Convergx 2026
Convergx 2026
ConvergX® Xpand™ — Cranbrook
Accelerating commercialization & innovation opportunities in Cranbrook.
Cranbrook Economic Development has partnered with ConvergX® Xpand™ to connect East Kootenay businesses, innovators, and industry leaders with commercialization pathways designed to accelerate growth, adoption, and cross-sector collaboration.
As Cranbrook continues to strengthen its position as a regional centre for industry, transportation, manufacturing, technology, natural resources, and entrepreneurship, partnerships like ConvergX® Xpand™ help create new pathways for local businesses to access larger commercialization ecosystems, strategic partnerships, procurement opportunities, investors, and cross-industry collaboration.
This initiative supports Cranbrook Economic Development’s commitment to fostering sustainable economic growth, supporting innovation-driven businesses, and creating opportunities for companies looking to scale technologies, products, and solutions into broader Canadian and global markets.
About the Program
A program built to move proven technology from prototype to procurement.
The ConvergX® Xpand™ Commercialization Zone is an advanced program designed to accelerate cross-industry innovation and technology adoption — connecting defence, aerospace, energy, mining, manufacturing, security, construction, agriculture, space, technology, and healthcare so high-TRL solutions can reach the market faster and in new industry verticals.
What is commercialization?
The process of transforming proven innovations into market-ready products or services that deliver measurable economic, operational, or strategic value. It bridges the “valley of death” between research and adoption — helping technologies move from prototype to real-world deployment.
The Xpand™ approach
Xpand™ supports established companies and innovators whose technologies are ready for scale. By facilitating collaboration among government, industry, and investors, the program enables real outcomes within a 12–18 month deal cycle.
- Rapid validation and real-world integration of advanced technologies through strategic partnerships.
- Cross-sector adaptation and entry into new markets.
- Transaction readiness and deal execution in 12–18 months.
The Xpand™ Ecosystem
Key stakeholders shaping commercial outcomes.
Xpand™ convenes the people who can actually move a deal — executive buyers, government partners, R&D leaders, capital, and the institutions building tomorrow’s technology.
Executive buyers & cross-sector industry leaders
C-Suite and executive-level decision-makers with a clear understanding of their company’s direction and challenges. Xpand™ facilitates introductions and accelerates partnerships across the sectors ConvergX® brings together.
Government officials & policy makers
Xpand™ collaborates with government stakeholders, officials, and policy makers within its vetted ecosystem — helping establish adoption pathways, regulatory support, and dual-use scaling opportunities.
Innovation & R&D leaders
The program supports R&D leaders focused on transitioning technologies from innovation to market adoption — helping facilitate commercial deals within 12–18 months.
Investors, venture capitalists & ecosystem enablers
Xpand™ fosters engagement with investors and venture capital firms to align capital with commercialization and scaling opportunities.
Academia, incubators & think tanks
Xpand™ acts as a commercialization pathway for incubators, accelerators, post-secondary institutions, and research organizations — helping transform innovation into strategic partnerships and market opportunities.
Stream Leadership
What is a ConvergX® Xpand™ Stream Lead?
A Stream Lead is the company or organization that owns and drives a specific stream, theme, or capability area within the Xpand™ program — ensuring the stream creates measurable outcomes such as pilots, partnerships, procurement steps, funding movement, or adoption pathways. Stream Leads can be small, medium, or large organizations from virtually any industry sector.
During Xpand™ activations — virtual briefings, roundtables, and matchmaking opportunities — Stream Leads help align buyers and innovators while supporting actionable next steps. The program coordinates follow-ups, documents outcomes, tracks commercialization progress, and helps create pathways toward business deals within 12–18 months.
Stream Lead responsibilities
- Define stream strategy and mission
- Identify target Technology Readiness Levels (TRL)
- Establish desired commercial outcomes
- Curate the ideal stakeholder mix
- Facilitate collaboration between buyers, operators, innovators, and investors
- Drive measurable commercialization progress
Why this matters for Cranbrook
Beyond the prototype, into the market.
The Xpand™ Commercialization Zone is designed to help companies move beyond the prototype stage and accelerate the commercialization of advanced technologies and scalable business solutions — positioning Cranbrook businesses on the national and global stage.
Get Involved
Apply to the Xpand™ Commercialization Zone.
If your business, technology, or innovation project may be a fit, complete the intake form below to apply.
Our Partners
In collaboration with ConvergX®, Cranbrook Economic Development, and program partners.
