Innovate BC open to applications for $300K grant

Innovate BC (globenewswire)

VANCOUVER — The Innovate BC Ignite program has announced that it is now accepting applications for up to $300,000 in research and development grants for projects based in the province.

Specifically, the program is designed to fund engineering, natural resources and applied science projects that attempt to solve some of the ongoing challenges the people of British Columbia have continued to face.

According to a statement from Ignite, previous winners have included cleantech projects, mining, forestry and agriculture led by teams of academia and industry partners.

One of the other goals of the program is to support job growth and help add value to industries in the province through its “StrongerBC Economic Plan.”

“Through our StrongerBC Economic Plan, we are supporting innovation across the economy to provide more opportunities for B.C. businesses to expand and create jobs for people,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation in a statement.

“Through Ignite and other Innovate BC programs, we are ensuring B.C. is known as a global innovation leader by helping to bring new products and ideas to market that solve real problems.”

Ignite says it has awarded a total of $8.5 million in grants to 34 different projects to date.

An example of a grant-winning project is Simon Fraser University and Terramera’s technology to help farmers grow food using less pesticides. Ignite awarded their collaboration $300,000, and Terramera will reportedly commercialize the technology while training new engineers in machine learning techniques.