The Alberta government is investing millions of dollars to reduce waste from hitting landfills.
Currently, Alberta is the third-largest producer of manufactured goods and materials in the country, as well as leading the way in Canada for clean technology innovation.
But as manufacturing companies around the world are seeking out ways to make products such as concrete, plastics, food, wood, chemicals, and machinery more efficient, durable, easier to recycle, and better for the environment, the provincial government has decided to follow suit.
They are investing $40 million from the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) program, which is an industry-funded program meant to help advance the technology that will turn everyday items that would normally make its way to the landfill into low-emission products.
According to the provincial government, on top of the reduced emissions from the program, this funding will help to create jobs and help the province's manufacturing industry become a leader around the world.
"We have the resources, expertise and entrepreneurs needed to create some of the most advanced materials in the world. This funding competition will help develop new and exciting technologies that reduce emissions, create jobs, reuse waste and keep growing our economy," explained the Minister of Environment and Protected Areas, Rebecca Schhulz in a media release.
Advanced materials are new or significantly improved materials that have an advantage in performance when compared to conventional materials, and there is an increased global demand for these materials.
These advanced materials have already been used in new construction projects, improved batteries, and fuel cells, as well as lighter and stronger bicycles, golf clubs, aircraft, and more.
This program is led by Emissions Reduction Alberta, and the funding from this program will support the companies to scale up, pilot, and demonstrate the commercial technologies that will improve the extraction, production, manufacturing, and performance of both new and existing materials and products in the province.
The technology solutions that fall under this program can originate from anywhere in the world, but they must be piloted, demonstrated, or deployed in Alberta.
There is an application process to be considered for funding, and it's open to technology developers, commercial and industrial building owners, municipalities, Indigenous communities, small and medium-sized businesses, research and development organizations, not-for-profit organizations, and universities.
Through this program, the funding will create modern products from resources, including emerging technology that extracts high-value metals, such as vanadium, titanium, and lithium that is found within natural resources like bitumen, that will then be created into carbon-absorbing materials.
Applications for the funding are open until 5 p.m. on January 22, 2025, and successful applicants will be eligible for up to $5 million.
For more information on this program and how to apply for funding, click here.