Ontario Welcomes Cleantech Report
February 17, 2009 1:33 PM
McGuinty Government On Track To Turn Cleantech Into Jobs of the Future
A new report says Ontario's clean technology companies are doing a good job turning ideas into new green jobs - and that the keys to global success are within reach.
The 2009 OCETA SDTC Cleantech Growth & Go-to-Market Report, outlines specific ways that government can do more to help these companies take the next step in attracting more global customers and investment, such as:
- Increasing domestic demand for clean technology by acting as an early adopter
- Setting aggressive environmental and sustainability targets
- Developing a clean technology procurement strategy
- Establishing commercialization benchmarks and adopting consistent, global best practices across the province.
The report analyzes the size and structure of 110 Ontario-based clean technology companies. It credits the province's $3-billion Innovation Agenda for providing many of these companies with early stage R&D support, and its proponents say the proposed Green Energy Act will position cleantech as a driver of Ontario's future social and economic prosperity.
QUICK FACTS
- Global demand for clean technology solutions is already estimated at $US 1 trillion annually.
- Ontario’s Innovation Agenda has committed nearly $3 billion over eight years to help make innovation the driving force of our economy.
- The government has invested more than $600 million in research projects and companies working on green technologies and initiatives since 2003.
- New businesses that commercialize ideas from Canadian colleges, universities and research institutes now get a 10-year exemption from corporate income tax in Ontario.
LEARN MORE
ontario.ca/innovation
"By turning our world-class research into world-class businesses we can become a cleantech powerhouse. We’re committed to continue working with companies that want to compete globally and create good jobs for Ontario families."
– John Wilkinson
Minister of Research and Innovation
"Encouraging the development and adoption of clean technologies right here in our own province is the right thing to do for our environment – and our economy. Soon, I will be introducing a new Green Energy Act designed to support home-grown innovation, create thousands of green sector jobs and make Ontario a world leader in renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation."
– George Smitherman
Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure
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