OTTAWA, ON, May 8, 2019 \u2013 Sustainable Development Technology Canada is expanding its reach by piloting new funding to find and support Canada\u2019s most promising early-stage cleantech entrepreneurs. To do so, SDTC is partnering with up to eight incubators and accelerators across the country. The pilot launched today with four grants of $100,000 or less to companies with potential breakthrough technologies in agriculture, energy, power generation, and traffic management.<\/p>\n
Clean technology is a megatrend that will affect most sectors at varying speeds. This initiative will provide the right funding at the right time to help cleantech entrepreneurs develop businesses that are tackling some of the world\u2019s greatest sustainability challenges.<\/p>\n
By partnering with a select group of business accelerators, SDTC\u2019s funding will fuel the growth of these companies by expanding on the support, such as training, mentorship, office space, tools, and community, already being provided through the accelerator or incubator. SDTC is seeking to identify a cross-section of promising new cleantech entrepreneurs by providing up to 30 grants of $50,000 to $100,000 each this pilot year.<\/p>\n
The four companies receiving the first investments demonstrate the remarkable breadth of technology innovation taking place across Canada today. Each is receiving a grant between $90,000 to $100,000.
\n\u2022 Brisk Synergies, supported by Accelerator Centre (Waterloo, ON), is developing a technology to reduce traffic accidents and congestion. Their software platform uses artificial intelligence and algorithms to connect and analyze real-time video data to detect dangerous interactions and flow patterns.
\n\u2022 Intelline, supported by Velocity (Waterloo, ON) is building and testing industrial cryocoolers that are smaller, lighter and more efficient than copper-based equivalents. Cyrocoolers are essential to super-conductor technologies, which offer dramatic efficiency gains for multiple industries, including reducing the energy lost through resistance in electricity transmission lines.
\n\u2022 Direct-C, supported by TEC Edmonton (Edmonton, AB), has patented sensor technology using polymer-based \u201cpaint\u201d substances mixed with nanoparticles that can be applied to large surfaces in order to measure temperature, stress\/strain\/cracking, or chemical exposure. The first deployment is in the pipeline industry, detecting leaks at their earliest stages.
\n\u2022 SoilReader, supported by Manitoba Technology Accelerator (Winnipeg, MB), is developing a technology for real-time, precision soil analysis in the agricultural sector. By measuring soil constituents at various depths instantly, SoilReader will enable farmers to optimize crop inputs, reducing over-application of fertilizers. Measuring Co2 capture in the soil is a future application.<\/p>\n
Quotes
\n\u201cClean technology is about more than any one sector\u2014when we support clean technology, we support our entire economy, creating good jobs while helping to protect our environment. Through SDTC, our government is helping early-stage entrepreneurs achieve their full potential and ultimately solve some of our biggest environmental challenges.\u201d
\n\u2014 The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development<\/p>\n
\u201cOur government knows that the environment and the economy go hand in hand and Sustainable Development Technology Canada is demonstrating this by partnering with incubators and accelerators across the country to find 30 of Canada\u2019s most promising cleantech entrepreneurs and investing critical early-stage funding in them. These investments will help these cleantech entrepreneurs transform their ideas into globally competitive cleantech solutions. Congratulations to the first four successful recipients of these investments. I look forward to seeing the impact of your innovations in agriculture, energy, power generation and traffic management.\u201d
\n\u2014 The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion<\/p>\n
\u201cAt SDTC, we leverage partnerships across Canada, and we listen to input from the growing national community of cleantech entrepreneurs. These creative, forward-thinking people need supports to get ideas from the sketch pad to the launch pad. We are building programs that are as nimble and responsive as the entrepreneurs themselves.\u201d
\n\u2014 Leah Lawrence, President and CEO, Sustainable Development Technology Canada<\/p>\n
\u201cWorking with SDTC to support this new early-stage funding program has been a pleasure, as they have found the right balance between diligence and speed. This is particularly important for supporting fast-moving, transformative early-stage companies. We\u2019re delighted to see a program that leverages private investment in support of the cleantech segment of Velocity\u2019s growing deeptech differentiated portfolio.\u201d
\n\u2014 Jay Shah, Director, Velocity<\/p>\n
\u201cSDTC\u2019s pilot project is an incredible opportunity for clean tech entrepreneurs across the country. We run a specialized program for clean tech startups and we\u2019ve seen the difficulty startups can have in securing funding in the sector. SDTC\u2019s approach gives high potential companies the opportunity to get that much needed funding quickly and streamlines the process; making the program very attractive to startups and incubators alike.
\n\u2014 Dr. Paul Salvini, CEO, Accelerator Centre<\/p>\n
\u201cSDTC is being flexible in its definition of \u201cearly-stage.\u201d Sometimes a promising technology will falter between one fundraising effort and the next. A modest injection of capital from a public fund can de-risk a project and make all the difference in getting a company over the finish line of commercialization.\u201d
\n\u2014 Chris Lumb, CEO, TEC Edmonton<\/p>\n
\u201cSustainable development requires innovation in all sectors of the economy, from the oldest to the newest. Investments in agriculture technology are as important to the health of our planet as investments in renewable energy.\u201d
\n\u2014 Marshall Ring, CEO, Manitoba Technology Accelerator leader<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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