The British Columbia Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE) has announced $7.7 million in funding for 13 climate technology companies, supporting initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions and advancing the province’s transition to a cleaner economy.
The funding is part of CICE’s Call for Wildfire Tech and the July 2024 Open Call for Innovation. This spring, the company launched a funding opportunity dedicated to wildfire management technologies, committing $3.5 million to six companies that applied through its 2024 Wildfire Tech Call. These recipients are developing innovative tools to mitigate and manage the increasing threat of wildfires, which have become more frequent and destructive due to climate change.
"Wildfires are becoming more frequent and destructive, threatening communities, ecosystems, and the economy," said Sarah Goodman, president and CEO of CICE. "This funding is a significant investment in BC and Canada's ability to respond to one of the most urgent climate-related challenges we face, while also paving the way to reduce carbon emissions from these devastating events."
The funded wildfire-focused companies include CRWN.ai, FireSwarm Solutions Inc., Nova (Hummingbird Drones Inc.), Skyward Wildfire Technologies Inc., Voxelis Canada Corporation, and Wildfire Robotics Inc. Their projects range from using AI and drones to predict and suppress fires to developing advanced lightning suppression technology.
In addition to its wildfire initiative, CICE is investing $4.2 million in seven BC climate tech companies selected from its July 2024 Open Call for Innovation. These companies are pioneering advancements in areas such as battery technology, low-carbon hydrogen, energy storage, and low-carbon fuels. Projects include Edison Motors Ltd.’s EV-enabled snowplows, AlgaFilm Technologies Ltd.’s biofuels derived from wastewater, and Quantum Technology Corp.’s solutions for reducing hydrogen loss during storage and transport.
"We're on a mission to fast-track the commercialization of BC's most promising climate solutions. A critical part of that is supporting innovators when they need it the most, so they ultimately deliver those impactful solutions to the world while creating economic benefits for BC and Canada," Goodman added.
Since its founding, CICE has invested $39 million in 59 clean energy and climate technology projects valued at $196 million. The organization is also accepting applications for new funding opportunities, including its Call for Energy Storage Innovation in partnership with BC Hydro and the Call for Women in Climate Tech.