[news 2009 - 2010]

Sept. 18, 2009

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

• offers academic researchers specialized commercialization services for moving their discoveries closer to market

• brings industry and  academic researchers together so that industry gets a full picture of the spectrum of research expertise  available across Canada

• puts industry at the table in selecting  discoveries which hold the greatest  potential for transforming manufacturing products and processes

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

Since the Centre got underway less than a year ago, inventions from Canadian university researchers who want to see their work developed to the point that it can benefit society, have been pouring in. Already the Centre has received more than 50 technology disclosures from researchers across Canada for review by the Centre.

“The interest from the academic community has been even higher than expected,” says Dr. Resendes. “ We are very encouraged by the reactions of Canada’s researchers, technology transfer professionals and industry.”  

The Centre, to be permanently located at Innovation Park at Queen’s University by early next year,  is continuing discussions with industry representatives from across the chemical industry value chain who have an interest in playing an active role with the Centre in the identifying, assessing and developing of Green Chemistry Innovations.  The Centre already has strong representation from Canadian and international companies,  including NOVA Chemical Corp., Fielding Chemical Technologies, Polycorp Ltd. , Pressure Chemical Co. and Albonia Innovative Technologies Ltd.  After its initial 5-year term, industry investment in the Centre is expected to reach $44 million.

“I am seeing increasing  interest from the industrial sector given the potential that this technology transfer model holds for the development of environmentally responsible, commercially viable products,”  says Peter Snucins, President and CEO of PolyCorp Ltd. and Chair of the Board of the Centre. “As a leading manufacturer of engineered polymer products, our company sees this as an outstanding opportunity to further our work in creating and incorporating technologies that reflect both our own goals and those of society.”

“As part of our longstanding commitment to environmental stewardship, we are continually exploring new ways to develop and adopt innovative approaches to producing the plastics and chemicals that are essential to everyday life,”  says  Eric Kelusky, Vice President of Technology at Nova Chemicals Corp. “ GreenCentre has provided us with an excellent opportunity to ensure we are able to collaborate and  take full advantage of what our universities and research institutes have to offer in the way of new thinking.”

“We are extremely pleased that the Ontario government has recognized the value of the work to be done at GreenCentre, ” says Kerry Rowe, Vice-Principal (Research) at Queen’s. “Universities are a primary source of the creative spirit and drive that fuel innovation and economic development. This new centre, initiated by PARTEQ has demonstrated what is required to harness that intellectual energy and ensure that these new research discoveries are transformed into products and technologies that improve our quality of life.”

Over the next five years GreenCentre Canada aims to manage the commercialization of 50 Green Chemistry technologies, leading to at least 10 licence agreements, and to establish at least six start-up companies. During this time, they also anticipate the creation of at least 250 highly skilled jobs.  The Centre is expected to be fully operational by 2010.