The Canadian federal government was busy this week, launching technology-focused accelerator programs for Canadian start-ups in both New York City and Boston.
The Canadian Technology Accelerator program (CTA) in Boston will focus on small, fast-growing companies from the life sciences and information and communications technologies sectors. The first eight participants will undertake an intensive eight-month program with the Cambridge Innovation Center near the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, gaining access to resources and mentoring by business leaders and venture capitalists.
“(Our) government is committed to helping Canadian entrepreneurs and start-ups expand and succeed in dynamic new markets,” said Gerald Keddy, parliamentary secretary to the minister of international trade, in a statement. “I’m pleased to launch this exciting new initiative that will enable our world-class companies from the life sciences and ICT sector to go global, which in turn will help create new high-value jobs back in Canada.”
The initial participants were selected from a pool of 43 cross-Canada start-up applicants, and applications for a second round are expected to be launched in April. The first right companies selected are:
- Mindful Scientific Inc. of Halifax
- Biomedical Implant Technology Inc. of St. Catharines, Ont.
- Sentimed Medical Corp. of Boucherville, QC
- P&P Optica of Waterloo, Ont.
- Arazy Group of Vancouver
- Equals6 of Halifax
- TasteFilter Intuitive Discovery of Montréal
- HInext Inc. of Toronto
“We look forward to connecting with new customers, partners and investors as we continue to focus on the rapid expansion of Equals6 in the U.S. market,” said Andy Osburn, CEO of Equals6, in a statement.
And in a separate announcement this week, the feds launched another CTA program, this one focused on the clean technology sector, in New York City.
“We’re committed to helping small and medium-sized enterprises succeed abroad. This new Canadian Technology Accelerator program—one of six such programs—brings innovators together with like-minded Canadian companies to accelerate the companies’ access to fast-growing, dynamic markets abroad and in turn create new high-value jobs at home,” says international trade minister Ed Fast, in a statement.
Regen Energy Inc., a wireless electrical energy management provider from Ontario, is one of the intial participants.
“We’re thrilled to be selected for the CTA cleantech program because of the impressive calibre of the participants and networks provided by the Canadian consulates general in New York City and San Francisco,” said Tim Angus, president and CEO of Regen Energy, in a statement. “We’re grateful for this creative initiative and the hands-on assistance provided by Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service, which will help better position us in the competitive U.S. energy market.”
The other participants are Awesense Wireless Inc. of BC, CarbonCure Technologies of Nova Scotia, eCamion Inc. of Ontario, Effenco of Quebec, Etalim Inc. of BC, EnerMotion Inc. of Ontario, Greengage Mobile of Ontario, Odotech Inc. of Quebec and Quadrogen Power Systems Inc. of BC.