Paving the Way for Solutions Through Mission-Driven Innovation
While addressing various aspects of the housing supply chain is essential, no single approach can fully solve the challenges we face in scaling housing production. The Housing Growth Innovation (HGI) Program plays a role in supporting broader efforts to develop smarter, faster and more sustainable homes.
This initiative is driven by a clear, results-oriented mission: deploy technology, unite industry leaders and scale up sustainable housing that meets today’s needs while building for tomorrow. The path forward is straightforward:
At the core of HGI are three pillars:
This isn't just about managing a crisis—it's about reshaping the province’s housing future. Everyone with a stake in B.C.’s prosperity has a role to play. The time to act is now.
This document is intended as a living resource, and we welcome your feedback and insights. A revised version will be published in the coming year.
DIGITAL is Canada’s leader in accelerating the development and commercialization of Canadian-made technologies that tackle some of the biggest challenges facing our economy and society.
Our model combines collaborative innovation and co-investment to help Canadian businesses not only adopt and develop cutting-edge technologies but also grow a skilled workforce ready to fill the jobs of the digital economy today.
By bringing together businesses, academia, communities and government, we tackle the challenges that no single organization can solve alone. Through cross-sector collaboration, we unlock the potential of Canadian industry—helping it lead and succeed on a global stage.
In November 2023, we launched the Housing Growth Innovation Program, bringing together collaborative teams to find new ideas, test what works and build real solutions that grow B.C.’s construction sector. Together, we’re building homes, growing the economy and shaping our housing future.
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry Housing.
This mission brief was reviewed and validated by Scius Advisory. Scius is a Canadian research, consulting and data company specializing in real estate and construction. Their professional insights and expertise have contributed to ensuring the accuracy and strategic alignment of the report’s content.
A Blueprint for Change - Housing Transformation Begins Here
A Peek Behind the Blueprint - Meet DIGITAL
Framing Our Future - Our Mission Purpose: Why It’s Time for a Fresh Take on Housing Challenges
We Can’t Do it Alone - Our Mission Statement: Advancing Industry-Wide Innovation
How Did We Get Here? - Tracing the Roots of the Housing Crisis in B.C.
Where We Need to Be - Transforming the Housing Industry to Meet Demand
Building Smarter - Tech Innovations in Housing
Mapping Out Our Opportunities - End-to-End Housing Production
Brick by Brick - Building a Workforce Ready for Local Housing Needs
Housing Growth Innovation (HGI) Program - A New Strategy For Housing in B.C
The Housing Growth Innovation Lab and Network - Bringing Everyone Under One Roof
Innovation Design Workshops - Strengthening Partnerships
Mission-Driven Innovation Projects - Progress in Motion
B.C.’s housing crisis is a complex, multi-faceted challenge. We’re working to address it directly
Enter Mission-Driven Innovation (MDI)—our blueprint for real change.
By uniting industries, communities and leaders, MDI leverages cutting-edge technology and collaboration to drive smarter, faster and more sustainable housing solutions. The objective is clear: ensure every community in B.C. has the tools to build the housing it needs.
Swipe through to see how the MDI framework evolves—it’s a dynamic process that generates new solutions and missions at every stage. This digital-first model addresses complex challenges like housing by fostering industry-wide collaboration and creating scalable, impactful solutions. Each slide reveals how theory and practice come together, driving real progress on critical issues.
Engage with each step and uncover how we’re driving impactful solutions.
Housing is the cornerstone of community. Local businesses drive the builds, local workers sustain the growth and local people transform neighbourhoods into dynamic, thriving spaces. Through a Mission-Driven Innovation (MDI) approach, we empower these communities and spark change across the entire housing sector.
Now is the moment for B.C.’s builders, developers and innovators to come together and redefine housing production. Collaborative innovation is key to making progress and reshaping the housing landscape.
The housing crisis in B.C. didn’t appear overnight—it’s the result of entrenched, systemic inefficiencies that have hampered progress for years. To move forward, we need a comprehensive understanding of the entire housing ecosystem, from regulatory bottlenecks to construction delays. This goes well beyond basic supply and demand.
These deep-seated challenges, from inefficient construction practices to financial and regulatory hurdles, have contributed to the severe housing crisis B.C. faces today—requiring a transformation of how housing is built, financed and delivered across the province.
Click each of the challenges to jump to the full explanation, or scroll through each below.
Where We Stand: A Severe Housing Deficit
A Growing Population, A Struggling Supply Chain
Construction Inefficiencies: The Core Issue
Financial Pressures and Labour Shortages
Access to affordable housing in B.C. has become increasingly scarce. The current picture is stark:
The average income required to buy a home in B.C. is approximately $100,000. In Vancouver, that figure skyrockets to $250,000.
Vacancy rates have stagnated at 1% for over a decade.
More than 26,000 people in B.C. are currently experiencing homelessness.
The ripple effects are clear: this crisis impedes economic growth, strains infrastructure and promotes urban sprawl—damaging both the environment and the quality of life. With B.C.’s population expected to rise by 2.2 million by 2046,this situation will only worsen unless we act decisively.
To close the housing gap, Canada needs to build 3.1 million homes by 2030.In B.C., builders must triple their output to meet future demand.
The heart of provincial housing shortages lie in a fragmented and inefficient construction sector. Globally, productivity in construction has stagnated and B.C. is no exception:
85% of construction projects go over budget, with an average cost overrun of 28%. Only 31% of projects came within 10% of their budget.
In Canada, 69% of construction firms have fewer than five employees. B.C. alone hosts over 24,000 residential construction businesses,most of which are small or micro-enterprises.
Globally less than 1% of revenue in the construction industry is allocated to R&D,leaving firms behind the curve when it comes to adopting new technologies.
The industry’s fragmented nature exacerbates these issues. Projects often involve multiple small businesses with little knowledge transfer between them, creating barriers to innovation.
The construction sector is also contending with mounting financial and workforce challenges:
Environmental and regulatory demands add further complexity:
In 2023, changes aimed at reducing emissions by over 20% per home were introduced to help meet the province’s Net Zero targets by 2032.
Construction costs in Metro Vancouver increased by 7.2% year-over-year in Q3 2023.With rising material prices, development charges and a competitive labour market, costs must be cut by around 50% to keep housing prices aligned with inflation.
Builders face a maze of regulations, navigating bylaws from 161 municipalities, 27 regional districts and over 200 First Nations, each with its own development codes, adding significant complexity, delays and costs to housing projects.
The ripple effects are clear: this crisis impedes economic growth, strains infrastructure and promotes urban sprawl—damaging both the environment and the quality of life. With B.C.’s population expected to rise by 2.2 million by 2046, this situation will only worsen unless we act decisively.
Beyond immediate pressures, systemic issues further hinder progress:
through scalable, tech-powered systems that elevate efficiency and meet growing demand.
from 50,490 housing starts in 2023 to 65,000 annually, surpassing the five-year average of 45,497.
to manage 100,000 units under construction at any given time, ensuring B.C. stays at the forefront of housing innovation.
The future of housing in B.C. hinges on bold, aligned action. With innovation at the core, we can ensure that every community has access to sustainable, affordable homes that support growth and prosperity. Let’s move forward—together.
Addressing housing challenges requires more than small, incremental fixes—it demands a bold, systems-level approach. To truly meet the needs of every community, we must move beyond isolated projects and focus on building an interconnected ecosystem that drives long-term growth and resilience. This transformation is guided by three critical focus areas, each designed to tackle the core issues facing B.C.’s housing sector. By aligning efforts across these areas, we can create a balanced approach that addresses immediate needs while laying the foundation for future success.
Local businesses need to lead the charge in housing production, job creation must flourish and streamlined processes must ensure that projects move swiftly and efficiently. B.C.’s future depends on solutions that not only meet demand but also strengthen economic resilience, foster community engagement and ensure affordability. Together, these focus areas will ensure B.C.’s housing industry is equipped to navigate challenges, seize opportunities and build a more sustainable future.
The path forward is clear: elevate the housing industry to fuel thriving local economies, create resilient communities and build a foundation for a prosperous future.
Harnessing advanced technologies is critical to transforming BC’s housing sector. By integrating cutting-edge tools, we can streamline construction, improve sustainability and dramatically increase efficiency. The following technology priorities are driving this transformation:
Tools like digital twins, cloud-based collaboration and GIS are optimizing supply chains and project coordination, making housing production more seamless.
Automating building codes and policies speeds up the transition from blueprint to build, enhancing both accuracy and efficiency.
AI is revolutionizing design, planning and production, delivering smarter, faster housing solutions.
Innovations like self-healing concrete and eco-friendly insulation are creating durable, sustainable homes aligned with BC’s climate goals.
The Technology Development Map outlines how these key tools, categorized by their impact and function, are driving efficiency, automation and innovation across the housing sector.
Integrating technological advancements with workforce development is crucial to meeting B.C.’s future housing needs. By digitizing processes, incorporating automation and improving transparency, we can accelerate production and boost efficiency. These innovations, combined with a skilled workforce, will elevate the quality of housing while driving affordability and sustainability.
Prioritizing innovation at every stage—from design to construction—ensures that our housing system remains resilient and adaptable to evolving challenges. By embracing advanced technologies and empowering workers, we’re not just building homes—we’re crafting a sustainable, efficient future for communities across the province.
Building homes isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. Achieving our housing goals demands more than good intentions—it requires a well-defined strategy that addresses every phase of production. By mapping out the entire journey, we can identify systemic improvements, prioritize critical projects and allocate resources with precision.
The End-to-End Housing Production Framework addresses this need. Developed in collaboration with industry leaders, it offers a standardized approach that simplifies the complex housing landscape, from single-family homes to high-rises. It fosters clear communication and collaboration across the board.
QUESTION
the home asks in this phase
OUTCOME
the home needs to go to the next phase
ACTIVITY
to support the outcome
Am I needed?
Demand Analysis
How am I built?
Green light for construction
Am I built safely, on time, on budget?
Completed Construction
How am I ready to be used? How to improve me?
Occupancy
Am I cared for so I can care for my people?
Upkeep, compliance, management
What comes next for me?
Renovation, adaptive reuse, demolition
Adopting this framework opens up opportunities to identify innovative solutions, test new ideas and understand how decisions impact the broader housing ecosystem. It’s the structure needed to efficiently scale housing production and turn current challenges into tangible progress.
Am I feasible?
Green light for development
These activities may present opportunities, or obstacles to reach the next phase.
How am I designed?
Permit applications
These activities may present opportunities, or obstacles to reach the next phase.
How am I built?
Green light for construction
These activities may present opportunities, or obstacles to reach the next phase.
Am I built safely, on time, on budget?
Completed Construction
These activities may present opportunities, or obstacles to reach the next phase.
How am I ready to be used? How to improve me?
Occupancy
These activities may present opportunities, or obstacles to reach the next phase.
Addressing the housing crisis requires a skilled and adaptable workforce, particularly with 20% of the current labour force set to retire in the next decade. Investing in workforce development is essential to closing the labour gap, fostering diversity and equipping workers to embrace new technologies. The Workforce Development Map is our strategic plan to help support a workforce capable of meeting B.C.’s growing housing demands.
The Housing Growth Innovation (HGI) Program is designed to contribute to accelerating housing production in B.C. by focusing on three strategic areas. These priorities drive collaboration, experimentation and innovative construction methods, all aimed at increasing housing production and boosting B.C.’s economy..
The program is structured around three key components:
The cohorts drive key phases in our strategy, each pushing forward progress to transform the housing industry. Each cohort is a focused initiative, advancing different aspects of housing production, technology adoption and workforce development. These phases are designed to build on one another, driving incremental progress while addressing critical challenges in the housing sector.
In B.C.’s fragmented construction landscape, DIGITAL’s Housing Growth Innovation Lab and Network (HGI Lab) is a catalyst for collaboration, experimentation and innovation. It provides a neutral and secure space where stakeholders from across industries can work together to address housing challenges in new and creative ways. While this approach is familiar in other sectors, it’s a fresh concept for the housing industry.
At the heart of solving housing challenges is collaboration. Our Innovative Design Workshops are designed to do just that—bring together organizations of all sizes to collaborate, share ideas and create actionable solutions. The goal is simple: build a tech-savvy workforce, rethink traditional approaches and foster partnerships that can move quickly to implement real change.
participants from various industries, creating a melting pot of ideas.
Leveraging AI tools like Copilot to accelerate design and build tech-driven solutions for housing.
Combining public policy and industry perspectives in a solutions-oriented space.
Targeted sessions to foster collaboration between different sectors, building partnerships beyond housing.
Contributions and shared insights fuel broader sector improvements and ongoing innovation.
Generating a new wave of proposals and projects through feedback-driven workshops.
Our housing challenges demand more than just solutions—they require transformation. DIGITAL’s Collaborative Mission Innovation Projects are built on three pivotal pillars—Digital Design, Digital Production & Logistics and Catalysts. These pillars are reimagining how we build homes, creating a future where innovation breaks through long-standing barriers. By reshaping every aspect of the housing process, from design to delivery, we are forging a path toward a scalable, sustainable future that meets the urgent needs of communities across B.C.
Think of these three pillars as the support system for our housing future—a bridge that spans the gap between today’s challenges and tomorrow’s solutions, connecting innovation to real-world impact.
This pillar speeds up housing development by creating modular, regultory-ready designs, turning homes into products that can be built quickly and affordably.
Using digital tools and automation, this pillar transforms the housing supply chain into an efficient, interconnected process, from start to finish.
Catalysts identify pressure points and develop rapid solutions through workshops and testing, ensuring that growth barriers are swiftly overcome.
In a time when innovative housing solutions are essential, our deploy and scale strategy ensures bold ideas translate into real-world impact. But how do we ensure these innovations make an impact across industries and communities? By combining commercialization, IP development and knowledge transfer, we contribute to solutions that can extend beyond B.C.
DIGITAL unites academia, businesses, community leaders and government agencies to confront housing’s biggest challenges. Our collaborative model—focused on Canadian IP creation and results-driven
co-investment—unlocks the potential for Canadian industries to lead in the digital age.
We aim to raise a $12M-$15M portfolio by matching $6M in challenge project funding with private industry investments, focusing on housing solutions with global potential.
We track teams adopting digital tools for design and logistics, monitoring projects that accelerate innovation and can scale solutions across regions.
We accelerate the rollout of successful projects, ensuring other regions can replicate B.C.’s housing innovations and benefit from the solutions.
We protect housing innovations with patents and licenses, driving economic growth and positioning B.C. as a global leader in housing innovation.
We share housing insights and innovations globally, inspiring other regions to adopt and scale similar solutions.
We aim to raise a $12M-$15M portfolio by matching $6M in challenge project funding with private industry investments, focusing on housing solutions with global potential.
We track teams adopting digital tools for design and logistics, monitoring projects that accelerate innovation and can scale solutions across regions.
We accelerate the rollout of successful projects, ensuring other regions can replicate BC’s housing innovations and benefit from the solutions.
We protect housing innovations with patents and licenses, driving economic growth and positioning BC as a global leader in housing innovation.
We share housing insights and innovations globally, inspiring other regions to adopt and scale similar solutions.
Our knowledge-sharing strategy is the backbone of driving continuous improvement in the housing sector. By benchmarking global best practices and sharing productivity-boosting innovations, we’re not just keeping up—we’re setting the pace.
A dedicated microsite will provide real-time updates on the latest breakthroughs, lessons learned and new ideas being tested, acting as a dynamic hub for collaboration. Stakeholders can connect, share insights and leverage these advancements to tackle housing challenges head-on. Open dialogue ensures our efforts stay aligned with real-world needs. By equipping organizations with the right tools, we’re empowering them to overcome obstacles and lead meaningful change.
The housing transformation hinges on collaboration. Whether you’re a leader, an innovator, or a builder, now is the time to get involved. The strategies outlined here are just the beginning—it’s time to turn these ideas into action. Let’s streamline solutions, accelerate innovation and push the limits of what’s possible in our housing sector.
Together, we’re not just solving housing challenges—we’re shaping the future.
Amy Vilis,
Director of Housing Growth Innovation, DIGITAL
As Director of Housing Growth Innovation at DIGITAL, Canada’s Global Innovation Cluster for digital technologies, Amy leads programming aimed at accelerating housing production capacity in British Columbia. The Housing Growth Innovation program fosters digital transformation, cross-sector partnerships, and workforce development in the housing sector. Amy holds an MBA from Royal Roads University and is known for spearheading transformative projects that enhance efficiency in public and nonprofit sectors. Prior to DIGITAL, Amy worked for the City of Vancouver, managing affordable housing development and digitizing housing and permit processes.
Headquartered in Vancouver, B.C., we acknowledge we are on the unceded and ancestral territories of the Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. As a pan-Canadian organization, DIGITAL additionally operates on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Inuit, Métis and First Nations peoples who share and steward these lands.
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