Foresight’s ARCTIC Program Partners With COSIA to Announce Call for Applications to Deliver Environmental Solutions for Canada’s Resource Sector

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Nov. 17, 2015) - Foresight Cleantech Accelerator Centre and Canada's Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA) have launched the first "ARCTIC Innovation Challenge" in the resource sector, the first from organizations designed to develop and provide advanced technologies for Canada's Oil Sands sector to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.

Advanced Resource Clean Technology Innovation Centre (ARCTIC) is a new Foresight program uniquely designed to speed industry and innovator collaboration. ARCTIC is funded with support from the BC Innovation Council (BCIC) and Western Economic Diversification (WD).

The ARCTIC Program starts with defining a challenge to focus innovators on promising market opportunities. The COSIA ARCTIC Waste Heat Innovation Challenge aims to attract innovations that are able to capture significant amounts of either low grade heat (<60-80°C) or high grade heat (approx.200°C) that is traditionally lost or 'wasted' during oil sands operations and use it for higher value uses.

Potential solution providers are invited to respond to the challenge by November 28, 2015. Submission guidelines and a response form are available online at www.arctic.foresightcac.com/get-started/sprint-cosia/. Following the submission deadline, a panel of experts will identify two to five finalists for a funding and development program which may include a feasibility study, lab testing, and prototype development and an event to showcase solutions to industry executives, venture capitalists and potential marketing partners. In mid-2016, the expert panel will select one finalist to receive additional funding for field testing.

"Through the partnership of Foresight and COSIA in ARCTIC, we are excited to support entrepreneurs in building a cleaner oil sands future," said Neil Huff, Managing Director of Foresight. "This is an exceptional opportunity for Canadian innovators to address a critical energy need and work with an elite group of Canadian mentors and industry leaders to quickly develop and commercialize their products."

"COSIA has great experience using public challenge statements to articulate innovation needs," added Wayne Hillier, COSIA's Greenhouse Gases Director. "But the ARCTIC program is a novel advancement. It will develop an oil sands challenge that Canada's clean tech community can respond to and identify a small number of innovators from the large pool. Foresight will assist in the development of the finalists' technologies by providing funding, engineering, planning, and business mentoring. Then, after a six-month 'sprint' to the finish line, award one innovator additional funding and resources in preparation for a field trial of their technology. This is a unique way to accelerate technology development, which is what COSIA is all about."

The COSIA ARCTIC Waste Heat Innovation Challenge is made possible through the financial support of Western Economic Diversification Canada and the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP), industry partner COSIA, and consulting partners Tessellate Inc. and The Delphi Group. 

About ARCTIC

ARCTIC is a not-for profit organization focused on the identification and development of clean technology solutions for Canada's resource sector. ARCTIC leads efforts to optimize sustainability by inspiring and harnessing the potential of next generation technologies. Operated through the support of the Foresight Cleantech Accelerator Centre, ARCTIC will quickly bring advanced technology to market and build Canadian clean technology competitiveness and create jobs in our communities. Visit www.foresightcac.com and www.arctic.foresightcac.com for further information, and follow on Twitter at @ForesightCAC or @ARCTIC_FCAC

About COSIA

COSIA (Canada's Oil Sands Innovation Alliance) is an alliance of 13 oil sands producers, representing 90 per cent of production from the Canadian oil sands. COSIA's vision is to enable responsible and sustainable development of Canada's oil sands as a global energy source while delivering accelerated improvement in environmental performance through collaborative action and innovation in areas of greenhouse gases, land, tailings and water. Since COSIA's inception in 2012, member companies have shared more than 814 environmental technologies worth almost $1.3billion. Find out more at www.cosia.ca and follow on Twitter at @COSIA.ca.