There’s a number of good reasons why Vancouver, Canada, has become the second largest AR/VR hub in the world.

Nestled between fir tree-covered mountains and sandy urban beaches, the city hosts more than 220 AR/VR companies that are pioneering the ways that we will live, work, and play.

Tourism Vancouver, in conjunction with the VR/AR Association Vancouver, Creative, B.C., and the Vancouver Economic Commission, are excited to announce the launch of Vancouver Day at this year’s South By Southwest conference (SXSW) at Canada House (92 Rainey St, Austin TX)

The showcase will first spotlight Vancouver’s augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) ecosystem. Keynote speeches from Amy Peck (founder/CEO of EndeavorVR) and Martina Welkhoff (founding partner of the Women in XR Fund) will precede a panel about the reasons why Vancouver has risen to become the second largest AR/VR hub globally. Representatives from companies including Conquer Experience, Motive.io, and the VR/AR Association will discuss B.C.’s dynamic innovations to international stakeholders, and the reasons why Vancouver is a top destination for tech investment, opportunity, and development.

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Gone are the days when virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) were dismissed as fad and gimmick. Immersive tech is today regarded as a profoundly influential technology with the power to change the way we live, work, and experience the world.

As one of the fastest growing VR/AR communities, Vancouver, British Columbia, has emerged as a top international tech leader. Home to more than 170 VR/AR companies and a thriving startup economy, the city is the ideal climate for tech investment and development.

In February of this year the Canadian Government recognized BC as a digital technology supercluster and allocated $1.4 billion CAD to fund 100 digital projects. This is on top of the $100 million in venture capital investment pledged by the provincial government just last year, along with the implementation a new tax credit specifically for VR/AR.

2017 also marked the opening of the BC Tech Cube, a 6,000 square-foot coworking space dedicated to VR/AR and mixed reality companies. The project is jointly supported by local tech leaders, like Microsoft and Archiact, and the federal government to encourage continued VR/AR/MR innovation.

The industry is further supported by the Vancouver Chapter of the global VR/AR Assocation, whose XX members and community partners span industries as diverse as enterprise, brands, education, health care, and gaming.

With the federal and provincial government on board and new investment on the way, there has never been a better time than right now for VR/AR in Vancouver.

Join representatives from top VR/AR companies Finger Food, Motive.io, VR/AR Association and Archiact to explore how Vancouver has transformed into a leading destination for tech innovation and VR/AR development.