Losing a limb is obviously a devastating injury, and that's why a new prosthetic arm that gives amputees the chance to move and work attracts a lot of attention.

At the first British Columbia Tech Summit held in Canada's western city of Vancouver on Monday, the Canadian company, Victoria Hand Project, proudly showed its new product which can help the amputees again learn how to write, shake hands and even tie their own shoes -- and all powered by their own muscles.

The limbs are made by 3D printers. The team, based at the University of Victoria, has designed a system to make and distribute these upper-limb prosthetics in developing countries.

Joshua Coutts, who is the leading designer of the prosthetic for Victoria Hand Project, said the new product was obviously the low-cost, high-functionality of it with bright future for the market.

"Generally, when you're looking at prosthetic devices, you're looking anywhere from 2,000 to 3,000 Canadian dollars (1,400 to 2,100 U.S. dollars) -- almost the sky is the limit," Coutts told Xinhua at the summit on Monday.

"Where our device, we'll deploy and deliver it for about 320 dollars (224 U.S. dollars) in these countries, which is substantial savings for an amputee in these regions," he said.

The limb is entirely powered by the person wearing it, the designers said. The limb uses movement from hunching and contracting upper body muscles to power the gripping system through cables. It requires no electricity, and is custom-molded for each user.

The non-profit company has been making and distributing these limbs in Nepal, Guatemala and Cambodia.

Coutts said the B.C. Tech Summit was a good place to look for donors who want to fund the project and help get these limbs to the people who need them the most.

"Every 50,000 dollars (35,000 U.S. Dollars) that we fundraise sets up a full clinic with 3D printers, employs a local there, trains the local and delivers 50 amputees our upper limb prosthetic device to help improve their lives," he added.

The Victoria Hand Project is just one of many innovations and tech projects on display at the two-day summit.

The summit, running Monday and Tuesday, is the first for the province, and expected to attract about 3,000 participants, including business leaders, entrepreneurs, academics and students, organizers said.

Technology has become the province's third-largest contributor to the economy, employing directly and indirectly more than 120,000 people in British Columbia, provincial officials said.

Greg Caws, the tech summit producer, said B.C. technology is on the currency of the country, and that it was well-positioned to expand on its already booming tech development in forestry, healthcare, aerospace, film and gaming industries. Endit

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