Ontario provides $13.6 M to PARTEQ for GreenCentre Canada
Joins federal government in strongly supporting new commercialization model
KINGSTON, ON – A new commercialization model that transforms Green Chemistry discoveries into real-world products and industrial technologies for reducing harm to the environment, has received a major vote of confidence from the Ontario government.
The Hon. John Gerretsen, Minister of the Environment, on behalf of John Milloy, Minister of Research and Innovation, announced at Queen’s University today the awarding of $13.6 million to PARTEQ Innovations in support of GreenCentre Canada. The work of the Centre is seen as reflecting the objectives of Ontario’s Ministry of Research and Innovation and the Ontario government’s Toxic Reductions Strategy with its commitment to supporting Green Chemistry and alternative technologies that reduce or eliminate the use of compounds that are harmful to the environment.
This significant investment in leading-edge Green Chemistry research and in forward-looking, environmentally conscious industries comes on the heels of the decision by the federal government earlier this year to award the Centre $9.1 million toward the establishment of a national Centre of Excellence for the development and commercialization of Green Chemistry technologies.
“We are extremely gratified that the Centre, and what it represents as an highly promising new model for technology transfer, has won the confidence and support of both levels of government,” says John Molloy, President and CEO of PARTEQ Innovations, the technology transfer office of Queen’s. “With this funding, we are building a global model for technology commercialization for the 21st century.”
“The global challenges of sustainability and climate change are driving a growing demand for the chemical industry’s green products and processes,” says John Milloy, Minister of Research and Innovation. “Bio-based and green chemistry-derived products represent a growing part of the worldwide chemical industry and demand is rising rapidly. Ontario is in a unique position to capitalize on this new global market while delivering high-value jobs and a healthier environment for all Ontarians.”
The first entity of its kind in North America, GreenCentre Canada brings together Canada’s leading Green Chemistry researchers, industry partners, and commercialization professionals in a common goal of developing cleaner, less energy-intensive solutions for traditional chemical products and manufacturing processes.
The technology transfer model is unique in how it
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offers academic researchers specialized commercialization services for moving their discoveries closer to market
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brings industry and academic researchers together so that industry gets a full picture of the spectrum of research expertise available across Canada
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puts industry at the table in selecting discoveries which hold the greatest potential for transforming manufacturing products and processes
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provides a hands-on, all-inclusive, highly specialized commercialization team that includes experts in product and application development, scale-up manufacturing, intellectual property protection, business development and marketing and financial management.
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operates within an 8,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility where products and materials will be developed to meet the special needs and achieve the magnitude of scale needed to gain acceptance by industry and the market place.
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assumes upfront costs and the risks associated with early- stage discoveries.
“We are reducing the risk factor for industry and, by enabling universities and the chemical industry to work collaboratively with Canada’s leading commercialization professionals, increasing the chances that exciting new discoveries are fully realized and become commercial innovations that can make a real difference to the environment,” says Dr. Resendes, Executive Director of the Centre.
The GreenCentre Canada model depends upon universities sharing their research base to ensure that there is sufficient critical mass of research to justify the investment in infrastructure that is required to do effective commercialization.
