Vancouver is getting a bit more attention about the innovative tech activity frothing around the community - this time the kudos come from The Intelligent Community Forum.

This nonprofit think tank explores economic development and job creation in the "broadband economy." To accomplish their goals, the ICF publish reports, organize conferences and present award campaigns with a few categories, most notably the Intelligent Community award.

I'm here at the China Access 2008 Business Forum with Scales and MC of Raincity Studios and Richard Eriksson of Bryght. We're getting a whirlwind business tour of China including an overview of the economy, political climate, growth trends, geography and communications challenges. There are about 40 or so people here at the SFU Centre for Dialogue from Vancouver companies who are either already doing business in China or plan to, as well as a bunch of masters students from UBC Business School who are focusing on economic development in Asia and China.

So far it's been a great session led by Alan and Andrew of China Access 2008 and supported by lots of influential Vancouver business people currently doing business successful in China including Business Objects, CanFor, and Optima Health Solutions (hey Rashid... I'll trade ya a China strategy for Bryght for a web strategy for Optima!).