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Canadian Tech in 100 Words

 

Northvolt’s Future in Canada at Risk as EV Demand Slows

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One year after announcing its $7-billion battery factory near Montreal, Swedish-based Northvolt faces financial difficulties, raising concerns about the future of its Quebec project. Amid a cash crunch, the company cut 20% of its global workforce and hired restructuring advisors. Northvolt has assured that work continues on its Quebec facilities, but delays are anticipated.

The factory, funded by $7.3 billion from Canadian and Quebec governments, is key to Canada’s EV sector and expected to create 3,000 jobs. Some opposition leaders are calling for funding to be halted. The fate of Northvolt and its impact on Canada’s economy remain uncertain.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on The Logic.

1 Billion in Cleantech Innovation on Display at Energy Disruptors: UNITE 2024

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The future of Canadian industry will take center stage in Calgary this October at Energy Disruptors: UNITE 2024. The event will feature keynote presentations from seven CEOs representing Canada’s top cleantech companies, which have collectively raised over $1 billion.

Leaders include John Redfern of Eavor, Greg Twinney of General Fusion, Amanda Hall of Summit Nanotech, and Chris Doornbos of E3 Lithium. The summit highlights advancements in geothermal energy, carbon capture, lithium development, and fusion technology. Energy Disruptors, founded in 2018, aims to accelerate the global energy transition. The event will be held October 1-2, 2024, at the BMO Centre in Calgary.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on CleanEnergy.ca.

Quickly Announces New Partnership to Enhance Early Payment Solutions for Construction Industry

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Calgary-based fintech Quickly has announced a partnership with hh2 Cloud Services, integrating its early payment platform with Sage 300 Construction and Real Estate through hh2’s iPaaS solution. This collaboration aims to streamline financial operations for construction companies by offering faster payments to subcontractors while maintaining regular payment terms for general contractors.

Quickly’s platform improves cash flow and reduces administrative burdens for small and medium-sized businesses. CEO Kyle Friedman highlighted the value of the integration in enhancing financial management for construction firms. The partnership is expected to drive further innovation in the sector.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on Fintech.ca.

E3 Lithium Achieves Major Milestone in Battery-Grade Lithium Production

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Calgary-based E3 Lithium has successfully commissioned its demonstration-scale carbonate conversion reactors, marking a major step toward establishing a reliable lithium production facility in Alberta. These reactors, designed to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate, mirror commercial systems on a smaller scale. The company confirmed that the reactors passed rigorous tests, consistently meeting necessary conditions.

E3 Lithium plans to integrate these reactors into its demonstration facility to further validate operational parameters. CEO Chris Doornbos emphasized that this achievement strengthens E3’s ability to supply North America’s growing demand for battery-grade lithium. Doornbos will present at the Energy Disruptors: UNITE 2024 conference.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on Calgary.tech.

Human in Motion Robotics Brings XoMotion Exoskeleton to Canada

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Vancouver-based Human in Motion Robotics has announced that its advanced exoskeleton, XoMotion, has received Health Canada’s regulatory approval, allowing the product to be sold in the country. XoMotion is designed to assist patients with spinal cord injuries, strokes, and other neurological conditions, offering self-balancing and hands-free support.

According to CEO Siamak Arzanpour, the exoskeleton reduces the physical burden on therapists and enhances the safety of rehabilitation programs. Human in Motion plans to expand into the US, Europe, and Asia following the Canadian launch. The company secured $10 million in Series A funding in 2023.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on Techcouver.

Calgary’s Bow Valley College Unveils State-of-the-Art Esports Facility

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Bow Valley College has unveiled Calgary’s first esports arena, a 70-seat, state-of-the-art facility designed to foster innovation and growth in the city’s digital entertainment industry. The 3,500 sq. ft arena features 40 competition-ready gaming stations, racing simulators, and a broadcast suite.

According to President Dr. Misheck Mwaba, the arena will equip students with skills for careers in the growing esports sector. Funded by the college, the arena is a key part of Alberta’s Esports Strategy. The college’s Digital Entertainment Nexus, supported by a $5.5M investment, is expected to train 675 people by 2028.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on Newswire.ca.

Cyclic Materials Raises $53 Million to Expand Rare Earth Recycling

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Toronto-based Cyclic Materials, an advanced recycling company focused on rare earth elements (REEs), has closed an oversubscribed USD $53 million Series B equity round. Led by ArcTern Ventures, the round included new investors like BDC Capital’s Climate Tech Fund and Microsoft’s Climate Innovation Fund.

The company will use the capital to expand its recycling infrastructure in the US and Europe, reducing the environmental impact of rare earth recovery. CEO Ahmad Ghahreman emphasized the importance of sustainability in the clean energy transition. Cyclic Materials aims to re-establish North American and European leadership in rare earth recycling.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on CleanEnergy.ca.

LinkedIn Unveils Top Canadian Startups for 2025

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LinkedIn has announced its annual list of Top Startups in Canada for 2025, featuring 15 companies driving innovation across industries. The list is based on LinkedIn data, considering factors such as employee growth, jobseeker interest, and talent acquisition from Top Companies.

Among the highlighted startups are AI leader Cohere, fintech company Float, and digital automation firm PostGrid. These companies are not only growing rapidly but are also revolutionizing fields like AI, fintech, and sustainable metal extraction. This year’s list showcases the rising stars of Canadian innovation.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on Techtalent.ca.

Kyndryl Partners with University of Waterloo for Cybersecurity Research

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Kyndryl, the world’s largest IT infrastructure services provider, has announced a collaboration with the Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute (CPI) at the University of Waterloo. The partnership aims to support research into data privacy and security, focusing on decentralized identity management, privacy-enhancing cryptography, and quantum-safe communication. These innovations are essential as technologies like AI and IoT increase the risk of data breaches and cyberattacks.

Antoine Shagoury, Kyndryl’s CTO, emphasized the importance of academic partnerships, while CPI’s Dr. Anindya Sen highlighted the role of interdisciplinary research in addressing global cybersecurity challenges.

Want to know more? Check out the source code here.

Open Waters Solar to Revolutionize Marine Energy

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Simon Angus, founder of Open Waters Solar, turned his passion for sailing into a pioneering venture in renewable energy. After designing an all-electric sailboat, Angus developed innovative solar panels tailored for marine use. His company aims to reduce the reliance on diesel generators in the marine and transportation industries.

Recently, Open Waters Solar received a $450,000 grant from the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund to retrofit its Prince George facility and scale production. The expansion will create 20 full-time jobs and help diversify northern B.C.’s economy. Open Waters is set to revolutionize clean energy on the water.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on Techcouver.