The two-year Alberta-Ontario Innovation Program will fund projects that focus on strengthening global competitiveness. It will draw on academic expertise to address challenges faced by industry, such as:

• Conservation of water and energy
• Developing better insulated building materials
• Environmental remediation
• Stormwater management
• Converting waste into energy
• Modular manufacturing and assembly

Projects eligible for funding include those focused on developing new products and services in areas such as energy storage, biogas, pipeline coatings and the remediation of contaminated water. These may span multiple sectors, including energy, manufacturing, advanced materials, clean technology and ICT.

Ontario will provide up to $2 million to the program, which will be matched up to $2 million by Ontario companies. Ontario Centres of Excellence will manage the program.

Alberta will provide up to $1 million, with Alberta Innovates-Technology Futures managing the program and providing additional funding of up to $1 million. Alberta companies will match the combined funding up to $2 million.

Building our knowledge economy is part of the Ontario government’s economic plan that is creating jobs for today and tomorrow. The comprehensive plan and its six priorities focus on Ontario’s greatest strengths – its people and strategic partnerships.

QUICK FACTS

• Funds managed by the Ontario Centres of Excellence will stay in Ontario and will flow to academic institutions for collaborative R&D projects driven by Ontario-based industry partners.
• The Alberta government and Alberta Innovates — Technology Futures funds will stay in Alberta and may flow to academic institutions, research institutes, and/or Alberta-based industry partners, as determined by the nature of the projects.
• Canada ranks sixth in the world in quality and impact of research and Ontario comprises nearly half of the national research enterprise.
• Ontario businesses invest $6.8 billion in research and development each year, which represents about 45 per cent of Canada’s total.