The Canadian Digital Media Network is hosting a meeting of all 26 of its innovation hubs in Halifax this week, and will highlight several of the Atlantic Canadian companies accepted into its global Soft Landing Program.
Based in Kitchener, Ont., the CDMN is a network of innovation organizations from across the country, and it is dedicated to expanding Canada’s digital industries. It is meeting in Halifax this week to coincide with the opening of the new home one Halifax member, Volta Labs. Its other Atlantic Canadian members are St. John’s-based Genesis, Moncton-based Venn Innovation and the Nova Scotia Crown corporation Innovacorp.
“This is a chance for different innovation hubs …to share best practices and talk about key issues facing companies, or in how we help them,” said Chris Plunkett, the network’s Director of Media Relations.
The event will include a discussion of the Soft Landing Program, which helps Canadian companies increase their sales and attract investment in specific overseas markets. Halifax companies Fundmetric, Analyze Re and Swept will speak about their experiences in the program.
Plunkett said the program has helped 486 companies make 670 landings in 58 countries, leading to $65.3 million in sales and $80 million in new investments.
When the program announced its most recent cohort in July, the 42 companies accepted included four from Atlantic Canada. They are: Elandas, of Saint John, which is targeting customers in Marlboro and East Hanover, New Jersey; Site 2020, Halifax, which is targeting Austin, Miami and Dallas; SomaDetect, Fredericton, which is targeting Shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing, China; and Swept, which is targeting San Francisco.