Innovate BC awards $900K to three BC research projects
by CM Staff
Funding will help to accelerate commercial projects in cleantech, mining, and biotech.
VANCOUVER — Innovate BC announced $900,000 awarded for three BC research projects. The funding, through Innovate BC’s Ignite program, accelerates the commercialization of the following three cleantech, mining and biotech projects.
Compostable bioplastics for single-serve coffee pods
Plastic single-serve coffee pods are being dumped into landfills. UBC’s Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Chemistry, Dr. Zachary Hudson and NEXE Innovations’ Darren Footz teamed up to develop compostable pods as a sustainable alternative. They seek to improve the bioplastic formulation and optimize product shelf-life to retain the bold, fresh taste of brewed coffee.
Award: $300,000
Linking orebody knowledge to real-time sensor information
Mining is moving underground, where risks are high, and costs are huge. The application of deep cave knowledge is essential to the future of mining in BC. UBC’s Dr. Bern Klein and Dr. Andrew Csinger from the Centre for Innovation in Mineral Resource Engineering are developing advanced tools for cave mining to improve safety and productivity.
Award: $300,000
Radiopharmaceuticals for immune imaging
Oncologists are challenged to identify which patients will benefit from immune-based cancer therapies. TRIUMF’s Dr. Paul Schaffer and ARTMS’ Dr. Michael Cross (with BC Cancer and Lawson Health Research Institute) are developing PET-isotopes and antibodies for non-invasive imaging of the immune system in order to improve management of cancer treatments.
Award: $300,000
