Backgrounder: ACOA backs rapidly growing tech sector in Nova Scotia

May 11, 2023 · Dartmouth, Nova Scotia · Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)

The world is racing to net-zero emissions by 2050. Canada must keep innovating to meet this long-term goal, strengthening and building on existing measures that fight climate change and transform the economy.

As such, the Government of Canada is investing $2,801,925 to help the five organizations below develop and market novel products, purchase equipment, create jobs, attract investment and transition to a low-carbon economy. The funding is through ACOA’s Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program.

-        $950,000 (repayable) to Graphite Innovation and Technologies
-        $750,000 (repayable) to Rayleigh Solar Tech
-        $500,000 (repayable) to Prosaris Solutions
-        $300,000 (repayable) to Arolytics Incorporated
-        $301,925 (non-repayable) to EfficiencyOne

Graphite Innovation and Technologies (GIT)
Graphite Innovation and Technologies (GIT) is receiving $950,000 to relocate from its current 4,000 square foot space to a new 17,000 square foot, state-of-the-art carbon neutral facility at 499 Wilkinson Avenue in Dartmouth. Facility improvements and equipment installation are expected to be completed by Fall of 2023. The additional space will allow GIT, which produces sustainable, graphene-based marine coatings, to expand further into US, European, Middle Eastern and Asian markets and implement new production technologies.

GIT was co-founded in 2017 by CEO Mo AlGermozi, named an Atlantic finalist for the 2022 EY Entrepreneur of the Year, and CTO Dr. Marciel Gaier. It has 21 staff and plans to add another 15 by 2024. A pioneer in the sustainable coating sector, GIT’s easy-to-apply marine products solve industry challenges in meeting new environmental regulatory measures. Its graphene-based coatings deliver fuel efficiency, drive decarbonization and reduce underwater noise emissions, allowing ship operators to reach optimal vessel performance while achieving sustainability goals. Graphene is a carbon-based material that is 200 times stronger than steel and efficiently conducts heat and electricity. The coatings prevent corrosion and improve durability of ships’ hulls and other equipment. The company is focusing on sales to commercial shipping and fishing vessels, as well as ferries.

Rayleigh Solar Tech
Rayleigh Solar Tech is receiving $750,000 to purchase additional equipment for its pilot manufacturing facility. This will allow it to produce next-generation flexible perovskite solar products that can be used in electric vehicles, consumer electronics and more. These solar films can be used in outdoor or indoor lighting conditions and applied to a variety of contoured surfaces.

Rayleigh’s solar films are produced using perovskite, which is less expensive and more environmentally friendly than traditional solar panels. Perovskite is a crystal structure that exists in the earth’s crust and can be reproduced synthetically in a lab. It has been researched as a solar cell material for about 15 years and is gaining in popularity. Rayleigh Solar Tech is the only company in Canada, and one of only a handful of companies worldwide, that uses roll-to-roll slot-die coating to make a lightweight, flexible perovskite solar film.

Rayleigh Solar Tech was founded in 2016 by Dr. Sam March, as a continuation of his PhD research at Dalhousie University. Today, Dr. March is Chief Technology Officer. Rayleigh’s team of 26 employees collectively speak 12 languages and 50 per cent are women. The team has more than doubled in size since April 2021, when they moved into their pilot manufacturing facility.

Prosaris Solutions
Prosaris Solutions is receiving $500,000 to hire staff and expand production of its ultrasonic leak detection solution. The company plans to add approximately 12 positions to grow its R&D, technical, and customer and sales support teams. It will make facility improvements and purchase equipment to increase production capacity to meet customer demand.

Prosaris provides users with a software and hardware solution for the management of compressed air energy waste, resulting from system leaks. Its simple-to-use ultrasonic leak detection device locates and quantifies very small to large gas leaks. The device is combined with an adaptable cloud-based management system to provide accurate documentation, so leaks can be quickly identified and fixed, protecting the environment and saving money.

Prosaris Solutions was founded by Colin Sewell in 2017. It has grown to nine employees. Almost 95 per cent of its customers use compressed air in their industrial operations. It mostly serves customers in North America and has plans to expand internationally.

Arolytics Incorporated
Arolytics Incorporated is receiving $300,000 to expand sales and marketing initiatives in the United States for its clean technology software that enables the oil and gas sector to forecast, manage, and disclose greenhouse gas emissions. 

Arolytics’ platform designs efficient emissions management strategies for regulatory compliance, improved operations, and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) purposes to help clients better manage emissions.

Founded in 2018 by Liz O’Connell, Emmaline Atherton and David Risk, Arolytics grew out of the largest gas emissions research centre in Canada, the Flux Lab at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish. Atherton and O’Connell were named to the 2022 Forbes 30 under 30 Energy list. The company employs 17 people in Nova Scotia, Alberta and Ontario with plans to grow to more than 25 in the next year.

EfficiencyOne
EfficiencyOne is receiving a $301,925 non-repayable contribution to hire three Roving Energy Managers to work on energy efficiency and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction activities in Nova Scotia's industrial sector. The project will help participating businesses become more productive and competitive and will reduce energy use and carbon dioxide emissions. The Province of Nova Scotia is also investing $998,755 through its Green Fund Investment program.

EfficiencyOne is an independent non-profit organization that works to supply cost-effective energy efficiency and carbon mitigation services in Nova Scotia and beyond.

It works with more than 300 local partners and has helped more than 400,000 program participants complete energy efficiency projects saving money and carbon dioxide equivalents.  To date, the organization has achieved nearly $1.5 billion in energy savings and has reduced emissions in Nova Scotia by more than 1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.