McGuinty Government On Track To Turn Cleantech Into Jobs of the Future
TORONTO, Feb. 17 /CNW/ -
NEWS
A new report says Ontario's clean technology companies are doing a good
job turning ideas into new green jobs - and that the keys to global success
are within reach.
The 2009 OCETA SDTC Cleantech Growth & Go-to-Market Report
(http://cleantechnologyreport.ca/), outlines specific ways that government can
do more to help these companies take the next step in attracting more global
customers and investment, such as:- Increasing domestic demand for clean technology by acting as an early
adopter
- Setting aggressive environmental and sustainability targets
- Developing a clean technology procurement strategy
- Establishing commercialization benchmarks and adopting consistent,
global best practices across the province.The report analyzes the size and structure of 110 Ontario-based clean
technology companies. It credits the province's $3-billion Innovation Agenda
for providing many of these companies with early stage R&D support, and its
proponents say the proposed Green Energy Act will position cleantech as a
driver of Ontario's future social and economic prosperity.
QUOTES
"By turning our world-class research into world-class businesses we can
become a cleantech powerhouse. We're committed to continue working with
companies that want to compete globally and create good jobs for Ontario
families," said John Wilkinson
(http://www.mri.gov.on.ca/english/about/MinisterBio.asp), Minister of Research
and Innovation.
"Encouraging the development and adoption of clean technologies right
here in our own province is the right thing to do for our environment - and
our economy. Soon, I will be introducing a new Green Energy Act designed to
support home-grown innovation, create thousands of green sector jobs and make
Ontario a world leader in renewable energy, energy efficiency and
conservation," said George Smitherman
(http://www.mei.gov.on.ca/english/about/index.cfm?page=minister), Deputy
Premier and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure.QUICK FACTS
- Global demand for clean technology solutions is already estimated at
$US 1 trillion annually.
- Ontario's Innovation Agenda
(http://www.mri.gov.on.ca/english/programs/oia/program.asp) has
committed nearly $3 billion over eight years to help make innovation
the driving force of our economy.
- The government has invested more than $600 million in research
projects and companies working on green technologies and initiatives
since 2003.
- New businesses that commercialize ideas from Canadian colleges,
universities and research institutes now get a 10-year exemption from
corporate income tax in Ontario.
LEARN MORE
See how Ontario's Innovation Agenda
(http://www.mri.gov.on.ca/english/programs/oia/program.asp) is creating jobs
and opportunity.
Read what the Premier is saying about Ontario's Green Energy Act
(http://www.premier.gov.on.ca/news/Product.asp?ProductID=2821).
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BACKGROUNDER
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2009 CLEANTECH GROWTH AND GO-TO-MARKET REPORTA new report, supported in part by the Ontario government, says the
province has a wealth of clean technology companies that are working to turn
great ideas into green jobs - and existing programs are doing a good job to
help these companies succeed. It also says the government can do more to help
these companies become globally competitive.
The 2009 OCETA SDTC Cleantech Growth & Go-to-Market Report
(http://cleantechnologyreport.ca/), released today by the Ontario Centre for
Environmental Technology Advancement and the Russell-Mitchell Group, analyzes
the size, structure and opportunities facing Ontario's cleantech industry.
Among its key findings:- Ontario has a solid group of emerging companies in this sector
- Most of the 110 Ontario-based clean technology companies identified
in the report design, develop, and manufacture globally competitive
products
- Ontario and Canadian companies are known worldwide for developing
best-in-class technology.At the same time, the report recommends actions the government can take
to help emerging companies bring their technologies to the global market
faster.
INVESTMENTS IN CLEAN TECHNOLOGY AND THE GREEN ECONOMY
Many of the companies that participated in the Cleantech Growth &
Go-to-Market Report were supported in the early stages of R&D by Ontario
government programs such as the Ontario Research Fund
(http://www.mri.gov.on.ca/english/programs/ResearchFund.asp); the Innovation
Demonstration Fund
(http://www.mri.gov.on.ca/english/programs/idf/guidelines.asp); the Investment
Accelerator Fund (http://www.oce-ontario.org/Pages/CInvest.aspx); the Business
Mentorship and Entrepreneurship Program
(http://www.marsdd.com/mars/About-MaRS/Partners/mrp.html), and the Next
Generation of Jobs Fund
(http://www.ontariocanada.com/ontcan/en/nextgen_main_en.jsp).
Supporting innovation is part of the McGuinty government's five-point
plan (http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/budgetsplash/) for growing Ontario's economy.
Ontario's Innovation Agenda
(http://www.mri.gov.on.ca/english/programs/oia/program.asp) is the
government's strategy for turning great ideas into good-paying jobs and better
lives for Ontario families.
Backed by close to $3 billion in spending over eight years, the agenda
focuses on supporting innovation and growth in sectors where Ontario has the
research and business strengths to dominate high-growth global markets.
Tackling climate change through bio-based, environmental, alternative energy
and clean technologies is one of these sectors.
The province's investments are focused on seizing global market
opportunities through government-academic-industry collaborations and
partnerships. Here are some of the recent steps Ontario has taken to put
itself at the forefront of the global bioeconomy.- Ontario BioAuto Council - Through the Ontario BioAuto Council, Ontario
is investing $2.5 million in three companies that are inventing new
ways to make car parts out of crops. Canadian General-Tower Limited
(http://www.cgtower.com/index.htm), GreenCore Composites Inc.
(http://greencorenfc.com/) and The Woodbridge Group
(http://www.woodbridgegroup.com/) are developing products that are
lighter, stronger and cleaner to produce and use - and will create
jobs in this emerging field.
- Centre for Research and Innovation in the Bio-Economy - Located in
Thunder Bay, the $25-million Centre for Research and Innovation in
the Bio-Eeconomy
(http://www.mri.gov.on.ca/english/news/CRIBE052108.asp) (CRIBE) will
create new opportunities and high-paying jobs in the rapidly growing
and cutting-edge bio-economy. The centre will focus on research,
development and commercialization as they relate to the next
generation of renewable forestry bio-products.
- University of Western Ontario Bioproducts Initiative - Ontario is
investing $7.5 million in the University of Western Ontario's
Bioproducts Initiative, which consists of two projects that are taking
different approaches to turn farm byproducts and waste into
next-generation biofuels. The funding supports the creation of a new
research centre to test biofuel technologies, and will help complete
a biogas facility that will turn manure and wastewater into energy,
while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and odour.
- Innovation Demonstration Fund - Ontario's four-year, $30-million
Innovation Demonstration Fund
(http://www.mri.gov.on.ca/english/programs/idf/guidelines.asp) helps
companies demonstrate and commercialize new bio-based, environmental
or alternative energy technologies, helping them bring these
technologies to market faster. Two companies taking radically
different approaches to generating renewable power - Plasco Energy
Group (http://www.mri.gov.on.ca/english/news/Plasco042707.asp) (from
waste) and Verdant Power Canada
(http://www.verdantpower.com/what-core) (using the current of the
St. Lawrence River) are examples of organizations receiving funding.
- Investment Accelerator Fund - The Investment Accelerator Fund
(http://www.oce-ontario.org/Pages/CInvest.aspx) helps eligible
start-up companies develop their technology and gain
entrepreneurial expertise to bring their product or service to market.
In January, Ontario announced investments of up to $500,000 in eight
companies. One of these is Regen Energy (http://www.regenenergy.com/),
which has developed a wireless controller that manages peak electrical
demand - technology that promises to bring better energy management to
the world.
- Next Generation of Jobs Fund - Ontario's Next Generation of Jobs Fund
(http://www.ontario-canada.com/ontcan/en/nextgen_main_en.jsp) is a
five-year, $1.15-billion strategy to help innovative companies grow
and create well-paying sustainable jobs for Ontario's highly skilled
workers. One of the leading companies in this program is 6N Silicon
(http://www.6nsilicon.com/s/Home.asp), which has developed a
cost-effective way to meet market demand for solar-grade silicon.
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For further information: Sandra Watts, Minister's Office, (416)
314-7067; Perry Blocher, MRI Communications Branch, (416) 326-7717
