Grants and Contributions

PyroGenesis Canada Inc. (PCI) is a world leader in plasma processes and torch products which use only electricity (no fossil fuels) for material transformation applications. PCI is developing a one-step plasma process to produce fumed silica, a valuable material used in numerous consumer goods, from quartz. This innovative technology offers notable benefits compared to the multiple-step flame hydrolysis process, including significant reductions in GHG emissions and solid waste, as well as elimination of air contaminants that cause acid rain.

Partnering with HPQ Silicon Resources, PCI will build a pilot production system to establish the plasma technology as a viable and sustainable alternative to flame hydrolysis, leading to the first fumed silica production plant in Canada.

Qube provides oil and gas producers with an end–to-end continuous monitoring solution that detects methane emissions with advanced sensors and powerful machine learning algorithms capable of quantifying emissions and localizing their source. We work with leading oil and gas operators across the globe and have support from a wide range of investors and government bodies. We are the first technology provider to have received regulatory approval for continuous monitoring technology in North America. Qube’s mission is to make environmental monitoring accessible, affordable, and easy for all industrial emitters around the globe.

The conversion of low-grade waste heat to power could be a game changer in our fight to reduce carbon emissions and meet the UN clean energy sustainability goals. The sources of waste low grade heat are numerous. In the oil and gas industry alone, every day over 14.5 billion standard cubic feet of methane gas (Bcf/d) is flared and vented with the energy and heat, wasted. In addition, to the significant waste of energy, this practice is a major source of greenhouse gases emissions and has a negative environmental impact on air quality. These negative environmental impacts from this current inefficient way of dealing with waste gases could cost effectively be solved with Questor’s technology clean combustion solutions and this proposal, to further develop our low-grade waste heat to power solutions.

Low grade waste heat is abundant and readily available 24/7 from many industries. As a result, using an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) to convert the heat to power could supply significant amount of clean energy and contribute to balancing the variability challenges faced with power generation from wind and solar. Power generated from waste heat is zero emission and clean. The battery is simply a hot water tank. More importantly the foot print is small and the future environmental liabilities are small in comparison to wind and solar. No rare earth minerals are required for this power generation and future environmental liabilities are minimal.

Rayleigh Solar Tech Inc. is commercializing the next generation of solar technology. Their low-cost, flexible perovskite solar films can be applied to a variety of products. This technology can be used in electric vehicles, the internet of things, building integrated photovoltaic systems, and more. 

Increasing food production sustainably and mitigating climate change are two of the biggest problems humanity currently faces.

Reazent has developed a patented technology that increases agricultural production sustainably and sequesters carbon in agricultural soil.

Reazent's products increase crop yield, control crop diseases, and sequester atmospheric carbon as increased organic carbon in agricultural soil. Using Reazent products, growers can increase their crop yield by growing more amount of crops per acre in fields or per square foot in the case of indoor farms as well as prevent their crops losses due to crop diseases. As a result, they achieve a very high return on their investments.

Over the past two years, Reazent has successfully completed several commercial demonstrations of its technology in various crops including high-value leafy greens, vegetables as well as row crops such as soybean and wheat. The company has also signed sales contracts with indoor farming companies that have achieved a very high return on their investment by using Reazent's products. With Reazent's technology, it is now possible to control many crop diseases sustainably and cost-effectively.

Reazent's biological platform is based on enhanced metabolic flux in beneficial microbes by activating genes that have important functions. Reazent utilizes this expertise to offer effective and superior solutions to a wide range of applications.

RIGID ROBOTICS revolutionizes the mining industry by connecting mining equipment and frontline workers to real-time precision data and insights to make better decisions. Since 2012, the company has been focused on the development of innovative solutions for smarter and greener mining, enabled by partnerships that include Canada’s largest diversified mining company.
The company’s core patented technology, RIGIDprecision™, is a scalable and unified PLATFORM + APP solution that enables mining operations to mine with significantly higher precision than before. Enabling such "Precision-Mining" enhances operational efficiency, reduces variability, improves performance, and significantly reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The real-time data collected by proprietary sensors and analyzed using AI/ML algorithms empower miners to optimize mining processes, leading to reduced operation time of mining equipment. This reduction in operation time not only enhances operational efficiency and improves overall performance but also contributes to a significant reduction in GHG emissions. With the ability to precisely understand and control mining processes, RIGIDprecision enables operations to minimize energy wastage and streamline operations, resulting in a reduced carbon footprint. With GHG reduction as a key benefit, RIGIDprecision aligns with the global sustainability goals and helps mining companies adopt environmentally responsible practices while maximizing productivity and profit.

Salient has developed a replacement for the lithium-ion battery that uses cheap and abundant zinc instead of scarce and expensive metals like lithium or cobalt.

Saltworks’ AirBreather is an innovation that addresses a critical problem in the oil and gas industry: how to dispose of wastewater in a cost-effective and environmentally safe way. The AirBreather removes the need for chemical pre-treatment and reduces wastewater volumes safely through evaporation.

Savormetrics has developed a multi-sensor platform that measures food properties throughout the production process and uses AI to predict food quality and minimise waste.

Transportation is one of the highest producer of GHG emissions.  Technologies directly addressing low-GHG transport can reduce GHG to zero over time; however, this will require cities to proactively develop smart transit options and widespread public adoption strategies.SmartCone’s “Intelligent Corridor” program removes barriers to smart transit adoption, protecting vulnerable road users through “smart” crosswalks and bike lanes and monitoring car traffic / emissions in real time. SmartCone’s AI-enabled intelligent infrastructure system brings interconnectivity, high-level analytics, data collection, monitoring and alerting together to increase safety and ease of use for alternative transportation. Working within the city traffic management system, this program also enables city planners to make better decisions and monitor impact in real time, including reduction of GHG emissions.  With SmartCone, medium-sized communities can reduce their CO2E emissions by 218,000 tons annually, while reducing accidents and fatalities by up to 50% and realizing nearly $60 million in economic benefits.SDTC funding, along with partnering with City of Ottawa, Hamilton and the Durham Region, will provide our platform the funding and end-user participation to complete development and ready it for commercialization. Our tech partners like Nokia and IBM will help Smartcone bring the technology to global markets while addressing Canada's needs directly, right at home, starting immediately.