Announcements - New British Columbia Cooperative to advance clean energy commercialization

NRC-Powertech-UBC partner resources to better serve Canadian technology companies

November 6, 2009 — Vancouver, British Columbia

Three leading Canadian organizations that advance the development and commercialization of cutting edge clean energy technology joined forces today to coordinate their service offerings for British Columbia clean energy technology companies.

The National Research Council Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation (NRC-IFCI), Powertech Labs (a clean energy subsidiary of BC Hydro) and The University of British Columbia (UBC) have signed a Letter of Intent to work together in a BC Clean Energy Technology Cooperative. The Cooperative plans to act as a unified source of talent, knowledge and expertise for the clean energy sector.

“This partnership of leading organizations will focus resources and build a critical mass of expertise and infrastructure in the province of British Columbia,” said Eamonn Percy, President and Chief Operating Officer of Powertech Labs. “This Cooperative will accelerate the commercialization of clean energy technology, bringing BC solutions to world markets faster, resulting in an expanded clean energy sector.”

“Global success relies on coordinated knowledge-support that nurtures the innovation process from development, through validation, to deployment and commercialization,” explained John Hepburn, Vice President Research & International at UBC. “The Cooperative will address current gaps to ensure our public and private investment leads to stronger commercial success.”

Each founding member brings unique value to the Cooperative, including research capability, market access or leveraged funding. 

“This Cooperative builds on the established strength of the Vancouver-based fuel cell technology cluster, which is part of BC’s growing network of clean energy companies, investors and cutting-edge research facilities,” said NRC-IFCI Director General Maja Veljkovic. “By working together we can tap into national capabilities and international networks to help small companies grow, creating more jobs, exports and GDP from the development of integrated clean energy solutions,” she added.

Over the coming months the Cooperative’s founding members will be consulting closely with industry and other research partners to identify and develop joint service offerings and project plans, which may include a shared inventory of technology evaluation facilities and equipment, joint training and expertise development and commercial-scale demonstration programs. New members will be invited to join the Cooperative on a value-added basis.

“Clean energy offers a future rich in possibilities for British Columbians – that’s why the Province is helping bring B.C.’s clean energy technologies to the marketplace with continuing support from the Innovative Clean Energy Fund,” said Iain Black, B.C.’s Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development. “We commend the NRC-Powertech-UBC partnership – it’s the smart way to work together toward a prosperous clean energy future for British Columbia.”

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About The University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is one of Canada's largest and most prestigious public research and teaching institutions. It is consistently ranked among the world’s 40 best universities and within the top 10 North American universities – and first among Canadian universities – in terms of the number of U.S. life sciences patents and the quality of activity generated from those patents, including spin-off company creation.

About Powertech
Powertech, BC Hydro’s subsidiary that specializes in clean energy consulting, testing, and power solutions, has been serving electrical, oil and gas companies, automotive and electrical equipment manufacturers since 1989 by meeting the complex and changing needs of its customers around the world.

About NRC-IFCI
As part of Canada’s premier research organization, NRC-IFCI supports Canadian leadership developing and integrating fuel cells into clean energy systems by addressing industry-defined R&D and commercialization priorities. It is one of nearly 20 NRC institutes and national programs spanning a wide variety of disciplines across the country.

For more information, please visit NRC’s Web site at www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca or contact:

Hilary Thomson, Public Affairs
The University of British Columbia
Tel: 604.822.2644 / Cell: 604-209-3048 / Email: hthomson@exchange.ubc.ca

Eamonn Percy, President and COO
Powertech Labs
Tel: 604.590.6695

Sylvia LeRoy, Communications
NRC Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation
Tel: 604.221.3099 / Cell : 778.840.6140 / Email: Sylvia.LeRoy@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca