Guelph - Ontario is supporting the development of new wastewater treatment technology that will create jobs and help fight air pollution.

The province is investing almost $1.2 million through the Innovation Demonstration Fund to help BIOREM Technologies Inc. bring its new air filtration and purification technology to the global market. The company designs and manufactures systems that remove odours and contaminants from the air. This funding will help BIOREM showcase its new “Unity” technology to customers and investors, including a project at the Preston Wastewater Treatment Plant in Cambridge.

The company also anticipates hiring 27 new employees over the next five years including engineers, and mechanical and design technologists

Today’s funding is part of Ontario’s Innovation Agenda, a plan to make research and innovation the driving force of Ontario’s future economy.

“The McGuinty government is proud to support companies like BIOREM in their efforts to commercialize great ideas in Ontario fast, and bring new technologies to the global market first. They are driven by the fact that through innovation, businesses can compete globally, create good jobs and protect our health and environment at the same time.”

— Minister of Research and Innovation, John Milloy

"Today's investment is another example of our government's commitment to support emerging technology companies that promise to bring cleaner air and a better quality of life to communities around the world while creating high-skilled, green jobs in Ontario."

— Guelph MPP, Liz Sandals

“BIOREM is a creative, aggressive, technology company that recognizes the need to capitalize on the principle of ‘speed to market’. This support from the Ontario government is helping us move our Unity product into the marketplace more quickly so that we can seize a competitive market position and grow our company.”

— Peter Bruijns, President and CEO, BIOREM Technologies Inc.

INNOVATION DEMONSTRATION FUND

Guelph - Ontario’s $80-million Innovation Demonstration Fund helps companies commercialize promising new clean technologies by supporting them at the pilot or demonstration project stage. These projects help companies attract the customers and investors they need to move their technology to the global marketplace.

Through the Innovation Demonstration Fund, Ontario is investing almost $1.2 million in BIOREM Technologies Inc. Based in Guelph, BIOREM designs and manufactures systems that remove odours and contaminants from the air, including hydrogen sulphides and reduced sulphur compounds, amines and volatile organic compounds.

BIOREM is working to develop and commercialize a new energy-efficient and environmentally- friendly system called Unity. BIOREM’s goals for Unity include making it at least 30 per cent cheaper than current products, while reducing the system’s footprint by half.

Ontario’s funding is supporting two projects, showcasing different versions of the Unity technology. The first version is designed for small sewage treatment plants. It can be preassembled and shipped to a site with minimal on-site work.

This demonstration is taking place at the Preston Wastewater Treatment Plant in the City of Cambridge. Once the prototype has proved itself, the Region of Waterloo intends to purchase the technology.

The second version is designed for large capacities and is built on site, to take full advantage of economies of scale. The location of this project has yet to be finalized.

Ontario, through the Innovation Demonstration Fund, has invested in eleven promising Ontario cleantech companies. Most recently, Ontario invested $4 million to help EcoVu bring new water purification technology to the global market.

Other emerging Ontario technology companies that have received support through the fund include:

• 6N Silicon – Has a new, cost-effective process for purifying silicon to the degree needed for solar panels. Last October, 6N announced the opening of its new head office and production facilities in Vaughan.

• GreenCore Composites Inc. – Has developed natural-fibre composites that can be used to make environmentally-friendly parts for the automotive, furniture and toy industries.

• Menova Energy Inc. – Designs and manufactures high performance solar heating and electric systems. Menova partnered with a company called Woodbine Tool and Die on its demonstration project, which helped Woodbine diversify beyond the automotive sector.