With Web Summit Vancouver bringing thousands of global tech leaders to the city, the federal government used the moment to announce $17.3 million in investments across eight BC companies commercializing AI and quantum technologies. The announcement was made by the Honourable Gregor Robertson, Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada, at the Vancouver headquarters of Human in Motion Robotics.
Human in Motion Robotics is receiving $3 million to integrate AI into XoMotion, its wearable robotic exoskeleton designed to help people with spinal cord injuries and other neurological conditions regain mobility, and to scale manufacturing beyond clinical settings into homes and communities.
"We see a future where intelligent wearable robots seamlessly restore mobility and independence in everyday life. This investment accelerates that vision — enabling us to integrate AI at the core of our technology, expand into homes and communities, and establish Canada as a global leader in transforming human mobility through robotics," said co-CEOs Siamak Arzanpour and Edward Park.
Also in health tech, BioConscious Technologies is receiving $1.5 million to commercialize Endobits, an AI platform designed to detect medical events at their earliest stage for patients with diabetes, targeting hospitals across Canada and the United States.
On the quantum side, Dream Photonics is receiving just over $1.1 million to establish domestic pilot manufacturing of optical interconnects — the components that enable AI and quantum chips to communicate. CEO Lukas Chrostowski described the challenge as "one of the most challenging aspects of manufacturing AI and quantum hardware — getting the light in and out of the photonic chips, and into optical fibers."
Musora, an Abbotsford-based music education platform serving students in more than 90 countries, is receiving the largest single investment at $5 million. The funding will support a new in-house studio, expanded multilingual content including Spanish language programming, and AI-enabled personalized learning features.
Vrify, which turns complex geological data into mineral exploration targets for mining companies, is receiving $2.87 million to advance its AI-assisted mineral discovery platform.
"By commercializing and adopting cutting-edge innovations, these companies are strengthening Canada's domestic technology base and sharpening our global competitive edge," said Minister Robertson.
Also receiving support is MLVX Technologies, doing business as Metaspectral, with $2.55 million to commercialize AI-powered imaging systems that help recycling facilities identify and sort materials that would otherwise end up in landfill.
ThisFish, which develops AI-powered camera systems for seafood quality inspection, is receiving $665,000 to scale its technology globally.
Starfish Medical, a Victoria-based medical device development firm, is receiving $620,000 to build an AI platform that accelerates medical device design.
Separately, PacifiCan is investing $6.6 million to connect Canada's tech sector to global opportunities through Web Summit Vancouver — one of the world's leading technology conferences, now in its second year in the city.