Published: March 31, 2026 |

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B.C. is launching a new program aimed at accelerating the testing and deployment of technologies in the mining and critical minerals sector.

The initiative, part of the province’s Integrated Marketplace program, is designed to help B.C. companies test, deploy and scale technologies in real-world environments while supporting commercialization by linking technology providers with potential industrial buyers, according to the province.

“Mineral exploration and the mining sector are a cornerstone of B.C.‘s economy… They play a vital role in driving economic growth and achieving a shared prosperous future for all British Columbians,” said Ravi Kahlon, B.C.’s minister of jobs and economic growth, in an announcement Friday afternoon.

Kahlon did not announce how much funding has been allocated for the new program.

The first project under the new “testbed” is a partnership between North Vancouver’s EMP Metals Corp. and Richmond-based Saltworks Technologies Inc. The companies will work on a demonstration plant to turn Saskatchewan lithium brines into battery-grade lithium, according to the province.

“This technology will boost B.C.’s capacity to produce battery-grade lithium,” the province said in a statement Friday, Feb. 27.

Projects at the mining and critical minerals testbed will focus on areas including AI and software-enabled productivity solutions, power supply and alternative energy systems for mines, and low-emission vehicles and fleet management, according to the province.

They will also explore supply chain traceability through digital credentialing, as well as mineral processing innovations designed to reduce chemical consumption, improve waste streams, and support value-added processing.

This is the sixth testbed launched under the Integrated Marketplace program by Innovate BC.

Source: Business Intelligence for B.C.

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