The nominees for the 4th annual BC Cleantech Awards have been released. The 50 finalists span categories such as startups, ecosystem pioneers, corporate partners and funders.

Chosen from over 200 submissions, they are innovators, industry leaders, investors, government officials, and academics driving cleantech innovation and adoption across the province and setting an example for what is possible on the path to net zero.

Here are the finalists organized by category:

Startup of the Year
An emerging cleantech venture actively growing and already creating impact in their field

• Circular Rubber Technologies

• Crush Dynamics

• Moment Energy

• Seven Generation Capital Corp.

• Viridis Research

Scaling Venture of the Year
A cleantech venture positioned to take a leadership role on the global innovation stage

• Clir Renewables 

• Loop Energy

• MineSense Technologies

• Novarc Technologies

• Svante

Community Advocate of the Year
A mentor offering invaluable guidance, advice, or support to cleantech entrepreneurs

• Elisabeth Charmley, Vancouver Maritime Centre for Climate

• Isabella Taba, Energenii

• Kariann Aarup, Aqua Action

• Keith Ippel, Spring Activator

• ​​Shannon Bard, entrepreneurship@UBC

Ecosystem Supporter of the Year
An organization championing the growth and development of cleantech in BC through programs, ecosystem development, thought leadership, and community building

• BC Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy

• BC Pulp and Paper BioAlliance

• Genome BC

• Invest Vancouver

• Vancouver Economic Commission

Corporate Pioneer of the Year
A large organization or company adopting, championing, or leading sustainable practices in their industry

• Copper Mountain Mining Corporation

• FortisBC

• Port of Vancouver

• Paper Excellence

• Shell

Investor of the Year
An angel investor or VC championing a net zero economy by investing in cleantech ventures

• Fred Gilowski, Okanagan Aggregates

• Naynika Chaubey, Evok Innovations

• Paul Richardson, Renewal Funds

• Thealzel Lee, VANTEC Angel Network

• Yuan Shi, The51 Food and Agtech Fund

Funder of the Year
An organization or individual offering capital support or funding to support cleantech ventures as they grow and scale

• BDC

• ETSI-BC

• Forest Enhancement Society of BC

• NRC-IRAP

• TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good

Training Institution of the Year
An educational institution leading or championing research, programming, and upskilling that will enable a net zero future

• Climate Venture Studio at entrepreneurship@UBC

• Interior Universities Research Coalition

• Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions

• University of Northern British Columbia – NALS

• SFU VentureLabs

Educator of the Year
A professor, academic leader, or post-secondary instructor taking an innovative approach to education for the net zero economy

• Basma Majerbi, University of Victoria

• Hossein Kazemian, University of Northern British Columbia

• Kasun Hewage, The University of British Columbia

• Steve Perry, BCIT School of Transportation

• Tessa Jordan, British Columbia Institute of Technology

Government Champion of the Year
A local or provincial government official using policy, advocacy, or funding to move the province towards net zero

• Candice Wilson, Haisla Nation Council

• Erin Robinson, City of Quesnel

• Jessica Woolliams, BC Housing

• Minister Bruce Ralston, Minister of Forests

• Nancy Norris, Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, Government of British Columbia

“Myself and the team at Foresight are consistently inspired by what… [our] collaborators are accomplishing as we lead Canada to a greener future,” said Jeanette Jackson, CEO of Foresight Canada, in a statement. “It is a pleasure to recognize just some of the amazing individuals, ventures, and organizations that are making an impact on Canadian cleantech innovation and demonstrating what is possible on the path to net zero.”

With Vancouver Tech Journal as the official media sponsor, the winners will be celebrated at a live event in Vancouver, B.C. on March 30, 2023.

Readers can register today to take part in the live broadcast. If you’re interested in attending live, please contact events@foresightcac.com.

The 2023 BC Cleantech Awards are presented by Foresight and KPMG, with support from MLT Aikins, Osler and TransLink.