Investments strengthen Alberta’s competitive advantage in clean technology sector
Backgrounder
The global economy is moving toward a greener future and Canada is working to keep pace. The global campaign against climate change is an economic opportunity for Canada to create jobs and meet our climate change goals. Developing a strong clean technology industry will help support the adoption of alternative technologies and create well-paying, middle-class jobs for Canadians.
The Western Diversification Program (WDP) is the main program through which Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) makes strategic investments in initiatives with not-for-profit organizations that enhance and strengthen the economy of Western Canada.
Today’s announcement is for three WDP clean technology projects at the University of Alberta:
| Project Proponent | Project Description | Western Diversification Program Funding |
|---|---|---|
University of Alberta Agri-Food Discovery Place (AFDP) |
Invest in a 1500 litre fermenter and upgrade utilities to expand the capabilities of the Agri-Food Discovery Place (AFDP). The project will enable small businesses to scale-up and commercialize products such as biodegradable plastic, probiotics and fertilizer. | $1,500,000 |
University of Alberta ACTIVE-AURORA |
Hire 12 highly qualified people to develop and commercialize connected vehicle hardware and software applications. The project will develop and test connected vehicle (CV) technologies to optimize traffic flow and reduce vehicle emissions. | $934,050 |
University of Alberta Batteries for Microgrids |
Support the development and commercialization of low cost, high capacity battery materials for microgrid-scale energy storage systems. The project will result in improved energy storage for renewables including solar and wind. | $843,400 |