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Innovation Boulevard recognized with international award for economic development excellence
Innovation Boulevard, a Surrey-based initiative led by Simon Fraser University (SFU) and the City of Surrey that connects businesses with research expertise, technology and innovation resources, has received a 2026 Excellence in Economic Development Silver Award from the International Economic Development Council.
The award, presented in the Postsecondary Education Partnership category, recognizes Innovation Boulevard for its collaborative approach to helping Surrey businesses innovate and grow. Since 2025, the partnership has supported more than 250 businesses through training, industry events and pilot projects.
“This recognition is a testament to what is possible when academia, industry and government work together to turn research and innovation into meaningful economic impact,” says Kevin Oldknow, principal, Surrey campus and senior advisor to the provost.
“Innovation Boulevard reflects SFU’s commitment to collaboration and community impact, supporting businesses as they scale-up faster, commercialize sooner and build smarter, strengthening our national competitiveness.”
Connecting businesses with expertise and technology
For many small and medium-sized businesses, identifying and accessing the resources and support needed to scale successfully can be challenging, particularly within a siloed system.
Innovation Boulevard aims to make that process easier by uniting fragmented resources into a more connected system, creating clearer pathways for businesses to find the expertise, facilities and training they need.
Since its launch in 2025, Innovation Boulevard has offered AI training, automation and digital twin projects, advanced prototyping, quantum and supercomputing access, civic infrastructure for product testing and market expansion.
By demystifying technology adoption and offering low-risk entry points, the partnership gives businesses opportunities to explore new ideas, test emerging technologies and co-create solutions before scaling up.
Turning innovation into economic impact
As Canada looks to close its productivity gap, partnerships like Innovation Boulevard offer a practical and scalable model for helping businesses adopt new technologies and pursue new opportunities, creating a more connected, competitive and resilient economy.
For more information visit: www.innovationboulevard.ca
SFU Surrey’s innovation ecosystem
SFU’s Surrey campus, located in the heart of downtown Surrey, is a dynamic hub for technological advancement, health innovation and interdisciplinary education. In addition to academic expertise and research, the university operates several specialized centres, labs and institutes in Surrey.
B.C. Centre for Agritech Innovation
Supports farmers, producers, food-processors and small to medium-sized businesses to develop, train and solve industry challenges, building resilient supply chains and generate global solutions for food insecurity and climate change.
Centre for Advanced Imaging
SFU's Centre for Advanced Imaging is a leading medical imaging research facility, the first lab of its kind in Western Canada to combine high-field MRI with high-density MEG, offering deeper insight into the complex relationship between the brain and body.
Smart Manufacturing Hub
A state-of-the-art Industry 4.0 training system that simulates a highly automated smart factory, embedded with artificial vision, collaborative robots, smart devices and more.
StudioSiat
StudioSIAT offers capabilities in video production, motion capture, 2D/3D/motion graphics animation, sound recording, post production and AR/XR development. The studio is also home to the first university VTuber program.
WearTech Labs
State-of-the-art 10,000 square foot facility focused on rapid prototyping and human subject testing. The facility features 3D printing, flexible electronics, materials testing, motion capture, wind tunnels, environmental chambers, and more.