Welcome to this week’s Midweek Memo. In this issue, read about a biotech entrepreneur getting attention from a global startup ecosystem, what inspired local philanthropist Craig Mearns to match contributions to a surgical innovation campaign for local hospitals, and why VoxCell BioInnovation’s founder CEO is one of Canada’s emerging leaders.

Now on to today’s briefing. It’s 829 words: a three-minute read.

-Emily, [email protected]

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Blue economy gets a boost from federal funding

From multi-million dollar projects with Canada’s Ocean Supercluster to the opening of a dedicated ocean venture accelerator, Vancouver Island’s blue economy has been getting attention recently.

This week, the sector is back in the news with the announcement of $1.1 million in PacifiCan funding for two projects. 

North Island College is set to receive $881,600 to establish the Seaweed Innovation Hub, which will create a seaweed seed bank. The money will go towards securing a mobile processing unit, testing new seaweed dehydration and food processing technologies, and helping small-scale producers improve operations and adopt innovations.

The B.C. Shellfish Growers’ Association, a non-profit representing shellfish industry stakeholders, will also receive funding, to the tune of $250,000. The investment will support the Industry Modernization of Practices, Accountability, and Communications Program, which helps small-scale shellfish producers update their operations with advanced tech, boost productivity, promote environmental stewardship, and reach into global markets.

“The blue economy represents an opportunity for sustainable economic growth in British Columbia,” said Harjit S. Sajjan, the minister responsible for PacifiCan: the Government of Canada's development agency focused on the province’s evolving economy.

“By supporting innovation in B.C.’s seaweed and shellfish industries, we are helping local businesses improve productivity, expand into new markets, and create quality jobs,” he continued. “These investments will also promote environmental stewardship, ensuring our ocean resources are managed sustainably, while driving economic benefits for coastal regions and Indigenous communities.”

📰 More Victoria innovation news

💥 I’m going straight to the top: Stephanie Willerth, CEO of local biotech startup Axolotl Biosciences, is a top-10 finalist for DMZ’s Women Innovation Summit Pitch Competition.

🤑 Put your money where your mouth is: Local philanthropist Craig Mearns has said that he’ll match donations to the Victoria Hospitals Foundation's It’s Time for Surgical Innovation campaign (capped at $1 million). The initiative is raising funds for new technology for the Royal Jubilee and Victoria General hospitals.

👀 I can see clearly now: Victoria’s Karolina Valente, founder and CEO of VoxCell BioInnovation, was named to the Globe and Mail’s list of 20 emerging leaders. VoxCell develops 3D bio-printed tissue for drug testing.

🕴️ Tech jobs of the week

Find your next career:

• Finance and payroll accountant at Open Ocean Robotics

• Azure cloud engineer at EY

• Project officer at the University of Victoria

Hiring in Victoria? Reply to this email and let us know!

📅 Upcoming events

March 4-6 | Rising Economy Conference

Now in its fifth year, the Rising Economy conference is a highly anticipated “business conference for business insiders.” Rising Economy features a curated selection of in-person and online events designed to guide businesses and other organizations to meet the challenges and pursue the opportunities of the 21st century. With an A-list of exciting keynote speakers and panelists, Rising Economy explores topics critical to Greater Victoria, British Columbia, and the world around us.

March 7 | Know Your Faults — Earthquake Hazards of the Cascadia Subduction Zone

Vancouver Island owes much of its physical beauty to its location along a major plate boundary, the Cascadia subduction zone. Unfortunately, this comes at a price: the ever-present threat posed by earthquakes and secondary hazards like tsunamis, landslides, and liquefaction. This lecture will introduce what we know about the Cascadia megathrust fault, responsible for great earthquakes (up to magnitude 9) every few hundred years, but also deep earthquakes in the subducting Juan de Fuca plate and shallow earthquakes in the overriding North American crust, which though smaller in magnitude are both more frequent and potentially very damaging locally.

March 11-13 | 27th Annual Victoria International Privacy & Security Summit

The summit, hosted at the Victoria Conference Centre, is fully in person and will welcome up to 1,000 professionals involved in public sector transformation, security, and privacy. This year’s event will highlight strategies for public sector transformation in the new world of artificial intelligence. This summit brings together visionaries, experts, and innovators to explore the intricate intersection of advanced artificial intelligence with critical privacy and security imperatives.

Have an upcoming event? Reply to let us know.

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This week:

• Someone is looking to connect with local VCs and investors who might value having a CX operations expert in their network.

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