Grants and Contributions

Over the years, the upstream industry has put significant effort towards improving the way we produce our hydrocarbon reserves as the era of “easy oil” has long been surpassed.  Two of our biggest issues facing today’s hydrocarbon production are poor investment returns driven by capital and commodity prices and the increasing pressures to reduce the environmental footprint. Modern Wellbore Solutions is developing a multilateral technology that creates cost and environmental efficiencies by allowing oil and natural gas companies to drill multiple lateral legs from a single vertical wellbore and hydraulic fracturing. The technology is engineered for adoption and is compatible with existing well construction, equipment and facilities activities. The objective of this project is to continue the development of the multilateral lateral Junction process and tool, which was supported by initial investments from Alberta Innovates and Tecterra to a full-scale deployment system. The first of its kind in the world, this multilateral technology will allow oil and natural gas companies to drill, complete, and operate onshore multilaterals throughout the life cycle of its wellbore. The environmental benefits come from providing operators with a reduction in emissions above existing practices in terms of the development, drilling, production and abandonment activities. While our technology is targeted to the oil and natural gas sector, it also has application to geothermal energy projects.

Nano One is a technology company with a scalable industrial process for producing low-cost, high-performance energy storage materials for batteries and a wide range of advanced nanostructured composite materials.

Preventative leak detection is a growing field in the pipeline monitoring industry. Distributed fiber optic sensing is a major technology platform for this service. Hifi's high fidelity dynamic sensing system (HDS) is capable of sensing acoustics, temperature, strain and vibration in or near a pipeline in very high fidelity. The system, which can monitor very long distances, has been successfully used for leak detection in land and offshore pipelines in Canada and the United States, as well as in other international regions such as South America and Europe.

A variety of artificial intelligence / machine learning based software methods such as leak signature classification, flow anomaly localization, and observing major changes in the pipeline acoustic propagation model, are being developed for leak detection. Results from independent lab tests where the efficacy of the system in detecting pinhole leaks with pressure ratings as low as 5 psi and flow rates down to 0.1 LPM has been proven. Hifi's HDS technology can help make pipelines safer and represent an excellent made-in-Canada solution to a very relevant Canadian problem.

Hortau has pioneered the Internet of Things in agriculture by developing a new approach to irrigation management since 2008. Hortau is currently marketing the first predictive model for global crop production control to increase yields and productivity while reducing inputs such as water, fertilizers and energy that result in reductions in GHGs and diffuse nitrogen pollution. This new technology, known as the Multivariate system, redefines needs, diagnostic methods and the approach to agronomic interventions using fully computerized technology based on real-time and continuous measurements. As part of the project, the Multivariate system will be enhanced with new technologies in order to develop new markets and territories and thus multiply the environmental benefits associated with its use by farmers.

INNORD develops innovative technologies for extraction and separation of rare earth elements and other critical metals essential for a sustainable future. The company has developed an innovative and proprietary process to extract rare earths elements in a sustainable way from iron rich industrial waste such as magnet scrap. As this technology is demonstrated on a larger scale, INNORD is now committed to work with major partners from various industries to tackle different industrial and mining waste issues where iron is a major hindrance. INNORD developed a process that could extract value from bauxite residue, reduce more than 70% of waste volume and produce valuable by-products. The implementation of this technology would free up waste storage space and extend the life of the alumina refinery plant in Saguenay, which will help to maintain and create jobs in Quebec. The production of scandium and other valuable by-products will contribute positively to the renewable energy sector in Canada.

Lorama is pleased to announce that due to SDTC support, it is able to bring its latest innovation in the area of environmentally sound chemicals to market on an accelerated basis. In this project, Lorama has perfected a new range of adhesives, based upon its proprietary polysaccharide resin chemistry, that technically and economically replace toxic, carcinegenic, and fossil fuel based adhesives currently in widespread use, inclusive of house construction and furniture (engineered wood products) applications.In addition to protecting the public from such hazards, elimination of these traditional adhesives has the potential to reduce GHG emissions by up to 25000 kilo-tons of GHG. The replacement Lorama products are entirely plant-based materials, fully renewable, pose no health hazard, and offer Canada the opportunity to play an important part in reducing the environmental footprint of this adhesive class, while adding hundreds of Millions of $'s to our GNP.

Mikro-Tek is a carbon project developer and supplier of forest carbon offset credits. Since 1990 they have applied natural fungal organisms to nursery seedlings in order to enhance nutrient and moisture uptake of trees after planting. This results in an increase in both biomass growth and carbon sequestration.

Early increase in seedling growth also helps a forest reach free-to-grow status quicker and therefore may provide a viable alternative to herbicidal spraying of reforestation sites on Crown land across Canada. The goals of this project are two-fold: to increase carbon sequestration on reforestation sites in the boreal forest, and to assess the technology as an alternative to herbicide applications.

NanosTech, named “best net-zero energy company” by Alberta Innovates (2021), is an energy transition company that creates transformational nano-catalyst technologies that enable the clean energy revolution. We make energy cleaner and more efficient for people and the planet, today.

In-Situ Upgrading Technology (ISUT) is a next-generation energy production technology which helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 35%, enabling Canada to reach its 2030 climate goals.

NanosTech is actively developing its nano-catalyst technology for multiple markets such as; biofuels, green hydrogen, and carbon capture to help achieve net zero by 2050.

Whole-muscle seafood, made from plants. Our plant-based salmon looks, cooks, tastes and flakes - just like fish.

Next Hydrogen is a developer and provider of water electrolysers for low cost, large-scale green hydrogen production. The company’s unique patented design enables the operational flexibility required to cost effectively utilize renewable energy sources. Next Hydrogen is a Mississauga-based company working to further scale up its product for further significant cost reduction.