ABOUT US

The project team is led by TTA Technology Training Associates and brings together the British Columbia Institute of Technology, Unity Technologies, Animism Studios, CAE Healthcare and a number of B.C. health authorities. Digital Technology Supercluster is the co-investor of the Virtual Pulse project.

TTA Technology Training Associates Ltd., established in 1991, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) in Canada. TTA has been providing training programs for its international clients, specifically for managerial and technical personnel from developing countries in Asia and Africa. It also manages joint-educational programs between BCIT and a dozen of post-secondary educational institutes in Brazil, South Korea and China.

TTA has managed and implemented multi-million dollar projects funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and International Financial Institutes (IFIs), such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).TTA has provided technical assistance and training services to a number of companies and institutions for capacity building and institutional development in many countries in Asia and Africa. Further TTA has provided both technical assistance and training services in more than twenty provinces in China as well as to many Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Republic of Philippines, two key market for healthcare professionals.

The success of TTA depends on its global network, close working relationships with its partners, a good understanding of the needs of its clients, acquired experience and expertise in all relevant sectors, its capacity in technical assistance, and training in project management and implementation. This global network will catalyse the distribution and impact of Virtual Pulse.

British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) is a public post-secondary education institution in the province of British Columbia that specializes in applied learning, industry training, and creating workforce-ready graduates. 

BCIT is seen as a leader in health care and simulation education winning awards including Sim Innovator Awards in 2018 and 2019 and Best in Show for Virtual Pulse in 2019. BCIT has extensive subject matter knowledge and expertise expanding over 30 health science programs including focus areas such as Biomedical Engineering, Electrodiagnostics, Health Protection, Laboratory Sciences, Medical Imaging Technologies, Nursing & Specialty Nursing and Therapeutics.

BCIT Virtual Pulse team is ideal to lead this development due to their expertise in project management, programming, simulation asset development and access to subject matter experts.

CAE is a global leader in training for the civil aviation, defense and security, and healthcare markets. Backed by a record of more than 70 years of industry firsts, CAE continues to help define global training standards with their innovative virtual-to-live training solutions to make flying safer, maintain defense force readiness and enhance patient safety. CAE has the broadest global presence in the industry, with over 9,000 employees, 160 sites and training locations in over 35 countries. Each year, CAE trains more than 220,000 civil and defense crewmembers and thousands of healthcare professionals worldwide.

CAE brings great value to the project due to their expansive market reach, access to deployment technologies, and excellent customer service and marketing skills. CAE is seen as leaders in healthcare simulation, including the integration of augmented reality and human patient simulators.


Unity is the platform for creating games, simulations, and VR/AR tools. Their solutions and services help clients focus on their top priority – improving learners’ skills, knowledge and performance.

Unity has made meaningful traction building on their foundation in gaming and extending their leading real-time 3D platform into industries such as media and entertainment; automotive, transportation, manufacturing; and architecture, engineering, and construction. Across all industries, businesses are realizing the significant impact and unique value of real-time 3D technologies to transform their workflows and create new consumer experiences. 

CAE and BCIT both use the Unity 3D platform in the development of their XR products. CAE’s VimedixAR product received the Unity 2017 Impact Award. 





Animism Studios is a visual effects (VFX) studio located in Vancouver, BC. They offer a full-range of computer generated (CG) and 2D services for film and TV, including photorealistic creature and character design, modelling, rigging, animation, FX, CG environments and compositing. Their work can be seen on Netflix, MGM, The History Channel, BCIT courses and more. Animism’s attention to detail, realistic 3D characters and excellent customer service add great value to this project.


Digital Technology Supercluster is a cross-industry collaboration of diverse organizations, including some of Canada’s biggest names in healthcare, communications, natural resources, technology, and transportation. DTS are a proud member of a national network of five business-led innovation superclusters that is energizing the economy by fostering new partnerships. By co-investing in ambitious technology development projects, strengthening Canada’s most promising clusters and building superclusters at scale, the Innovation Supercluster Initiative from the Government of Canada is making an unparalleled commitment to this proven model for innovation.

DTS’s COVID-19 Program is focused on unlocking solutions to protect the health and safety of all Canadians and our economy through the development, deployment, and scaling of digital technologies. Under this COVID-19 Program, DTS co-invest $2.2 m in the Virtual Pulse, to protect and prepare nurses through virtual COVID-19 training.