Deep Tech Innovation Ecosystems: An analysis of Vancouver, Canada
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sahay-sm-sdm-2026-thesis.pdf
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Author(s)
Sahay, Vivek
Advisor(s)
Budden, Phil
Date Issued
February 2026
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
In the past century, there has been tremendous scientific and technological innovation. The light bulb, the transistor, electricity, advanced pharmaceuticals, the internet, the airplane, satellites, and the list of novel innovations are endless. A phenomenon that has also followed these innovations is the regional clustering of expertise, talent, and resources around an innovation. These regional clusters are known as Innovation Ecosystems.
Like everything, technology and innovations have a lifecycle, and what was once novel eventually becomes commonplace. As a means for differentiation, Deep Technologies, or Deep Tech, is a term that came about in the last decade to describe novel science and technology breakthroughs with a potential for commercialization and impact. Because of the lower Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) typically associated with Deep Tech, getting a novel breakthrough from an idea to impact requires more time and resources. The need for various types of resources, from financing to specialized equipment, human talent, and technology, is indicative that a vibrant Innovation Ecosystem is a competitive advantage for Deep Tech. This can be seen with Boston/Cambridge for Life Sciences and Robotics, Silicon Valley for semiconductors and internet technologies, and other global innovation leaders, such as Toronto, Tokyo, Taiwan, Beijing, London, Eindhoven, and Paris.
Innovation is not isolated to a select few global regions; innovation is happening everywhere. While on the outset, competing for talent and resources against the global powerhouses would prove challenging, Deep Tech presents an opportunity. By inherently being novel technologies with a low TRL, there are technological and scientific niches in which other regions can build expertise and a competitive advantage. However, this is unlikely to occur organically, and the right individuals would need to come together and foster the conditions to build out a competitive Deep Tech Innovation Ecosystem. This thesis explores just that.
This work leverages a framework devised by MIT Sloan’s Technological Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Strategic Management (TIES) Group to analyze the Innovation Ecosystem of Vancouver, Canada, to identify the region’s existing strengths and opportunities. The analysis further narrows the focus to specifically identify the potential Deep Tech domains in which Vancouver could create a vibrant and competitive Deep Tech Innovation Ecosystem.
MIT Department
System Design and Management Program.
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