July 3, 2008

ONTARIO'S INNOVATION AGENDA AND THE BIOECONOMY

Tackling climate change through bio-based, environmental, alternative energy and clean technologies is one of the areas of focus under Ontario’s Innovation Agenda.

Backed by close to $3 billion in spending over eight years, the agenda focuses on supporting innovation and growth in sectors where Ontario has the research and business strengths to dominate high-growth global markets.

Ontario’s innovation investments are focused on seizing global market opportunities through government-academic-industry collaborations and partnerships.

One of the challenges faced around the globe today is how to use renewable carbon which is found in forestry and agriculture, as opposed to non-renewable carbon products that come from, for example, oil and gas.

Ontario is well positioned to develop innovation solutions. The province has a wealth of renewable carbon and the world is looking for jurisdictions that can turn this into new fuels and new materials… and new products.

Other investments in research and innovation in the bioeconomy also include:

• In the March 25th budget the Finance Minister committed $25 million to make Thunder Bay the home of a new Centre for Research and Innovation in the Bioeconomy (CRIBE). This centre will focus on the potential of forestry biomass, and it will link directly into the provincial bio-economy related network; which includes the Sarnia-Lambton Bioindustrial Innovation Centre and the Southwestern Ontario Bioproducts Innovation Network.

These initiatives will make use of research strengths across Ontario like the University of Toronto’s Centre for Biocomposite and Biomaterial Processing and the University of Guelph’s Centre for Bioproduct Discovery & Development.
 
The goal is to quickly move forward on a bold vision to make Ontario a global leader in the bioeconomy. 

Talent attraction and retention

Ontario is home to more than 45 per cent of Canada’s environment firms.  Ontario’s vision is that these new sophisticated centres of innovation will attract world-class researchers to Ontario to undertake frontier research for the next generation of forestry products, biomaterials and biofuels – and create new opportunities and high paying jobs in Ontario.

Government is acting as a catalyst to support and position Ontario at the forefront of this emerging global industry

Ontario is taking many bold steps to act as a catalyst for research and innovation, as well as demonstrate leadership in the development of a sustainable bioeconomy through a combination of regulatory action and funding support for research and innovation.

 Regulatory

• A five per cent Ethanol Renewable Fuel Standard in 2007.

Funding Support

• $15 million to the Ontario Centres of Excellence for investments in lightweight and biobased materials and the development of alternative fuels
• $13 million for the Regional Innovation Networks (RIN) program, with five RIN’s specifically focused on identifying opportunities for commercializing bioproducts
• $21 million to Queens University for a regional convergence centre that includes a focus on bioproducts and bioprocessing
• $6.25 million to the Ontario BioAuto Council to develop a province-wide R&D and investment strategy that will make Ontario a leader in auto parts made from biobased materials
• $6 million to Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, which is building expertise in the bioeconomy related to the boreal forest
• $3 million to the University of Guelph to establish a research chair in bioproducts from agricultural resources
• $5.9 million for the Ontario BioCar Initiative to increase the use of biofibres and biochemicals in the auto industry
• $7.5 million to the University of Western Ontario to support interdisciplinary research into chemicals and fuels made from agricultural resources
• $25 million in the 2008 Budget to establish a Centre for Research and Innovation in the Bio-economy (CRIBE) in Thunder Bay, to undertake frontier research for the next generation of materials made from forestry products.

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See also:

• News Release: Ontario Pursues Next Generation Of Biofuels
• Backgrounder: Ontario Fielding Solutions To Climate Change And Rising Global Demand For Fuel
• Backgrounder: Support For Ontario’s Investment In Next Generation Of Biofuels