The Government of Canada has announced a $2.2 million investment into Montréal-based tech company Spark Microsystems to develop environmentally-friendly technology for wireless communications devices.
Spark Microsystems is working on designing, building and testing an ultra-low power microchip, which has the potential to reduce power consumption of devices connected to the internet. Spark says this microchip is also capable of cutting down the volume of waste created during battery production.
As part of the Innovation and Skills Plan, the government says the investment will create “well-paying middle-class jobs in Canada,” although more information, such as how many new positions will be introduced, was not revealed. Altogether, the Innovation and Skills Plan includes investments of nearly $1.4 billion in new financing starting in 2017 to 2018, according to the federal government.
The funding comes from the government’s Sustainable Development Technology Canada jurisdiction, which works with Canadian companies to help develop early-stage clean technologies.
“Our government’s investments in clean technology reflect our commitment to protecting the planet,” said Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, in a press statement. “But they also point to a clear and strategic direction for economic development through innovation. That’s because innovations in clean tech will lead to products and services that have an impact on all sectors of the economy. And clean tech has the potential to create thousands of well-paying jobs for Canadians. That’s how innovation leads to a better Canada.”
In other Canadian energy-related news, a Waterloo-based team of researchers has recently revealed that it’s developing new battery technology that could charge electronic devices such as phones and laptops in mere seconds.
This article was originally published on MobileSyrup