July 23, 2020 – Peterborough, Ontario

Fostering Clean Growth

Entrepreneurs in southern Ontario’s cleantech sector create jobs and find greener solutions for a variety of areas. However, challenges exist for early-stage companies-from accessing the right facilities, to finding business support services and advice. For businesses that are just starting out, these setbacks can make it difficult to advance from the idea stage to commercial reality.

Support for Growing Companies

Trent University has a plan to catalyze growth in the cleantech sector and position the Greater Peterborough region as an emerging hub. It has already established the Cleantech Commons, a research park that fosters collaboration between industry and academia for the benefit of advancing knowledge and supporting cleantech-based economic development. Building on the resources available there, the University will establish the Trent Enterprise Centre (TEC).

Today, Maryam Monsef, Member of Parliament for Peterborough-Kawartha, on behalf of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, announced a $4.8-million investment through FedDev Ontario towards this project.

Within Trent’s Cleantech Commons, the TEC will offer an accelerator and technology demonstration space for cleantech focused companies to commercialize their ideas and fast-track their growth. This will include a cleantech laboratory and pilot facilities, and office space for resident entrepreneurs.

The Trent Enterprise Centre, in partnership with the Peterborough Innovation Cluster, will support 70 companies with business advisory and mentoring services, and the project will lead to the creation of an anticipated 300 jobs. It aims to be a recognized leader in sustainable innovation and education and is expected to attract a number of cleantech ventures to the Peterborough region.

By providing access to the specialized facilities and technical expertise that high-potential cleantech firms require to scale their businesses, this project will use the region’s strengths to foster growth of the cleantech cluster in the Peterborough area, creating economic and environmental benefits for Canadians.