Karsten Wenzlaff, Advisor
August 26th, 2025
News | Feb 5, 2024

Image from Peter Cowan's Linkedin profile
Peter Cowan's appointment as President and CEO of Innovate BC marks a significant milestone for the agency, poised to catalyze innovation and economic growth within British Columbia's tech sector. Cowan, with his extensive background in intellectual property (IP) strategy and leadership within Canada's innovation ecosystem, brings a wealth of experience to his new role.
Peter Cowan has over 25 years of experience across Canada's innovation ecosystem and brings a deep expertise in intellectual property strategy and operations. His past roles include the interim CEO at Intellectual Property Ontario and founding Northworks IP. Also, Cowan's role as a board member and co-founder of the Innovation Asset Collective highlights his commitment to aiding small and medium-sized businesses in the cleantech sector with their IP needs. His efforts have contributed to over 70 patents filed in the clean energy sector, reflecting a deep understanding of the importance of IP in driving innovation and commercial success.
Cowan's previous tenure as interim CEO at Intellectual Property Ontario and his involvement in launching the agency underscores his adeptness at fostering innovation and supporting IP strategy development. His leadership helped in creating programs that maximized the value of IP for researchers and companies, thereby strengthening their ability to scale and compete globally.
Given Cowan's rich history in IP management and strategy, his leadership at Innovate BC is expected to emphasize the significance of intellectual property in innovation, aiding local startups, and scaleups in navigating the complexities of IP. This focus is anticipated to enhance the province's innovation ecosystem, encouraging the development of new technologies and supporting the growth of BC's economy.
Cowan's appointment is a promising development for Innovate BC, signaling a future where intellectual property and innovation strategically align to propel British Columbia's tech sector forward.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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