Bioindustrial Innovation Canada gets CAD$15 million boost from FedDev Ontario

Sarnia, Ontario-based Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC) has received a CAD$15 million (€10.5 million) financial contribution from FedDev Ontario to promote new sustainable innovations and bring business support to Eastern Ontario in Canada.

BIC is a business accelerator that provides support, services and investments to developers of clean, green and sustainable technologies, including biofuels.

In 2015, the organisation set up the Centre for Commercialization of Sustainable Chemistry Innovation (COMM SCI) initiative in Sarnia, which offers advice and technical services to companies looking to bring their clean technology innovations to market.

BIC is now establishing the Ontario Bioindustrial Innovation Network (OBIN), which will be a second hybrid chemistry cluster in the St. Lawrence Corridor, located in Brockville, Eastern Ontario.

BIC will partner with the St. Lawrence Corridor Economic Development Commission and St. Lawrence College to deliver OBIN. The network will support companies in sustainable chemistry and clean technologies to address setbacks to commercialisation, while reducing environmental impacts.

The project is expected to help 150 businesses and organisations, while creating 700 jobs. The new sustainable chemistry hub will position Ontario, and ultimately Canada, as a leader in helping innovative clean technology companies scale up.

"We are working for you to support organisations like BIC as they help researchers and scientists to bring new, green technologies to the world, while creating strong communities and good quality jobs here in Ontario,” commented Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages. “Investments like the one announced today demonstrate our government’s vision that the economy and the environment go hand-in-hand.”

“BIC’s model of supporting companies in the sustainable chemistry sector has been highly successful here in southwestern Ontario, resulting in job creation and economic benefits for the region,” added Kate Young, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages. “It’s great to see BIC expand its reach and bring its services to Eastern Ontario. This will help create a regional clean technology hub that will benefit all Canadians.”

Sandy Marshall, executive director at BIC, added: “The federal government has been a strong supporter of our work at Bioindustrial Innovation Canada. With this support, BIC has successfully provided investment, advice and services to business developers of clean, green and sustainable technologies within Canada. We are thrilled to receive this investment to establish the OBIN.”