Organization: Natural Resources Canada

Gas emission sensing technology gets $1.3 million

Synodon Edmonton-based Synodon Inc has secured $1.3 million to help commercialize its advanced airborne remote sensing system. The funding was provided by AVAC Ltd, a not-for-profit company that invests in early-stage agribusinesses. The technology was originally developed under the Canadian Space Agency program and Synodon scientists with financial assistance from Sustainable Development Technology Canada, Natural…

NRCan unveils design of CANMET MTL lab in Hamilton

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) has unveiled the design and broken ground on its new CANMET Materials Technology Laboratory (MTL) in Hamilton, more than three years after announcing that the lab would be moving from Ottawa (R$, July 22/05). The decision to relocate the lab was based on potential synergies realized by combining the Hamilton region’s…

Methane breakthrough in Canadian Arctic

A Canadian-led, international research effort in the Mackenzie Delta region has resulted in a major breakthrough in the extraction of methane hydrate deep in the Arctic permafrost. Canadian and Japanese researchers with Mallik research program — now in its third phase — succeeded in producing a constant stream of natural gas from methane hydrates for…

Nfld software firm wins GeoConnections contract

Compusult Ltd, Mount Pearl NF, has been awarded a $2-million contract from Natural Resources Canada to build two portals and related software engineering services for the department’s GeoConnections program. Compusult will develop the portals for the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure, an online resource to provide Canadians with location-based information and technologies including web mapping….

NRCan and McMaster sign lab transfer MOU

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and McMaster Univ have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that clarifies and outlines the critical components of the relocation of the CANMET Materials Technology Laboratory from Ottawa to Hamilton. The transfer of the laboratory to the McMaster Innovation Park was funded in the latest federal Budget, following through on a…

NRCan & NRC team to update national energy building code

Natural Resources Canada is providing $5 million over four years to update the Model National Energy Code for Buildings. The project will be jointly undertaken by NRCan and the National Research Council (NRC) with NRCan providing technical expertise and NRC overseeing the development of the energy code. The new code — due in 2012 —…

Nexterra gasification technology receives funding

Vancouver’s Nexterra Energy Corp has received $720,000 in public assistance to support new applications for its gasification technology. Funding from the Industrial Research Assistance Program ($345,000), Natural Resources Canada ($300,000) and Ethanol BC ($75,000) will be used to further a development program that uses syngas produced from wood residue to fire boilers and lime kilns.…

Ottawa funds wood products research centre at Laval

The federal government is spending $25 million to establish a new wood products research centre at Laval Univ. The research will be provided through the Value-to-Wood program which draws on the expertise of several universities and Forintek Canada Corp. Natural Resources Canada will provide the bulk of the funding ($15 million), augmented by funding from…

ACOA funds PEI wind energy institute

The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) is providing $3.6 million to establish the Canadian Wind Energy Institute at North Cape in Prince Edward Island. The funding will be provided by ACOA’s Innovative Communities Fund and is augmented by $2 million from Natural Resources Canada to cover the first two years of operation. The PEI Energy…

Westport launches natural gas ruck demo project

Westport Innovation Inc is launching a $3-million development and demonstration project for its new heavy-duty truck technology along the Highway 401corridor in southern Ontario. The one-year project will see five Volvo trucks equipped with 450-horsepower Cummins ISX engines and incorporating Westport’s high-pressure direct injection technology using liquified natural gas (LNG). Sustainable Development Technology Canada will…