{"id":2266,"date":"2020-07-14T14:44:26","date_gmt":"2020-07-14T14:44:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sdtc-2024-staging.sociationdev.com\/?p=2266"},"modified":"2020-07-14T14:44:26","modified_gmt":"2020-07-14T14:44:26","slug":"sdtcs-new-seed-fund-partnerships-support-technologies-to-lower-emissions-for-canadas-transportation-sector","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sdtc-2024-staging.sociationdev.com\/en\/sdtcs-new-seed-fund-partnerships-support-technologies-to-lower-emissions-for-canadas-transportation-sector\/","title":{"rendered":"SDTC\u2019s new Seed Fund partnerships support technologies to lower emissions for Canada\u2019s transportation sector"},"content":{"rendered":"

OTTAWA, ON, July\u00a0<\/span>1<\/span>4<\/span>, 2020 \u2013\u00a0<\/span>Sustainable Development Technology Canada\u202f<\/span>(SDTC) today announced\u00a0<\/span>funding for\u00a0<\/span>seven<\/span>\u00a0Canadian start-up companies\u00a0<\/span>developing cleantech solutions in the transportation sector.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The transportation industry start-ups funded in the current round include both battery and charging technologies for electric vehicles, photonics for autonomous cars, hydrogen-as-a-service innovation for transport trucks, software for better traffic management, and artificial intelligence in the dairy industry to manage milk trucks more efficiently. The companies are based in St. John\u2019s, Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, and Delta, B.C.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Canada\u2019s transportation sector (both passenger and freight) makes up the largest share of Canada\u2019s greenhouse gas emissions.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The funding comes from SDTC\u2019s Seed Fund. Piloted in 2019, the Seed Fund now has capacity to support up to 100 companies per year.\u00a0<\/span>Successful applicants receive between $50,000 to $100,000 from SDTC, enabling them to unlock even greater funding from their private equity partners.\u202fSeventeen small businesses in total received funding from SDTC in the first round of 2020-2021, which concluded at the end of June.\u202f\u00a0\u00a0 \u202f\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Central to the success of SDTC\u2019s Seed Fund is its partnership model. SDTC partners with business accelerators and incubators across the country to identify high-potential start-up firms. With specialized knowledge of their regions and target industries, the accelerators nominate companies in their portfolios that meet SDTC funding criteria. Any accelerator in Canada is welcome to apply to SDTC to be a partner in the Seed Fund.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCleantech companies like the ones we are investing in today are helping to position Canada as a leader in an expanding market, as investors and businesses seek sustainable growth. Investments\u00a0<\/span>to improve Canada\u2019s transport industry through<\/span>\u00a0clean technology<\/span>\u00a0not only<\/span>\u00a0support\u00a0<\/span>the work of Canadian innovators, but also\u00a0<\/span>reduce\u00a0<\/span>our environmental footprint and\u00a0<\/span>grow economic opportunities.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0–\u00a0<\/span>The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation,\u00a0<\/span>Science<\/span>\u00a0and Industry\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSince Canada is a major energy exporter, our climate conversation tends to focus on emissions from energy production. Yet more greenhouse gas emissions come from the tailpipe than from the wellhead. These transportation sector entrepreneurs are showing us that Canada can lead the world in developing breakthrough technologies to move people and goods more efficiently.<\/span>\u201d –\u00a0<\/span>Leah Lawrence, President and CEO, Sustainable Development Technology Canada<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A list of the transportation sector\u00a0<\/span>companies<\/span>\u00a0and their accelerator sponsors appears below. The second call for Seed Fund applications of 2020-2021 later this Fall.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n