Welcome to this week’s Midweek Memo. In this issue, discover who’s up for a B.C. cleantech award, learn what the Government of Canada is doing to help entrepreneurs diversify their export options, and find out how port operators can save time and money with better monitoring.

Now on to today’s briefing. It’s 789 words: a three-minute read.

-Emily, [email protected]

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$24 million for Ocean Networks Canada-led project

Earlier this month, the Government of Canada announced an investment of over $142 million in its New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF). The fund supports large-scale, Canadian-led interdisciplinary research projects that address major challenges, and have the potential to offer real and lasting change.

Included in the funding announcement is $24 million for the Solid Carbon research project — an ocean-based carbon dioxide removal initiative hoping to combat the climate crisis. Led by Ocean Networks Canada, the project is one of six awarded funding through NFRF.

Solid Carbon is developing technology that could allow for the storage of the gas by injecting it into ocean basalt — a kind of volcanic foundation underwater — where it mineralizes into rock.

Kate Moran is the project’s principal investigator, as well as the president and CEO of Ocean Networks Canada. Moran suggests that the Solid Carbon project has the potential to “combat the climate crisis and lay the foundation for a Canadian-led sustainable solution.” 

📰 More Victoria innovation news

🤝 You’ve got a friend in me: Diana Gibson — B.C.’s minister of jobs, economic development, and innovation — has been nominated for Cleantech Supporter of the Year through Foresight Canada’s BC Cleantech Awards program.

👀 I’ve got my eye on you: MarineLabs’ Scott Beatty joined GreenPort to breakdown the importance of monitoring systems for port operations.

💥 Open for business: Pacifican announced over $4.8 million in funding dedicated to bringing more visitors to B.C. and helping local entrepreneurs diversify their export markets around the world.

🕴️ Tech jobs of the week

Find your next career:

• Observatory systems analyst at Ocean Networks Canada

• Inside sales representative at First Light Technologies

• IT systems and support coordinator at Iris Dynamics

Hiring in Victoria? Reply to this email and let us know!

📅 Upcoming events

Victoria Tech Nachos | April 3

Victoria Tech Nachos is a covert group at the intersection of nachos and technology. It bills itself as a no-speaker, social-only, no-sponsor, nacho-friendly event.

Future Innovators: Empowering Women in STEM | April 7

Join an inspiring evening with our panel of women in STEM. iWIST is bringing together future innovators from middle school, high school, and post-secondary along with professional women in STEM for a candid conversation about their careers. All are welcome.

ABCMI & COAST Innovation Forum | April 15-16

The Association of British Columbia Marine Industries (ABCMI) in partnership with COAST (Centre for Ocean Applied Sustainable Technologies), is hosting the annual Innovation Forum in Vancouver. This is a great event to understand the latest innovations, technology, science, and research that is shaping the future of B.C.’s marine industry.

Victoria Climate Connections | April 24

Victoria Climate Connections will unite professionals working on climate change science, impacts, mitigation, and adaptation in B.C. for an informal evening of networking. Climate Connections aims to build community amongst Victoria’s climate-solution seekers by bridging the gap across sectors, fostering dialogue about current climate change issues and initiatives, and creating synergies for future collaborative climate change projects. The University of Victoria will welcome climate professionals from municipal and provincial government, industry, non-profits, and climate think tanks.

The 2025 VIATEC Awards | May 1

This event brings the tech community together and take a moment to spotlight and celebrate some of the year’s most notable companies and individuals within Victoria’s $5.9 billion tech sector. For over 23 years, the event has been produced by VIATEC, Victoria’s tech industry association.

Have an upcoming event? Reply to let us know.

🙋 I need a…

We at Victoria Tech Journal know you, our community, pretty well. Are you searching for someone in your field to have coffee with, a hiring hookup, a lead on local investors, or suggestion for a great Victoria tech tool? Whatever you’re hunting for, let us know. We’ll post it in this section and make it happen.

Email your requests to [email protected].

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