British Columbia stands at a pivotal moment in its development as an AI hub. With significant investment flowing into the region ($1.8 billion USD from 2018-2023), a growing community of over 180 AI-focused companies, and robust government support mechanisms, the foundation is solid for dramatic acceleration of the ecosystem. This data-driven strategy presents a comprehensive roadmap to propel BC's AI ecosystem forward, with specific focus on the Vancouver AI community's perspective and the leadership of local AI innovators like Kris Krüg. By implementing these strategic initiatives, BC can strengthen its position as a global AI leader while ensuring inclusive economic growth and responsible advancement of AI technologies.
British Columbia has established itself as a "national leader in applied and commercialized AI" with a thriving tech ecosystem and highly educated talent pool1. The Metro Vancouver region serves as the epicenter of this growth, hosting over 180 companies developing AI and machine learning-based products and services across diverse sectors as of November 20245. These companies have collectively attracted over $1.8 billion in investments between 2018 and 2023, demonstrating strong market confidence in the region's AI capabilities5.
Despite this impressive foundation, several challenges remain that must be addressed strategically. Small businesses, which comprise 98% of BC's business landscape, typically adopt new technologies more slowly than their larger counterparts4. Additionally, Canada's business culture tends to be more risk-averse than that of the United States, potentially slowing AI integration across the economy4. This creates a risk of a "digital divide" where uneven adoption of AI could create competitive disadvantages for certain segments of the economy4.
The vision guiding this strategy is to establish British Columbia as a globally recognized hub for applied AI innovation and responsible implementation by 2030, generating economic prosperity while ensuring inclusivity and positive societal impact. This will be achieved through focused initiatives addressing ecosystem growth, talent development, cross-sector integration, and ethical leadership.
The Vancouver AI community benefits from strong leadership figures who have already begun establishing frameworks for ecosystem collaboration. Kris Krüg, founder of Futureproof Creatives and a prominent AI community leader, plays a crucial role in fostering grassroots engagement through initiatives like the Vancouver AI Community Meetups2. These regular gatherings, covering topics from emerging AI technologies to sustainability integration, create vital spaces for knowledge exchange and community building2.
The community-driven events organized by figures like Krüg represent a critical component of the ecosystem's development. At a February 2025 keynote at the Whistler Institute, Krüg highlighted how "BC is shaping the global AI landscape through innovation in VFX, gaming, and digital arts," while emphasizing the need for "investing in AI literacy, ethical frameworks, and community-driven initiatives"3. These perspectives from local leadership directly inform the collaborative approach proposed in this strategy.
The success of this roadmap depends on strengthening collaboration among all key stakeholders. Organizations like AInBC, led by executive director Rob Goehring, serve as connective tissue between various players, with Goehring noting "there's a lot of momentum" in early 20256. This momentum must be channeled through a formalized collaborative framework with clear roles and responsibilities.
To maximize impact, this strategy proposes establishing an AI Leadership Council comprising representatives from each stakeholder group to provide strategic guidance and ensure alignment of efforts. This council would be supported by specialized working groups focused on key priorities such as talent development, investment attraction, and ethical frameworks. Regular community forums, building on the model established by Krüg's meetup series, would ensure grassroots perspectives continue to inform strategic decisions.
In the immediate term, five priority initiatives will establish the foundation for accelerated growth of BC's AI ecosystem.
A comprehensive mapping of all AI-related companies, research groups, funding sources, and support programs will provide the data foundation necessary for strategic decision-making. This initiative will identify specific gaps in the ecosystem and establish priority focus areas based on stakeholder consensus. Led by AInBC in partnership with Invest Vancouver, this mapping exercise will build upon existing research showing the region already hosts "over 130 firms dedicated to developing cutting-edge products and services grounded in applied AI"4.
The mapping will extend beyond simply identifying companies to analyzing their interconnections, supply chains, and support networks. It will examine how BC's existing industrial strengths in sectors like resource extraction, construction, and healthcare can be leveraged to develop specialized AI solutions that address pressing societal challenges4. The final ecosystem map will serve as a vital resource for all subsequent initiatives, ensuring investments are targeted where they can generate maximum impact.
With 98% of BC businesses employing 50 or fewer workers, addressing the adoption gap among smaller enterprises is critical to preventing a digital divide4. This initiative will launch a structured program specifically designed to help small and medium enterprises integrate AI solutions, including assessment tools, vendor matching, implementation grants, and specialized training.
The program will build on existing supports like the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative, which provides $500K-$3M in repayable contributions for businesses, and the PacifiCan Business Scale-up and Productivity Program offering up to $5M in interest-free contributions5. By consolidating and streamlining access to these resources while adding tailored support services, the accelerator will significantly reduce barriers to AI adoption for smaller businesses across the province.