Feds give $92k to Toronto off-grid technology firm

TORONTO—Clear Blue Technologies Inc. will receive $92,000 in government funding to help develop of its Smart Off-Grid technology, which is used in energy-saving off-grid devices such as solar and wind powered street lights.

John Carmichael, Member of Parliament for Don Valley West, said the funding is from the National Research Council of Canada’s Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP).

The federal program was established to help small and medium-sized businesses create innovative technologies that will strengthen the Canadian economy.

Toronto-based Clear Blue Technologies Inc. specializes in off-grid options that provide environmentally-friendly energy solutions. Their Smart Off-Grid technology is used for remote control, maintenance, and management of a variety of alternatively-powered products including lighting, telecom equipment, and security cameras. Smart Off-Grid lights are in use around the world in locations throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

The NRC-IRAP investment comes following another recent announcement of federal funding for Smart-Off Grid. Earlier this month, Clear Blue Technologies Inc. received a $500,000 loan from the Southern Ontario Fund for Investment in Innovation (SOFII).

Miriam Tuerk, co-founder and CEO, Clear Blue Technologies Inc. said this type of investment is essential for creating innovation in green technology. “The support and funding from NRC-IRAP have been crucial to the development and enhancement of our technology, which has provided the basis for a growing, thriving business.”

More than 3,000 firms received some form of financial assistance from NRC-IRAP in 2013-14. In addition to funding, the NRC-IRAP also provides assistance through business advice, referrals, and resource networks. To be eligible for IRAP support, candidate firms must have the objective to develop and commercialize new or improved technology-driven products.