Innovate BC Ignite Program

BC Ignite: Innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It happens with ideas, insights, time — and money.

Innovate BC’s Ignite Program provides up to $300,000 to fund projects in the areas of natural resources, applied science and/or engineering.

Teams made up of industry and academia come together to solve real-life business problems in a 3-year time frame. From helping get clean drinking water into third world countries to diagnosing eye diseases faster than ever before, Ignite is bringing technology to life in BC.

Here in the Kootenays, there are so many cool new companies helping lead the way with innovation. Among them is Advanced Biocarbon 3D. In partnership with Selkirk College, the company is developing a new sustainable 3D-printing filament that is carbon negative, non-toxic, and biodegradable with engineer-grade quality.

With plenty of focus being put on the negative impact plastics has on our environment, this Kootenay-based company is developing plastics made from sustainable and un-used wood that would otherwise be a waste in forestry. Rural-made solutions for global problems.

Last year the company received a boost from Innovate BC’s Ignite Program that awarded the partnership with Selkirk College to the tune of $300,000. That money has gone a long way towards the success of the operation.

The next round of Ignite funding is now open to applications with a deadline of August 12th.

Focus area

Proposals must involve the areas of natural resources, applied science and/or engineering, and must outline the business problem you and your team is attacking.

Teams

Applicants must be a BC-based team comprised of two or more companies, organizations, and academic researchers. All teams must include an academic member and an industry partner.

Matching funds

Projects must secure matching funds from industry or government sources at a ratio of 2:1 matching dollars to Ignite dollars.

Timing

Projects must plan to move a proposed innovation to market within a 3-year timeframe.

Key dates BC Ignite Round 8:

• Deadline to submit Letter of Intent (LOI) to Innovate BC: August 12, 2019
• Deadline for invited applicants to submit a full proposal: October 12, 2019
• Anticipated notice of decision: Late December 2019
• Anticipated start of funding: January 2020

To view past winning Ignite projects, click here.

Innovative Kootenay companies should head to Ignite BC website for more information and to apply.