Mon, 17 Dec 2012

Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) has launched a new Virtual Incubation program to assist entrepreneurs. The new online initiative was launched after SDTC received feedback from SD Tech Fund applicants about the need for more guidance and information prior to the application stage.


 

The Virtual Incubator was created as a way to “enable capacity building and tailored guidance for entrepreneurs with innovative pre-commercial clean technologies.” The SDTC website explains that an entrepreneur may have a high potential idea; but the technology, business plan, partners or funding could all be in different stages. This is done to support a pre-commercial demonstration project and ultimately the commercialization of the technology.  It also seeks to help applicants with their business plans and project plans for the Statement of Interest and Proposal submissions.

The SDTC offers the SD Tech Fund and NextGen Biofuels Fund. Eligible applicants must be Canadian for-profit or not-for-profit companies with a pre-commercial innovative clean technology solution, and must have the intention of commercializing their technology through a Canadian supply chain. 

 

The $590 million SD Tech Fund is aimed at supporting the late-stage development and pre-commercial demonstration of clean technology solutions: products and processes that contribute to clean air, clean water and clean land, that address climate change and improve the productivity and the global competitiveness of the Canadian industry. SDTC does not require any repayments of the financial contributions it provides to funded projects through the SD Tech Fund.

The $500 million NextGen BioFuels Fund is aimed at supporting the establishment of unique commercial scale demonstration facilities for the production of renewable fuels and co-products. However, the Virtual Incubator is not intended to help applicants of this STDC program.

More details on the SD Tech Fund and NextGen BioFuels Fund can be found on the Fundica website.