Ontario Centres of Excellence tasked with managing province's new emissions reduction program

TORONTO, Feb. 17, 2016 /CNW/ - Ontario Centres of Excellence's (OCE) decades of experience in the energy and environment fields will be put to use helping the Government of Ontario reduce industrial pollution through the introduction of innovative new technologies.

Earlier today, Premier Kathleen Wynne announced the $74 million emissions reduction program with OCE assuming responsibility for managing a cleantech innovation initiative. The initiative will encourage large industrial plants to adopt leading edge technologies that will cut greenhouse gases through demonstration projects and also provide support for Ontario entrepreneurs to bring forward creative new cleantech solutions.

"We are excited and honoured to assume this important role for the provincial government and the people of Ontario," says Dr. Tom Corr, President and CEO of Ontario Centres of Excellence. "Our strong track record over many years in forging collaborations, supporting entrepreneurs, and working cross-provincially and with multiple levels of government to foster innovation has uniquely equipped us for this role."

OCE has a longstanding focus on cleantech, having supported many hundreds of cleantech-related companies. Over the past two years, OCE has supported 243 clean-tech related projects leading to the creation and retention of close to 900 jobs.

The cleantech innovation initiative is part of Ontario's $325 million Green Investment Fund.

"Our government is taking action to stop climate change by helping our business sector create prosperity and jobs for today and tomorrow," says Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario. "Through this investment, we will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while promoting the innovative and disruptive technologies that will improve productivity and secure our economic future."

"Our government understands the incredible opportunity that exists to create good jobs and grow our economy in the innovative sectors that are helping us move towards a greener environment," says Reza Moridi, Minister of Research and Innovation. "By partnering with Ontario Centres of Excellence to promote the next generation of clean technologies that reduce emissions and increase efficiency, we can improve Ontario's environment and our thriving innovation ecosystem at the same time."

About Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) Inc. (www.oce-ontario.org)
Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) drives the commercialization of cutting-edge research to build the economy of tomorrow and secure Ontario's global competitiveness. OCE fosters the training and development of the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs and is a key partner with Ontario's industry, universities, colleges, research hospitals, domestic and foreign investors, and government ministries. A champion of leading-edge technologies, best practices, innovation, entrepreneurship and research, OCE invests in such areas as advanced health, information and communications technology, digital media, advanced materials and manufacturing, agri-food, aerospace, transportation, energy, and the environment including water and mining. OCE is a key partner in delivering Ontario's Innovation Agenda as a member of the province's Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs (ONE), which helps Ontario-based entrepreneurs and industry rapidly grow their company and create jobs. Learn more at www.onebusiness.ca

SOURCE Ontario Centres of Excellence Inc.

Media contacts: Stuart Green, Manager, Media Relations, Ontario Centres of Excellence, 416-861-1092 x 1022, [email protected]