We at BCBusiness love hearing from the B.C. Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy. As a nonprofit dedicated to supporting cleantech ventures, CICE consistently brings good news—like when it invested $7.6 million into nine local startups earlier this year, or $5.2 million in 2023.
Today, CICE is announcing its support for 13 more cleantech ventures, 12 of which are based in B.C. After receiving over 150 applications in response to two major funding calls—$3 million for wildfire tech companies and $10 million for early-stage cleantech and climate innovators—CICE has selected the following companies to invest in.
The six wildfire management innovators receiving a total of $3.5 million in non-dilutive funding include:
- CRWN.ai (Kelowna): Using AI to predict wildfire risk on remote transmission lines.
- FireSwarm Solutions Inc. (Squamish): Using autonomous drones to detect, map and suppress wildfires.
- Nova (Hummingbird Drones Inc.) (Victoria): Using infrared technology and machine learning to map fires.
- Skyward Wildfire Technologies Inc. (Vancouver): Developing lightning suppression technology to prevent wildfires and protect communities, industries, and forests.
- Voxelis Canada Corporation (Richmond): Arming firefighting helicopters with advanced AI and sensor technology.
- Wildfire Robotics Inc. (Calgary): Advancing robotic systems that can help fight wildfires.
“The companies we selected are developing cutting-edge solutions to reduce fire risk, improve response times, and protect vulnerable regions,” CICE president and CEO Sarah Goodman said in a release. Around 74 companies applied for this opportunity. “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.”
In addition, seven climate tech companies will share $4.2 million from CICE. They include:
Battery and Energy Storage
- Edison Motors Ltd. (Merritt): Transforming winter road maintenance with its electric snowplow.
- NORAM Electrolysis Systems Inc. (Vancouver): Developing sustainable lithium battery production.
Low Carbon Fuels
- AlgaFilm Technologies Ltd. (North Vancouver): Revolutionizing wastewater treatment with algae.
- NanosTech Environmental Inc. (Vernon): Helping to convert agricultural and forestry oils into low-carbon fuels.
Low Carbon Hydrogen
- Ekona Power Inc. (Burnaby): Producing clean hydrogen energy by recycling carbon waste.
- Quantum Technology Corp. (Squamish): Reducing hydrogen loss during storage and refuelling.
- Unilia (Canada) Fuel Cells Inc. (Burnaby): Improving hydrogen fuel cell performance for heavy-duty vehicles.
Since launching in 2021, CICE has invested $39 million into almost 60 climate and cleantech projects.
Right now, applications are open for its $3 million Women in Climate Tech opportunity (deadline December 3) as well as its $3 million call for Energy Storage Innovation in partnership with BC Hydro (deadline February 28, 2025).
