The BC Innovation Council has announced the three winners of its second Ignite Awards, giving out just over $873,000 to BC research projects in natural resources and applied sciences. This brings the total amount of BCIC Ignite funding awarded to over $1.7 million since 2016.
“BC is home to transformative research that can solve problems for markets around the word.”
As the BCIC Ignite model requires projects to leverage existing funds from industry or government sources at a ratio of 2:1 matching dollars to BCIC Ignite dollars, more than $2.6 million will go towards the three projects to commercialize their research. More than $5 million, including leveraged funds, has been contributed to BCIC Ignite projects to date.
“Innovation is about extracting social and economic value from research,” said Amrik Virk, Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizens’ Services. “These projects at the BCIC Ignite Awards have the opportunity to change the world, from right here in BC.”
BCIC gives out awards to organizations in diverse technical fields that have shown commercial and technical viability, and the ability to go to market within three years.
“BC is home to transformative research that can solve problems for markets around the word,” said Carl Anderson, the president and CEO of BCIC. “BCIC Ignite is part of our continued to work to fuel economic growth province-wide through innovation.”
This time, the winning entrants’ research projects included using low-cost waste hydrogen to increase fuel efficiency, developing electrocatalyst materials to enhance ammonia removal for industrial wastewater treatment systems, and creating self-cleaning camera technology for forestry and mining applications.
Winners included:
- UBC’s Dr. Steven Rogak, working with Hydra Energy to develop innovations in Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (HICE) technology: Awarded $300,000
- UVIC’s Dr. Frank Van Veggel, working with Axine Water Technologies: Awarded $300,000
- UBC’s Dr. Jonathan Holzman, working with ExcelSense Technology: Awarded $273,475
