The organization will put $80 million toward three research and commercialization challenges for value-added products, projects to reduce the energy industry’s environmental footprint, including emissions and digital technology. It is targeting 100 megatons in emission reductions by 2033, and will also seek capital from its private-sector members. In response to The Logic’s question, Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains acknowledged that his government first allocated the money from the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) in the 2019 federal budget, but said Ottawa is now “moving forward … with the actual implementation of this initiative.” (The Logic)

Talking point: This is the second SIF cleantech award in as many weeks, after a $20-million pledge to Terrestrial Energy’s small modular reactor project. At the start of the Liberals’ second term, Bains told The Logic that commercialization would key to hitting the government’s emission-reduction targets, citing the fund as one way to provide firms with the necessary “long-term, patient capital.” Ottawa is also promising further capital via a new program, signalled in last month’s throne speech.