A new report, supported in part by the Ontario government, says the province has a wealth of clean technology companies that are working to turn great ideas into green jobs - and existing programs are doing a good job to help these companies succeed. It also says the government can do more to help these companies become globally competitive.

The 2009 OCETA SDTC Cleantech Growth & Go-to-Market Report, released today by the Ontario Centre for Environmental Technology Advancement and the Russell-Mitchell Group, analyzes the size, structure and opportunities facing Ontario's cleantech industry. Among its key findings:

• Ontario has a solid group of emerging companies in this sector
• Most of the 110 Ontario-based clean technology companies identified in the report design, develop, and manufacture globally competitive products
• Ontario and Canadian companies are known worldwide for developing best-in-class technology. 

At the same time, the report recommends actions the government can take to help emerging companies bring their technologies to the global market faster.

INVESTMENTS IN CLEAN TECHNOLOGY AND THE GREEN ECONOMY

Many of the companies that participated in the Cleantech Growth & Go-to-Market Report were supported in the early stages of R&D by Ontario government programs such as the Ontario Research Fund; the Innovation Demonstration Fund; the Investment Accelerator Fund; the Business Mentorship and Entrepreneurship Program, and the Next Generation of Jobs Fund.

Supporting innovation is part of the McGuinty government's five-point plan for growing Ontario's economy. Ontario's Innovation Agenda is the government's strategy for turning great ideas into good-paying jobs and better lives for Ontario families.

Backed by close to $3 billion in spending over eight years, the agenda focuses on supporting innovation and growth in sectors where Ontario has the research and business strengths to dominate high-growth global markets. Tackling climate change through bio-based, environmental, alternative energy and clean technologies is one of these sectors.

The province's investments are focused on seizing global market opportunities through government-academic-industry collaborations and partnerships. Here are some of the recent steps Ontario has taken to put itself at the forefront of the global bioeconomy.

• Ontario BioAuto Council - Through the Ontario BioAuto Council, Ontario is investing $2.5 million in three companies that are inventing new ways to make car parts out of crops. Canadian General-Tower Limited, GreenCore Composites Inc. and The Woodbridge Group are developing products that are lighter, stronger and cleaner to produce and use - and will create jobs in this emerging field.
• Centre for Research and Innovation in the Bio-Economy - Located in Thunder Bay, the $25-million Centre for Research and Innovation in the Bio-Eeconomy (CRIBE) will create new opportunities and high-paying jobs in the rapidly growing and cutting-edge bio-economy. The centre will focus on research, development and commercialization as they relate to the next generation of renewable forestry bio-products.
• University of Western Ontario Bioproducts Initiative - Ontario is investing $7.5 million in the University of Western Ontario's Bioproducts Initiative, which consists of two projects that are taking different approaches to turn farm byproducts and waste into next-generation biofuels. The funding supports the creation of a new research centre to test biofuel technologies, and will help complete a biogas facility that will turn manure and wastewater into energy, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and odour.
• Innovation Demonstration Fund - Ontario's four-year, $30-million Innovation Demonstration Fund helps companies demonstrate and commercialize new bio-based, environmental or alternative energy technologies, helping them bring these technologies to market faster. Two companies taking radically different approaches to generating renewable power - Plasco Energy Group (from waste) and Verdant Power Canada (using the current of the St. Lawrence River) are examples of organizations receiving funding.
• Investment Accelerator Fund - The Investment Accelerator Fund helps eligible start-up companies develop their technology and gain entrepreneurial expertise to bring their product or service to market. In January, Ontario announced investments of up to $500,000 in eight companies. One of these is Regen Energy, which has developed a wireless controller that manages peak electrical demand - technology that promises to bring better energy management to the world.
• Next Generation of Jobs Fund - Ontario's Next Generation of Jobs Fund is a five-year, $1.15-billion strategy to help innovative companies grow and create well-paying sustainable jobs for Ontario's highly skilled workers. One of the leading companies in this program is 6N Silicon, which has developed a cost-effective way to meet market demand for solar-grade silicon.