Province grants $735,000 for local tech innovation network as part of province-wide funding | Fort Mcmurray Today
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Dianna de Sousa, executive director of the Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce, knows most people do not think of the region as a technology hub and that the sector is not going to become the region’s dominant economic force.
But demand is growing in the oilsands for companies providing services in fields such as artificial intelligence, automation, augmented and virtual reality, and data and analytics. There are also opportunities for those services within the community.
“I feel good about the funding. It’s helping us to create funding and programming to allow for the building of that tech skillset,” she said in an interview after the press conference.
Kevin Weidlich, CEO of FMWBEDT, said WBRIN can connect entrepreneurs with small-scale and industrial laser cutters, 3D printers, a virtual reality suite for production, and different types of software for programming needs. All this is available in the region through Startup YMM.
“Those existing businesses and entrepreneurs now have access to Alberta’s entire innovation system from here,” Weidlich said after the press conference.
Both Weidlich and de Sousa also said they want to see high school and Keyano College students more involved with WBRIN. Schools locally have put a greater focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in recent years, but both leaders said there are few opportunities locally to pursue those talents.
“We have so many great people here who win awards and so many of our kids go on to do really well. We shouldn’t limit ourselves,” said de Sousa. “We should offer opportunities for them to find their glory here in our community. Maybe sometimes they will come back after school.”
-with files from Lisa Johnson