Dec 01, 2024

B.C. Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE) Invests $7.7 Million in 13 Climate Tech Companies to Accelerate Decarbonization Solutions

The B.C. Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE) is proud to announce the recipients of its latest funding opportunities, investing a total of $7.7 million in 13 innovative climate tech companies.  

These non-dilutive investments, made through CICE’s Call for Wildfire Tech and the July 2024 Open Call for Innovation, align with CICE’s mission to accelerate transformative decarbonization solutions and B.C.’s transition to a clean economy. This investment supports early-stage companies developing innovative clean energy and climate solutions, with a focus on technologies that drive significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. 

A Directed Call for Wildfire Management Technologies  

This spring, CICE launched Canada’s first-ever funding opportunity for wildfire technologies, committing up to $3 million to support companies developing groundbreaking solutions to better manage and mitigate the growing threat of wildfires.  

“Wildfires are becoming more frequent and destructive, threatening communities, ecosystems, and the economy,” said Sarah Goodman, President and CEO of CICE. “The companies we selected are developing cutting-edge solutions to reduce fire risk, improve response times, and protect vulnerable regions. This funding is a significant investment in B.C. and Canada’s ability to respond to one of the most urgent climate-related challenges we face, while also paving the way to reduce carbon emissions from these devastating events.” 

CICE is investing a total of $3.5 million in six of the 74 companies that applied for the 2024 Wildfire Tech Call for Innovation. The companies include: 

  • CRWN.ai: Predicting wildfire risk with frequency and AI on the most remote transmission lines. 
  • FireSwarm Solutions Inc.: Wildfire suppression through autonomous drone swarms to detect, map, and battle fires with precision and speed. 
  • Nova (Hummingbird Drones Inc.): Delivering real-time mapping with infrared scanning and machine learning, enabling fire teams to make swift, data-driven decisions. 
  • Skyward Wildfire Technologies Inc.: Groundbreaking lightning suppression technology to prevent wildfires and protect communities, industries, and forests. 
  • Voxelis Canada Corporation: Supercharging firefighting helicopters with advanced AI and sensor technology to combat wildfires. 
  • Wildfire Robotics Inc.: Advancing robotic systems that transform perimeter control and risk-reduction burning.  

Investing in a Clean Economy 

CICE is investing $4.2 million in seven B.C. climate tech companies, selected from 79 applicants to its July 2024 Call for Innovation. These companies are advancing breakthrough technologies in low-carbon hydrogen, battery technology, energy storage, and low-carbon fuels, and align with CICE’s mission to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. 

These projects—from EV-enabled snowplows to high-efficiency hydrogen fuel cells, to biofuels derived from wastewater—are pushing the boundaries of innovation to tackle emissions and transform industries. The projects include: 

Battery and Energy Storage  

Low Carbon Fuels  

Low Carbon Hydrogen  

  • Ekona Power Inc.: Disrupting clean hydrogen production with cost-effective solutions that convert carbon waste into catalysts for economic growth and GHG reduction. 
  • Quantum Technology Corp.: Eliminating hydrogen loss during storage and transfers, enabling efficient refueling for heavy transportation and remote applications.  
  • Unilia (Canada) Fuel Cells Inc.: Boosting hydrogen fuel cell efficiency, durability, and performance for zero-emission heavy-duty fuel cell electric vehicles to compete with diesel trucks. 

“We’re on a mission to fast-track the commercialization of B.C.’s most promising climate solutions. A critical part of that is supporting innovators when they need it the most, so they ultimately deliver those impactful solutions to the world while creating economic benefits for B.C. and Canada,” adds Goodman. 

To date, CICE has invested $39 million in 59 clean energy and climate technology projects valued at over $196 million through its open and directed calls for innovation. 

Earlier this week, CICE launched a Call for Energy Storage Innovation in collaboration with BC Hydro, a $3 million funding opportunity to scale energy storage solutions and grid technologies to propel decarbonization and electrification in B.C., that can be replicated across jurisdictions to drive global climate impact. Applications are being accepted until February 28, 2025. 

CICE’s Call for Women in Climate Tech is now open, inviting women-led climate tech ventures to apply by December 3rd, with the goal of driving innovation, strengthening economic growth, and creating a more inclusive energy transition.   

B.C. Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy | www.cice.ca