Government of Canada invests $3 million to help early-stage companies adopt low-carbon processes and products

From: Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

News release

FedDev Ontario investment to support over 65 SMEs, 80 technologies or processes and over 110 jobs

July 27, 2022 – Sarnia, Ontario        

As industry seeks to accelerate the adoption of new clean technologies to drive de-carbonization and the transition to a green recovery, there is a growing demand for made-in-Ontario solutions to achieve this objective. The Government of Canada is committed to supporting this transition to a green economy and to advancing clean growth innovators in this space.

Today, on behalf of the Honourable Helena Jaczek, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), Peter Fragiskatos, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue and Member of Parliament for London North Centre, announced an investment of $3 million for Lambton College of Applied Arts and Technology, in partnership with Fanshawe College (London), Mohawk College (Hamilton) and Loyalist College (Belleville), to establish the Canadian Bio-Cleantech Applied Research Network (CBARN).

The CBARN will provide research, technical and commercialization support to 65 southern Ontario-based early-stage SMEs in the bio-cleantech sector, leading to the development of 80 technologies, processes or products and supporting more than 110 jobs.

It will target that at least 25 percent of SMEs supported by CBARN are owned or led by underrepresented groups, such as Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, Black communities, members of racialized communities, women, youth, members of the LGBTQ2+ community, and newcomers to Canada. Additionally, students at CBARN institutions in the science and technology fields will have opportunities to develop and apply their skills in support of the participating SMEs, which will enhance their employability and contribute to a skilled labour force.

The CBARN network will provide companies with access to all partnering colleges’ applied research and technical expertise to develop and improve products and technologies that are commercially viable, grow their business and diversify the skillsets of their workforce. Timely access to specialized experts and equipment at Ontario’s post-secondary institutions can be a key support for helping these companies fully commercialize their products and bring them to market sooner.

Through this project, early-stage SMEs will undertake collaborative projects that focus on new low-carbon processes and products, greenhouse gas reduction and other environmental benefits. Ultimately, the project seeks to help companies participating in CBARN to gain a competitive advantage via the development of new and more efficient products, processes and services in comparison to their national and international competitors. These industry-driven projects would be commercially viable and lead to increased economic activity including circular economy outcomes.

Additional details related to CBARN and application process can be found at https://cbarn.webflow.io/. 

Quotes

“Today’s investment reinforces the Government of Canada’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 by supporting projects that pave the way for a cleaner future, contributing to a resilient economy and the generation of good green jobs. Through the Canadian Bio-Cleantech Applied Research Network, 65 bio-based SMEs will be able to increase their competitiveness, products and customer base, grow their business and increase their workforce, boosting Canada’s green economy for years to come.”
– The Honourable Helena Jaczek, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

“Through this collaboration, Lambton College, in partnership with Fanshawe, Mohawk and Loyalist colleges are creating a network of opportunity for bio-based SMEs and a diverse pool of entrepreneurs to access critical support in the Sarnia, London, Hamilton and Belleville regions. Timely access to specialized experts and equipment through the CBARN network and Ontario’s post-secondary institutions will be a key support for helping these companies fully commercialize their products and bring them to market sooner.”
– Peter Fragiskatos, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue and Member of Parliament for London North Centre

“Lambton College is thrilled to be the lead institution of the Canadian Bio-Cleantech Applied Research Network (CBARN). CBARN reinforces Lambton’s commitment to innovation and workforce development within our community and region. This funding will attract more companies and investment while building an industry cluster to support the training and hiring of college students and graduates.”
– Dr. Mehdi Sheikhzadeh, Vice President, Research & Innovation, Lambton College

Quick facts

  • Lambton College was incorporated as a college in 1966, and has been named in the top five leading research colleges in Canada for the sixth consecutive year in 2022. 

  • CBARN will focus on commercializing bio-based solutions in the following sub-sectors critical to the green transition: biorefinery and bioenergy (i.e., converting biomass to energy); biomaterials; bioproducts; advanced agriculture technologies (e.g., bio-pesticides, agri-food waste processing technologies); and natural health products.

  • FedDev Ontario is delivering $224 million of the Jobs and Growth Fund (JGF) to help businesses in southern Ontario and the organizations who support them, future-proof, build resiliency and prepare for growth by transitioning to a green, inclusive and competitive economy.

  • Since 2015, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has invested over $400 million in almost 200 projects related to cleantech and green initiatives in southern Ontario.

  • Since 2015, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has invested over $45 million in more than 30 projects in Lambton area, creating over 800 jobs and maintaining over 500 jobs. For example, in 2020, Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC) received a FedDev Ontario contribution of $15 million to support innovative companies in sustainable chemistry and clean technologies to overcome setbacks to commercialization, while reducing environmental impacts.

Associated links

Contacts

Monica Granados
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
monica.granados@feddevontario.gc.ca

Media Relations
FedDev Ontario
feddevontariomediarelations-relationsmedias@feddevontario.gc.ca

Stay connected

Website: www.FedDevOntario.gc.ca

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