The Woodbridge Group and Syngenta Crop Protection Canada Inc. The establishment of a board of direc-tors has also helped to create a closer link to the industries that the BCN is working for. There are representatives on the board from the carbon-capture, forestry and oil-sands industries, all of which are involved with BCN’s research and development. The development of the board helped to create a new mandate during the transi-tion from BCN 1.0 to BCN 2.0. The tran-sition, which occurred in March of 2012, came as a result of the expiration of the initial program investment. For BCN 2.0, the financial commitment to the BCN was increased from $3 million to $4 million, with money now available annually. That change will help programs progress an-nually, with no need to commit all of the money for the project up front. That, in turn, has provided better stabilization in the funding model for the research itself. The new mandate has also included the creation of program clusters. These clusters involve links to global organizations, as well as the creation of an industry-focused applied business network. The purpose of each network is to interpret needs and as-sessment between business and academia, to introduce new relationships between business and academics, and to provide clearer lines of communication between the partners in order to protect the confi-dentiality of each ongoing project. “The creation of these clusters is al-lowing industry to get in on the ground level of the research that is being done,” says Bressler. “For example, in the forestry cluster, industry representatives are being consulted for the creation real byproducts from the raw waste materials being pro-duced. Forestry companies have asked for commercially viable solutions for these products, rather than be expected to pro-vide reduced price feedstock for a third party to use to make money from.” Because of the way the cluster has been created, there is an opportunity for open dialogue between the industry and the academics working on research and de-velopment. Those partnerships allow for a symbiotic relationship, one where both parties receive financial gain from the cre-ation of bioproducts. The creation of commercially viable bioproducts has already begun to come to fruition thanks to the work of the BCN. Be-cause of research done by BCN a lipid py-rolysis company, producing hydrocarbon without the use of hydrogen and/or a cata-lyst, is currently in the works. The com-pany has been made possible by the teams currently working on thermal conversion projects. In addition to the work involving lipid materials, Bressler says, 20L/hour pi-lot plant for the production of high-value fuels is also under construction. As research and development contin-ues, new partnerships are being formed that could lead to new bioproducts for industries in Canada. Corporate partners continue to consult with the BCN for the development for new bioproducts that have immediate use within their sector, not just products that can be sold on the market. • For more on bioproducts go to www.canadianbiomassmagazine.ca. Established 1973 World’s Toughest Industrial CCTV Camera The industry standard for Sawmills, Pulp/Paper Mills, Panelboard Plants and Wood Biomass Refineries • 560 TV Lines • 2.9, 4.3, 6, 8, 12, 16 mm lenses • All Weather, Extreme Environment • Heavy Gauge Di-Cast Metal Alloy & Titanium Components • Tri-Axial Mounting System • Waterproof, IP68 Rating • Vibration Resistant • –60°C to +60°C [–76°F to +140°F] Available from leading electrical wholesalers throughout North America TECHNOLOGIES Inc. Canada – Ph. 604-569-3240 US – Ph. 269-966-2900 www.opticomtech.com 1-888-410-2447 24 Canadian BIOMASS MarCh/april 2013
Canadian Biomass March/April 2013: Page 24
