ACOA backs rapidly growing tech sector in Nova Scotia
News release
Innovative projects will help decrease greenhouse gas emissions and grow Canada's clean economy
May 11, 2023 · Dartmouth, Nova Scotia · Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
Embracing clean technology projects helps diversify the region's economy, opens up new markets, reduces carbon emissions and creates good-paying jobs for Atlantic Canadians. That is why the Government of Canada is helping four cleantech start-ups and a not-for-profit energy efficiency organization create sustainable solutions to environmental challenges in Canada and around the world.
Federal government supports EfficiencyOne, four companies in Dartmouth and Bedford
Today, the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA, announced contributions totalling $2,801,925 through ACOA’s Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program to Rayleigh Solar Tech Inc., Graphite Innovation and Technologies Inc., Prosaris Solutions Ltd., Arolytics Incorporated and EfficiencyOne.
Rayleigh Solar Tech has developed a new kind of solar cell – a lightweight, flexible, adhesive film that can be applied to a variety of surfaces, and used in places where traditional rigid solar panels would be impractical. The funding announced today will allow the company to improve the efficiency and durability of its solar film, and develop a pilot product to explore various practical applications, such as providing power for electric vehicles.
Graphite Innovation and Technologies (GIT) has developed a sustainable, graphene-based marine coating that allows large ships to move more easily through the water. The low-friction coating reduces drag on the hull, allowing ships to maintain traditional speeds while significantly lowering fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. This funding will support the company’s move into a state-of-the-art, carbon-neutral production facility in Dartmouth to better meet the worldwide demand for its products.
Prosaris Solutions offers air and gas leak detection solutions for industrial companies that use compressed air systems. This funding will help Prosaris Solutions hire staff, enhance its cloud-based software solution, and buy equipment to increase production capacity for its handheld leak detection device to meet customer demand.
Arolytics Incorporated offers software solutions for the modelling, monitoring and managing of methane gas emissions. This funding will help the company expand its sales and market reach into the United States.
EfficiencyOne is a non-profit organization that provides cost-effective energy efficiency and carbon mitigation services to help businesses reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and save energy. This funding will allow the company to hire three energy management experts to work with industrial customers and help them become more efficient, productive and competitive.
These innovative projects will protect the environment, decrease greenhouse gas emissions and save money, while allowing Canada to secure a foothold in the rapidly growing global clean tech market, creating jobs and investment opportunities.
For more information about the recipients and project funding amounts, see the backgrounder.
Today’s announcement further demonstrates the Government of Canada’s commitment through Budget 2023 to make transformative investments to build Canada’s clean economy, fight climate change, and create new opportunities for Canadian businesses and workers.
Quotes
”The Government of Canada is committed to fighting climate change and building the net-zero industries of tomorrow. Advancing made-in Atlantic Canada clean technologies contributes to a better future for our planet, and a stronger economy for everyone.”
- The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA
“Companies in Dartmouth—Cole Harbour and across Atlantic Canada are developing ground-breaking clean technologies, and our government is here to support their efforts, every step of the way. We are committed to making strategic investments in Atlantic Canada’s cleantech sector to protect the environment, increase access to international markets, and lay the groundwork for future economic success.”
- Darren Fisher, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Seniors and Member of Parliament for Dartmouth – Cole Harbour
“This support from our federal government through ACOA is coming at an important time in our company's growth. It will allow us to invest in key equipment to help us advance from lab-scale technology innovators to producing next generation solar products for a global market.”
- Paul Pynn, CEO, Rayleigh Solar Tech
“This investment is a major step forward for GIT in driving decarbonization in the marine transportation sector. We saw a significant lift in demand in 2022, in part due to world-wide support for ‘green’ eco-friendly products. Our new carbon-neutral facility in Dartmouth will allow us to offer our sustainable, graphene-based, biocide-free coatings to more organizations around the world. Our company, along with those we work with, have significant sustainability goals. We really appreciate the support from the Government of Canada in supporting these goals.”
- Mo AlGermozi, Co-founder and CEO, Graphite Innovation and Technologies (GIT)
“Industrial and manufacturing compressed air systems have long been a recognised source of unacceptable energy waste. The Prosaris OL1 and Leak Management Platform provides these industries, for the first time, with an efficient and effective solution to leak detection, analysis and resolution. Our team has been working hard to lay the groundwork for accelerated growth in this area, and, with ACOA’s support, we're excited to now have the resources to make it happen.”
- Colin Sewell, Founder and CEO, Prosaris Solutions
“New emissions regulations in the United States are expected to create a six-fold increase in measurement and reporting requirements for the oil and gas sector. ACOA's contribution will support our international export and commercialization activities, enabling Arolytics to take advantage of this perfectly timed market opportunity."
- Liz O’Connell, President and Co-founder, Arolytics
“The funding provided to EfficiencyOne through ACOA for three new roving energy managers will help us continue to support Nova Scotians industrial sector to achieve their energy goals while increase productivity and competitiveness. Our Energy Management program has been very successful supporting large energy users across the province, including Municipalities, to identify and lead energy efficiency projects.”
- Stephen MacDonald, CEO, EfficiencyOne
Quick facts
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As of April 2022, there were 169 cleantech companies in Atlantic Canada.[1]
[1] https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/clean-growth-hub/en/clean-technology-data-strategy/gdp-and-trade
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Atlantic Canada’s clean technology output was valued at $1.7 billion in 2019 according to a December 2021 report from the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council (APEC).
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The Atlantic provinces’ clean technology sector employs 15,000 people, excluding environmental products and services, according to the APEC report.
Associated links
Contacts
Marianne Blondin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Official Languages and of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Marianne.Blondin@acoa-apeca.gc.ca
Lauren Sinclair
Director of Communications
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
782-641-6365
Lauren.Sinclair@acoa-apeca.gc.ca
Sean Williams
Chief Marketing Officer
Graphite Innovation and Technologies (GIT)
902-220-5945
marketing@grapheneenterprise.ca
Laura Moore
Communications Coordinator
Rayleigh Solar Tech
902-616-1508
laura.moore@rayleighsolartech.com
Colin Sewell
Founder and CEO
Prosaris Solutions
902-220-5462
csewell@prosaris.ca
Liz O’Connell
President and Co-founder
Arolytics Incorporated
403-993-7551
liz.oconnell@arolytics.com
Janet Tobin
Communications Lead
EfficiencyOne
902-499-6494
jtobin@efficiencyns.ca
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