Government of Canada Supports Advancements in Health Innovation

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - April 14, 2016) - Western Economic Diversification Canada

Today, the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada, announced an investment of $600,000 to support the Interface Health Society in establishing a virtual global digital health accelerator.

Federal funding, provided through the Western Diversification Program, will support the Interface Health Society with their online communication platform and database. This platform will engage a community of researchers, innovators, commercial partners and consumers in digital health, allowing businesses to more effectively commercialize their products by being connected to resources, expertise and capital.

The Interface Health Society will also organize the Interface Challenge, a competition where Canadian and international digital health innovators find and develop creative solutions to industry problems. In addition, the Interface Health Society will organize and host an annual Interface Summit which will bring members together to showcase the capacities of Western Canadian digital health companies, create networking opportunities, and generate new business leads.

Quick Facts

• An estimated 150 companies make up the digital health technology community in B.C.
• Companies include TELUS, a leading health information technology company in Canada; Genome BC, a significant funding agency for genomic research; Providence Health Care Research Institute; Ayogo Health; Curatio; Lions Gate Medical; and others.
• Interface Health Society is the only virtual digital health accelerator in Western Canada.

Quotes

"The Government of Canada is proud to partner with Interface Health Society in bolstering commercial opportunities in the digital health sector. By supporting this project, we are ensuring innovators are connected with the resources that will enable them to realize new solutions to healthcare challenges."

- The Honourable Navdeep Singh Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada

"I am proud to see Vancouver at the forefront of innovation in digital health. This project will not only ultimately help patients but it will also generate new business opportunities in our local communities."

- Dr. Hedy Fry, Member of Parliament for Vancouver Centre

"Interface Health is grateful that the Government of Canada has selected our global digital health accelerator to support the growth of health, life sciences, and other health-related startups and small- and medium-sized enterprises in Western Canada. Together with our partners, we are excited about empowering people and companies to access strategic resources and new markets in Western Canada and globally anytime, anywhere faster than ever before for the benefit of all Canadians."

- Michael Bidu, Founder and CEO Interface Health

Additional Links

- Interface Health

- Western Economic Diversification Canada - Western Diversification Program

WD is online at www.wd-deo.gc.ca.

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