Cleantech Funding, NRC IRAP, and Innovate BC Support
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): The Good Men Project
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/03/24
Sona Kazemi, Industrial Technology Advisor and NRC IRAP lead for the BC Fast Pilot program, discusses the selection of 12 companies based on market size, industry challenges, and commercialization potential. The program funds cleantech projects in wildfire management, water treatment, and AI, offering up to $1.5M in support. Performance metrics track efficiency and economic impact, with funding bridging pilot-to-market gaps. NRC IRAP and Innovate BC provide ongoing technical and business advisory services for long-term success.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: What criteria were the basis for selection of 12 companies participating in the BC Fast Pilot program?
Sona Kazemi: The 12 successful projects were selected based on their alignment with BC Fast Pilot (BCFP) program criteria, including readiness for pilot-scale field testing, demonstrated commercial interest, and a clear commitment from an early adopter or potential customer to test the proposed solution.
The selected projects ranked highest in the following critical evaluation areas:
market size;
industry pain points;
sales and profit potential;
technology differentiation;
scalability;
strength of intellectual property protection; and,
go-to-market strategies.
The selection process also assessed the quality of early adopters or potential customers, the strength of the project team, the financial and operational capacity of companies to conduct pilot projects, and the strategy for funding commercialization activities.
The program guidelines can be found here for more details: PDF BC Fast Program Guidelines 2025.pdf
Jacobsen: How were wildfire management to water treatment and artificial intelligence project areas prioritized for the funding round?
Kazemi:The BCFP program is sector-agnostic, prioritizing projects that address critical challenges, have strong business cases, and high commercial potential. Applications are evaluated for their expected economic, environmental, and societal benefits to BC and Canada.
Wildfire management and water treatment have been key focus areas of the program over the past years given their role in protecting communities, preserving natural resources, and ensuring long-term sustainability. There is also growing support for AI-driven innovations that optimize existing industries, improve efficiency, and drive economic growth.
Jacobsen: What are important details to know about the cleantech projects piloted through this funding?
Kazemi:The 6th round of the BCFP program funded 12 pilot projects across the province with up to $1.5M from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) and Innovate BC. These projects encompass a range of sectors, including wildfire management, critical minerals, water treatment and management, clean fuels, transportation, and agriculture. Each initiative uniquely contributes to reducing emissions or waste, or improving resource management.
Jacobsen: What performance metrics will evaluate the pilot projects?
Kazemi: Upon project completion, awardees must submit two reports—one to NRC IRAP and one to Innovate BC—detailing technical and commercial achievements of the project. These reports must include key performance metrics (e.g., capacity, cost, rate, efficiency) and economic metrics such as jobs created or retained, purchase orders, new customer engagements, and secured funding. Additionally, NRC IRAP tracks revenue and employment data for at least 5 years after a project is signed.
Jacobsen: What is the estimated timeline for the pilot phase of the companies before reaching market viability?
Kazemi: The pilot phase timeline varies by industry, lasting from a few months to extended testing to ensure robustness and stability. Some markets enable immediate rollout post-pilot, while others require further demonstrations or de-risking to meet industry standards. Partnering with early adopters during testing helps identify challenges, validate demand, and navigate real-world complexities, potentially accelerating market viability. Pilot results ultimately shape the path to commercialization, which differs across different industries.
Jacobsen: How will the funding help the transition from pilot demonstrations to full-scale market adoption?
Kazemi: Pilot-scale demonstrations are costly, especially in cleantech, where SMEs often have access to limited cash reserves. Investors, on the other hand, often seek de-risking and customer validation before committing. The BCFP program bridges that gap by helping with building investor confidence, attracting customers, and accelerating market adoption. Funding is strategically allocated: NRC IRAP supports labour and contractors, while Innovate BC funds equipment, materials, and travel, maximizing financial support within the program’s budget constraints.
Jacobsen: How do the NRC IRAP and Innovate BC plan to support these companies beyond the initial research and development?
Kazemi: NRC IRAP and Innovate BC offer comprehensive support beyond pilot-scale demonstration, further helping SMEs through the commercialization valley of death. NRC IRAP provides support to SMEs through technical and business advisory services provided by industrial technology advisors at every stage of development, from early innovation to market adoption.
Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Sona.
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