging and supported employment. Access to Research $ - NIC/wavefront, opportunity to test equipment, innovations Anchor Tenants/Businesses local tech activities that hire, attract new talent, and build local skills base, create a bigger employer pool in general Better Sector Connections within the existing tech pool, greater knowledge of who is actually here industry contacts, end the isolation in the local sector, connecting within the industry, peers and support. Includes 4

5 individuals, groups and communities on the Island. We need a better snap shot/understanding of the local sector. Island-Wide Thinking think of the Island as our own Silicon Valley. Stop silo-ing the sector, don t limit geographically, think whole island. Local Government Getting It includes elected people and staff, jurisdictional knowledge, zoning issues, land use. It would be great if local government understood the needs or wants of the sector and how to help it grow. Import Export Support (widgets), how to do it, help with brokerage issues, non consistent currently, end red tape, Learning Opportunities formal and informal workshops, speakers, courses, bring back computer science program at NIC Better Local Understanding of the nature of the sector, general public realtors, CVEDS, business, investment attraction strategies, amenities migration. Helping others understand how the CV would benefit as a whole from a stronger sector. Strengthen the relationship in both directions reach out more. Contracting Locally a strong base of contractors and freelancers to call on, more local work would be great, sharing tender info, referrals, more and better clients. Sustainability/Green Focus encourage green industries and discourage those that harm the planet, sustainable economic development key. What is our vision of the tech sector in our community? In 5 years.. GROUP 1 We ll be an educated community where tech has a measurable impact on the local economy and people understand how technology has touches everything. The Valley has a membership driven organization with a recognizable tech brand, and a paid coordinator to act as a hub for the local sector. GROUP 2 There will be a central hub, coalescing the interests of the tech community. There will be a go to paid person making connections, organizing events and facilitating strong member 5

6 engagement. There will be a strong web presence to demonstrate/story tell the tech sector (who and what) and a satellite of Innovation Island with a focus on the CV. In addition we will be attracting significant numbers of tele-workers. GROUP 2 We will be at a place where we have defined who we are and who we wish to be. There will be 4-5 medium sized businesses (under 50 employees) to point to as examples. Capital and talent are flowing into the CV. There is a person paid to run a grassroots sector organization OR a chapter of Innovation Island or something like that. There is a directory that visually represents/maps the connections between local talent networks. GROUP 4 The Comox Valley economic identity will shift away from resources to technology. We will have a clear sense of who we are, who we represent. We ll be partnering with existing organizations in the tech sector and organizing ourselves so that there is a clear conduit for sector communication. We will engage in fluid, member funded (and local gov supported?) marketing and sector development. GROUP 5 We ll have a thriving sector with 500+ high paid jobs from 12 medium sized employers as well as vibrant incubator/co-working/makerspaces helping small businesses with big ideas to grow. NIC will be growing local talent, incubating innovation, doing research and offering a competitive degree program. There will be funds for research and innovation. In addition, there will be resources to fund entrepreneurial driven marketing for the sector. What Should We Do Right Now? Translate members into a paid membership of a new organization. Hire a coordinator. Challenge CVED to acknowledge tech as key through communication and action. Request they return phone calls * note from CVEDS attendees: CVEDS will be initiating a business survey with a tech component in 2015 Engage with the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce as a task force, CVC is willing to have the conversation about collaboration and organizational support. Do a business led Business Development Road Show get out there and attract business to the Valley. 6

7 Re-organize into a new facebook group - or possibly keep working with What to do about Tech. and #Weareyqq Collaborate more with other Island-wide organizations. Innovation Island, CR Creatives, Chambers, think island-wide. Get an economic impact study happening (funded? Industry led?) Ask local government to fund some sort of sector collaboration Initiate a local speakers circuit to build awareness (currently happening YQQ) Connect with each other politically, informally, starting small with the people right around you. 7