Genome BC has invested $1 million in Acuva Technologies, which is developing UV-LED technology for water purification.
Genome BC provides funding and support for genomics innovation. The funding for Acuva was provided through Genome BC’s Industry Innovation (I²) program. The I² fund provides commercialization support for companies developing life science technologies in areas like agriculture, energy and mining, environment, fisheries and aquaculture, forestry, and human health.
“Our province still has communities where safe drinking water is not consistently available.”
Acuva’s module can be inserted into consumer and commercial water dispensing appliances, making it easier to transition from current conventional UV lamp systems. Acuva can purify drinking water with microbial disinfection rates up to 99.9999 percent without adding chemicals to the water.
The company said moving away from conventional UV lamp systems can help manufacturers be compliant with the Minamata Convention, a United Nations Environmental Program with a mandate to phase out mercury by 2020. The company is partnering with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of water, ice, and beverage dispensing appliances to bring its technology to market.
“Our UV-LED water disinfection technology enables clean drinking water globally and protects health to improve lives, all while reducing the need for single-use plastic drinking water bottles,” said Manoj Singh, president and CEO of Acuva. “This funding from Genome BC’s I² Program will help Acuva’s rapid growth and achieve our vision of creating a positive global impact while addressing the need for safe drinking water.”
I² funding is repayable and targeted to products, processes, or services at the early stages of commercial development.
“Our province still has communities where safe drinking water is not consistently available,” said Tony Brooks, Genome BC’s chief financial officer and vice president of entrepreneurship and commercialization. “Genome BC not only seeks to better the lives of British Columbians through this investment, but also to support global efforts for the millions of people around the world who still struggle on a daily basis for access to clean water.”
In April 2018, Acuva received $300,000 from the BC Innovation Council. Before that, the company raised $850,000 in a 2016 seed round with BDC Capital and Vancouver angel investors, and $2.6 million in a 2018 Series A.
