The ecoENERGY Innovation Initiative is a new program and in the Budget 2011, the Next Phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, they received $97 million for a thorough suite of R&D and demostrating projects. The focus of the program is to encourage the production of technology that uses energy in a more clean and efficient way. The ecoEII will also aid in the search for long-term solutions to reducing and eliminating air pollutants from energy production and use.
The Initiative breaks off into two funding streams, one for research and development and one for demonstration projects. Both require letters of expression of interest, an outline of the purposed project. The 5 key sections funded under this program are as follows: energy efficiency, clean electricity and renewables, bioenergy, electrification of transportation and unconventional oil and gas.
LOIs – Letters of Expression of Interest
This should not be a complete project proposal, only an outline of the project itself, with preliminary cost estimates and timeline. Applicants of LOIs that are accepted for consideration for funding from the ecoEII will be later asked to create a full project proposal including:
- Full details, including a work plan, milestones, collaborators and identification of risks
- Identification and confirmation of collaborators
- Confirmation of their ability to follow through with the project, in terms of capacity and financial commitment
LOIs for Demonstration Projects
Natural Resources Canada allows short LOIs for pre-commercialization demonstration projects that encourage the intergration of renewable energy into the electricity grid and the build environment, from the following entities in Canada: Canadian companies, electricity and gas utilities, industry associations, research associations, standards organziations, academic institutions, provincial, territorial, regional and municipal governments and their departments and agencies and aboriginal and community groups.
LOIs for Research and Development
Natural Resources Canada allows LOIs from the following entities regarding projects in the 5 key areas listed above: Canadian companies, electricity and gas utilities, industry associations, research associations, standards organziations, academic institutions, provincial, territorial, regional and municipal governments and their departments and agencies and aboriginal and community groups.
Learn More About ecoEnergy II Government Funding
Interested companies can contact us for more information on this valuable funding opportunity. Mentor works also provides helpful advise on many other government funding programs, so please browse our Research & Development Funding page to find other small business funding programs.