OCE Research Grants Support Scale-Up Graphite Technologies Program
Zenyatta Ventures Inc. has been awarded up to $100,000 in research and development funding to collaborate with Lakehead University. Ontario small business funding will support the enhancement of environmental and energy applications using the company’s advanced nano-material technologies.
The investment will be provided through Ontario Centre of Excellence’s OCE Voucher for Innovation and Productivity II (VIP II) program. VIP vouchers allow Ontario businesses to partner with post-secondary institutions to develop, implement, and commercialize technical innovations. The OCE Voucher for Innovation and Productivity program provides academic research partners with up to 50% of project costs to a maximum of $75,000 – $150,000 in small business grants.
Through advanced research with Lakehead University’s Dr. Aicheng Chen, the partners will improve Zenyatta Ventures’ graphite to graphene oxide (GO) applications. If successful, this project will develop cleantech solutions for water redemption, super capacitors, electrochemical sensors, and Li-ion batteries.
OCE Research Grants Support Scale-Up Graphite Technologies Program
Zenyatta Ventures Inc. specializes in mineral development and graphite resources for the clean technology sector. The company was founded in 2008 and is located in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The company is currently developing the Albany Graphite Deposit, which has the potential to produce a natural, high-purity graphite that could replace synthetic graphite.
OCE’s Voucher for Innovation and Productivity program will provide up to $100,000 in Ontario government funding to scale-up production methods for the company’s graphite to graphene oxide (GO) cleantech solutions. OCE research grants will be provided to Lakehead University’s research team to assist with the project’s R&D activities for 12-24 months.
These advancements will allow Zenyatta Ventures to develop graphite applications that could improve the efficiency of water redemption and desalination. In addition, the company will be able to support development of state-of-the-art electrochemical sensors that can detect and monitor environmental pollutants.
Related Post: OCE Voucher for Innovation and Productivity: Research Funding Awarded
OCE’s Voucher for Innovation and Productivity II Program
The OCE Voucher for Innovation and Productivity II program helps businesses partner with post-secondary researchers to accelerate the development of new technical products and processes. OCE research grants support projects that range from early-stage research and development activities to late-stage validation and demonstration projects.
Eligible collaborations may receive up to 50% coverage of a project’s research costs to a maximum of $75,000 – $150,000 in Ontario government funding.
Industry partners participating in the OCE VIP II stream are responsible for covering a minimum of 50% of the project’s research expenses. Once accepted into the VIP program, OCE will provide the funding contribution to the academic institution to offset the project’s research expenses.
To learn more about the collaborative research process and how to access government funding for it, please download the Business Guide to Industry-Academic Research Projects.
