📋 Tender Overview
The Government of Canada is committed to supporting a competitive green economy by leveraging opportunities to promote sustainable technologies. That includes investing in innovation that recycles materials normally thrown away into value-added commodities.Today the Honourable Mlanie Joly Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada announced 1.9 million in funding to the University of British Columbias Okanagan campus UBCO to develop an innovation hub that will promote clean technologies that convert carbon-based additives and components into new sustainable products.Canadians are full of innovative new ideas that will lead to the development and deployment of important new clean technologies. Carbon-based materials have a number of applications but most of these materials are derived from the mining oil and gas industries. Finding new sustainable ways to create carbon-based materials from recycled products will help Canada lower its carbon emissions and reduce industrial waste.With this funding UBCO will work with manufacturing mining and lumber companies in Western Canada to research how industrial waste can gain a second life as high-quality carbon products. One example is the conversion of carbon collected during the recycling process of heavy industry vehicle tires into battery electrodes that power electric vehicles. These new products have applications in both domestic and international markets and will open up new exporting opportunities for Canadian-made innovation. Targeted action by the government to mobilize private capital will better position Canadian firms to bring their technologies to market unlocking both the economic and environmental potential of the growing global clean technology market. This project will build on British Columbias reputation as a leader in the clean technology sector. It also fosters a more inclusive economy by creating almost 50 well-paying jobs for underrepresented groups including women youth and Indigenous students. QuotesI believe in the power of innovation and creativity as positive forces that can be harnessed to tackle economic and environmental challenges. By promoting a sustainable future and a thriving economy the University of British Columbia Okanagan is aligning this project with the priorities of the Government of Canada. Together we are showing our commitment to a country that provides opportunities and economic benefits to Canadians while also ensuring the development of technologies that will lead to a cleaner greener environment for future generations.- The Honourable Mlanie Joly Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification CanadaTogether we are showing our commitment to a country that provides opportunities and economic benefits to Canadians - Hon. Mlanie JolyTweet this quote.We are delighted that funding from Western Economic Diversification Canada will enable the creation of a new cleantech hub at the University of British Columbia Okanagan. Our engineering researchers have established cutting-edge procedures for recovering and reusing carbon-based materials that would otherwise be discarded and creation of this new hub will allow us to accelerate work in this area scale our partnerships with industry and create technical training opportunities that will accelerate transition to a greener economy.- Dr. Phil Barker Vice-Principal and Associate Vice-President Research and Innovation University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus
