Climate innovation takes centre stage at Web Summit Vancouver

Get ready, Vancouver! As North America welcomes its first Web Summit, the spotlight shines brightly on cleantech—the tech poised to transform our world and business for the better. From smart water solutions to sustainable agriculture and construction, cleantech isn't just about a greener future; it's about a resilient Canadian economy built on clean productivity drivers. 

Foresight Canada, NorthX, Alacrity Canada, CRIN, and Innovation UBC are excited to host Web Summit’s Climate Innovation Zone: BC's hub for climate leadership. This collaborative space will foster ecosystem growth and engagement, allowing Foresight to facilitate key discussions and demonstrate cleantech's real impact for people and planet. 

Over three days, Foresight will host engaging sessions examining cleantech innovation, market dynamics, and capital investment:

May 28

Global Innovation Index: Tech Development and Adoption Strategies (The Future Economy Summit Pt. 4)

This dynamic panel will explore strategies at the intersection of policy and innovation to bolster Canada's economic resilience and global competitiveness. Drawing on insights from Foresight’s Future-Proofing Canada report, panelists will highlight resilient sectors and opportunities despite economic headwinds. Discussions will address how policy can elevate Canada's Global Innovation Index ranking and empower innovators to succeed. Furthermore, panels will tackle practical approaches to scaling ventures through strategic team building and partnerships, navigating global markets, and protecting intellectual property amid uncertainty. Finally, experts will examine alternative funding models and fintech tools to optimize capital deployment for bringing innovation to market. Attendees will have the opportunity to further connect and discuss these insights during a networking session immediately following the panel.

Moderator: Jeanette Jackson (CEO, Foresight Canada)

Panelists/Speakers: 

• Kiersten Enemark (Director, Provincial Affairs, BC, Council of Canada Innovators)

• Jacquie Griffiths (President, Invest Vancouver)

• Sze-Mei Yeung (Partner at Richards Buell Sutton LLP)

• Fletcher Evans (Lauren Services)

• David Gratton (Work at Play)

• DH Kim (Founder and CEO, Finhaven Group)

• Mike Walkinshaw (Managing Director, Coho Capital)

• Devon Thompson (Managing Director, Banking, RBC)

May 29

BC Growth Forum

Navigating the complex journey of scaling a cleantech venture is the focus of this insightful panel featuring the leaders behind CLIR, Moment Energy, and Santevia Water Systems. They will share their firsthand experiences and hard-won insights on proven growth strategies, common scaling challenges, and effective approaches to market expansion and fundraising. The discussion will dive into how these CEOs balance cutting-edge innovation with crucial sustainability goals, offering practical advice on building high-performing teams amidst a competitive talent landscape. Attendees looking to overcome regulatory and operational hurdles, understand current investment trends, and uncover new market opportunities will gain valuable knowledge, followed by a dedicated networking session with top executives shaping the future of cleantech. 

Moderator: Tony Dhaliwal (Director, Acceleration, Foresight Canada)

Panelists/Speakers:

• Matthew Gohl (CEO, Santevia Water Systems)

• Edward Chiang (CEO, Moment Energy)

• Gareth Brown (CEO, CLIR)

Stay for the networking to meet the minds behind Foresight’s other rapidly scaling BC Grow companies:

• Cascadia Seaweed

• Celerity

• GreenStep

• Illuming Power

• Maia Farms

• Mangrove Lithium

• Power Trust

• Properate

• Rockburst Technologies

• Solaires

• TreeTrack

• Voltsafe

May 30

Tech Adoption in Canada

Learn what Canadian innovators need to know about national tech adoption during the “Tech Adoption in Canada” panel. This discussion will explore the unique opportunities and challenges innovators face when scaling their solutions across the country, from navigating diverse regulatory landscapes to ensuring interoperability and securing investment for widespread implementation.

Moderator: Jeanette Jackson (CEO, Foresight Canada)

Panelists/Speakers:

• Stephen Wilson (VP, Business Development, Properate)

• Madeleine Bouvier-Brown (Marine Operations Lead, Open Ocean Robotics)

• Phillip Abrary (President and CEO, Taurus LNG)

Net Zero Now—Decarbonizing BC’s Water Infrastructure & Vehicle Fleets 

How can you help British Columbia reach its net zero goals? This insightful look inside working groups focuses on decarbonizing BC's key water infrastructure and fleets—exploring the collaborative efforts underway, bringing together industry partners, innovators, government, Indigenous Peoples, and academia to develop practical solutions for a cleaner economy.

Moderators: 

• Nina Bader (Manager, Water, Foresight Canada)

• David Sanguinetti (COO, Foresight Canada)

Panelists/Speakers:

• Heidi Horlacher (Senior Environmental Geoscientist, City of Vancouver)

• George Benson (Senior Manager, Economic Development and Market Transformation, EIC)

• Claire Neale (Water Market Lead, Western Canada, AtkinsRealis)

• Jeff Carmichael (Division Manager, Business Development, Metro Vancouver)

• Rob Safrata, (CEO, FUSE)

• Flyn McCarthy (Principal, SysEne Consulting)

• Steve Cao (Senior Program Manager, Capacity Products, BC Hydro)

Other Cleantech Ecosystem Events

Canada x Netherlands Matchmaking

B2B matchmaking between Dutch innovators and Canadian organizations across cleantech, data, analytics, health/life sciences, and agri-food.

🗓️ May 27, 11:00 am

📍Off-site, Closed Event

Climate & Canapés

A relaxed, invite-only evening for people building, investing, or organizing around climate. Request to join: https://lu.ma/8bg3insm

🗓️ May 29, 5-8PM

📍Off-site, Closed Event

Catch You in the Zone!

Web Summit is more than just a tech conference; it's a launchpad for future innovators and the game-changing technologies shaping our world. Cleantech is central to this vision, and Foresight is excited to be part of the global dialogue, contributing to the discussions that will define tomorrow's industries, economies, and communities.

Register now