New B.C. projects receive funding through Innovate BC’s integrated marketplace initiative

Three new projects have been funded through crown corp. Innovate BC’s integrated marketplace initiative (IMI), which connects local innovators with major strategic buyers at designated tested sites throughout the province.

The projects are part of the provincial government’s investment of up to $11.5 million and the federal government’s investment of up to $9.9 million in the IMI to implement, scale, and export B.C.'s cleantech solutions.

One project will support the development of fusion energy company General Fusion’s Lawson Machine 26 (LM26), a magnetized target fusion machine (MTF) designed to de-risk and fast-track the commercialization of fusion energy — one of the most environmentally friendly sources of energy.

The project involves working with Motus Design Group, a product design and engineering services company, to create an electronic component to enhance the LM26’s diagnostic system. The component will support the extraction and storage of thousands of data points — helping to improve the MFT’s capabilities.

General Fusion believes LM26 offers “the shortest path to generating zero-carbon electricity for the grid” and aims to achieve this goal by the early to mid-2030s.

The other two projects will boost the operational capabilities of the Vancouver International Airport (YVR). One involves exploring drone tech with Niricson, a firm developing the world’s first AI-driven predictive analytics SaaS platform. The second involves enhancing the terminal’s PA system with Hybrid Audio Visual, a company that designs, installs, and services audio-visual systems.

The drone tech project will assess the condition of YVR’s runways, providing near real-time access to data that can inform operations and maintenance decisions. The data will be applied to a predictive model to project upcoming needs and considerations. In addition, the project will help YVR reduce carbon emissions — given that fleet vehicles will be used less frequently for condition monitoring work. 

The PA system project will improve sound quality, precise troubleshooting, and increased customization, such as isolating specific terminal areas for certain announcements. The updated system will also include switching to a low-power mode when not in use — resulting in the potential to provide energy savings of up to 40 per cent.

“Creating innovative ideas and solutions that reduce emissions, improve competitiveness, and support local companies is essential for creating a strong economy that moves British Columbians forward,” said Brenda Bailey, minister of jobs, economic development and innovation. “I look forward to seeing the contributions these three projects will make to people in B.C. and globally.”