FEDDEV ONTARIO’S FOCUS ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
APRIL 2019
In this issue 
APRIL 2019
ISSUES ARCHIVE
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Project News & Updates
- ColdBlock Technologies Provides Faster and Cleaner Option for Preparing Sample Solutions
- Bioindustrial Innovation Canada Works Towards a National Bioeconomy Strategy
- SmartStart Funding Recipient Leads Cleantech Project with GE Aviation
- Real-Time Water Monitoring Technology Developed to Help Remote Communities
Making Headlines
Budget 2019 Invests in People, Projects and FedDev Ontario
On March 19, Finance Minister Bill Morneau tabled Budget 2019—Investing in the Middle Class, which outlines how the Government plans to build an inclusive economy by investing in the things that matter most to Canadians.
The Budget included exciting news for not only our region, but also for our Agency. Subject to approval by Parliament, FedDev Ontario will become a permanent regional development agency, starting in 2024–25! This will enable us to continue our work as a strong and reliable partner in southern Ontario, delivering programs and services for businesses, organizations and communities. Other proposed initiatives include support for tourism, Indigenous businesses and broadband internet access.
See TheSmartCone™ Bike/Ped Safety solution in action! Video courtesy of SmartCone Technologies and Ottawa Police Service.
SmartCone Technologies on the Road to Success
FedDev Ontario is supporting intelligent systems to help keep people around the world safe. SmartCone Technologies Inc. is receiving $187,500 to further develop its flagship product—TheSmartConeTM—and expand the company’s presence in global markets. TheSmartConeTM looks like a traffic cone, but features a camera, motion sensors, software, detectors and more to alert the public to dangerous situations. It has been used successfully for monitoring general traffic, managing bicycle-lane traffic, controlling crowds and providing security surveillance.
First Successful Applicants of the Women Entrepreneurship Fund Announced
On March 8—International Women’s Day—the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion, announced 15 recipients who will receive support from the Women Entrepreneurship Fund. This fund is part of the government’s first-ever Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, which aims to double the number of women-led businesses in Canada by 2025. Each successful applicant will receive up to $100,000 to help grow her business. FedDev Ontario is one of six regional development agencies in Canada that help deliver women-centric programs, providing targeted support and services.
These six finalists will be working to solve the world’s climate and environmental challenges while competing for a $1-million prize.
Finalists Announced in MaRS Women in Cleantech Challenge
Almost one year ago, MaRS launched the Women in Cleantech Challenge in search of Canada’s most promising female cleantech entrepreneur. The contest, also supported by Natural Resources Canada, received 150 applications. In September, six participants were chosen during a live pitch competition, and all are receiving business incubator services at MaRS in Toronto, access to federal labs and annual living expenses until the $1-million prize is awarded in 2021. Half of the finalists hail from Ontario, offering solutions that range from converting C02 into fuel and transforming organic waste into bioplastics to providing a cheaper and more energy-efficient process for producing nanofilms, which are increasingly used in cleantech applications. Meet the finalists and learn more about their inventions.
Project News & Updates
ColdBlock Technologies Provides Faster and Cleaner Option for Preparing Sample Solutions
Kirill Pereverzev is the Director, Technology and Business Development of ColdBlock Technologies Inc.
ColdBlock Technologies Provides Faster and Cleaner Option for Preparing Sample Solutions
In a world where process efficiencies are necessary to compete, ColdBlock Technologies Inc. offers a cool solution for businesses that analyze particle samples. ColdBlock’s innovative technology dissolves solid matter—such as soil, minerals or food—for quick and accurate analysis, shortening process time from hours to minutes with clean, reliable results. Manufactured in Niagara and sold worldwide, the technology is used in mining, environmental, pharmaceutical and agricultural industries. In 2017, ColdBlock received a business loan through Venture Niagara, which is supported by FedDev Ontario. The company has been able to leverage additional support and, most recently, completed an equity investment with Venture Niagara—a first for the Community Futures Development Corporation.
Bioindustrial Innovation Canada Works Towards a National Bioeconomy Strategy
Consultations in Sarnia attracted interested stakeholders from the region to provide input for the proposed national bioeconomy strategy.
Bioindustrial Innovation Canada Works Towards a National Bioeconomy Strategy
In addition to the cluster development work that Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC) is undertaking with FedDev Ontario support, the organization is working with industry partners from across Canada to create a national bioeconomy strategy. In September 2018, BIC hosted introductory consultations with the BioDesign consortium to launch its campaign. The consortium partners include Forestry Products Association of Canada (FPAC), FPInnovations and BIOTECanada. Building off the Forest Bioeconomy Framework for Canada (2017), their goal is to incorporate the interests of both the agriculture and forestry sectors to ensure a strong, common voice. BIC is working with BioNB, an authority in New Brunskwick’s bioscience sector, to coordinate stakeholder consultations across Canada to gather input from industry, research and association stakeholders, and to learn more about challenges faced by Canadian firms in the bioeconomy.
SmartStart Funding Recipient Leads Cleantech Project with GE Aviation
FedDev Ontario’s Chris Padfield, VP, Policy, Partnerships and Communications, (far right), recently met up with Fibos Inc. co-founder Michael Bakaic (centre back) at Waterloo’s DRIVE conference. Also pictured, Zac Young, COO H2nan0 and Irene Sterian, President and CEO, ReMAP.
SmartStart Funding Recipient Leads Cleantech Project with GE Aviation
With almost $3 million in funding through Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), Toronto-based Fibos Inc. is exploring its high-tech gas turbine sensor at GE Aviation’s test facility in Bromont, Quebec. Fibos was founded in 2016 and creates high-performance optical sensors. The turbine sensor being tested provides highly accurate, real-time combustion pressure and temperature measurements, resulting in fuel savings for a variety of sectors, such as aviation and power generation. Fibos received seed funding from the Ontario Centres of Excellence’s SmartStart Seed Fund, which also provides financing for entrepreneurship skills training to help high-potential start-up companies grow. In 2015, FedDev Ontario contributed $9 million to support the SmartStart program.
Real-Time Water Monitoring Technology Developed to Help Remote Communities
An AWT project allowed AUG to team up with the municipality of Smiths Falls and the University of Toronto to test a new system that monitors contaminants on site without the need for expensive equipment or expert personnel.
Real-Time Water Monitoring Technology Developed to Help Remote Communities
Ensuring safe drinking water in remote areas is a big challenge, especially for First Nation communities. A.U.G. Signals Ltd. (AUG) is hoping to solve this problem, which was specifically addressed in Budget 2019, with its automatic and continuous water monitoring systems. Currently, 21 TRITON® systems are installed in 19 First Nation communities in northern Ontario with positive results. Recently, AUG received support through the Advancing Water Technologies (AWT) program to test another system that monitors trihalomethanes (THMs), which can develop and contaminate drinking water. The company plans to pilot the new system in northern Ontario and other remote communities across Canada. AWT was created by the Southern Ontario Water Consortium with support from FedDev Ontario.
LinkedIn Highlights
Apply today! Use our new, simplified application process to access funding streams designed to meet the needs of growing businesses, innovative entrepreneurs and organizations looking to transform their communities. Let’s work together to foster growth in southern Ontario.
Women-led companies lead the way, as Lazaridis Institute closes the gender gap for its 2019 Scaleup Program. The selection of 10 female-run companies to participate in the fourth cohort of this FedDev Ontario-funded program was a conscious decision to address gender-specific challenges and to encourage increased female leadership in Canadian tech companies.
Movin’ on uptown! After raising US$47 million led by private equity firm Warburg Pincus, eSentire is moving to Waterloo’s Factory Square Campus this summer. The company will not only double its square footage by taking over the old Blackberry offices, but will also gain LRT access for its growing staff.
Majority of Canadian start-ups are optimistic, according to a new 2019 start-up outlook report. Silicon Valley Bank’s inaugural survey of Canadian start-up leaders reveals strong beliefs around future growth, key challenges and the most promising technologies.
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