Canadian government invests C$2.9m in use of graphene to improve battery technology

Canadian government invests C$2.9m in use of graphene to improve battery technology

The Government of Canada is investing C$2.9-million to improve battery technology, as part of its clean technology investment program.

The investment, which will be through Raymor Industries Inc., supports the innovative use of graphene to improve lithium-ion (reusable) battery performance and longevity. The technology can also reduce carbon dioxide emissions created during battery production, which will mean cleaner communities and a healthier environment.

The announcement was made by Linda Lapointe, member of parliament for Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, in Quebec, Canada, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, minister of innovation, science and economic development. The project is being funded through Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), which works with Canadian companies to bring early-stage clean technologies to market.

The role of SDTC is to bring economically viable, clean technologies to market. It is supposed to fill the funding gap between applied research and market entry, enabling proof of concept. It invests in globally competitive Canadian companies that produce tangible environmental benefits which also make Canada’s economy more competitive.

Investments in clean technology are part of the government’s ‘Innovation and Skills Plan’, a multi-year strategy to create well-paying jobs for the middle class and those working hard to join it. The plan targets six key areas — advanced manufacturing, agri-food, clean technology, digital industries, health/bio-sciences and clean resources — with a focus on expanding growth and creating jobs. Its’ focus is to grow Canada’s goods and services exports by 30 percent by 2025; increase the clean technology sector’s contribution to Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP); and double the number of high-growth companies in Canada, particularly in the digital, clean technology and health technology sectors, from 14,000 to 28,000 by 2025.

The minister, Navdeep Bains, said, “Our government’s investments in clean technology reflect our commitment to protecting the planet. But they also point to a clear and strategic direction for economic development through innovation. That’s because innovations in clean tech will lead to products and services that have an impact on all sectors of the economy. And clean tech has the potential to create thousands of well-paying jobs for Canadians. That’s how innovation leads to a better Canada.”

Leah Lawrence, president and CEO of SDTC, added, “Raymor’s technology produces high-capacity lithium-ion batteries at a fraction of current costs while reducing the CO2 emissions generated by battery manufacturing. Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in consumer and industrial applications, including smartphones and electric vehicles. SDTC is proud to support this game-changing technology that will deliver real economic and environmental benefits across Canada and around the world.”

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