Innovate BC has tapped a new CEO and president for the Crown agency charged with greasing the wheels of the province’s tech sector.
Peter Cowan will take the top job effective Feb. 5, Innovate BC announced Monday.
Cowan brings to his new role more than 25 years of leadership experience across Canada’s innovation ecosystem and is a recognized leader in intellectual property (IP) strategy with a wide-ranging background in IP business operations, according to Innovate BC.
He previously held the interim CEO role at Intellectual Property Ontario, where he led the launch of a new IP agency for the province.
He is also a past board member of Canada’s first patent collective, Innovation Asset Collective, the founder of Northworks IP and a government committee member of the College of Patent and Trademark Agents.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead this vital organization that drives long-term economic prosperity for British Columbia,” said Cowan in a statement.
“Innovate BC has a proven track record of strengthening our innovation ecosystem and creating opportunities for innovators, industries and other stakeholders. I look forward to working with such a dedicated team to build on this success and to make further progress on our mandate from the province.”
Innovate BC chairman Andrew Petter said in a statement Cowan’s extensive knowledge of B.C.’s innovation ecosystem, policy background as well as experience in both the private and public sectors make him an ideal person for this role.
Innovative BC is a provincial Crown agency that aims to foster innovation across the province and bolster the growth of the local economy through delivering programs that help companies start and scale, access talent and encourage technology development, commercialization and adoption.
