Net Zero Emerging Concepts and Technologies (ECT-NS) Research Program - Nova Scotia

Notice: A call for submissions is now open for Nova Scotia-based research. Proposals are due November 29, 2024, 3 p.m. AST.

Overview: From laboratory to market

Nova Scotia won’t get to net-zero by 2050 with proven renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. There are still significant knowledge and technology gaps that must be identified and addressed to tackle the most hard-to-abate greenhouse gas emissions in the 2030-2050 period.

Many of the solutions needed to achieve 2050 net-zero goals need to be invented, proven and scaled up to commercial availability. Bringing critical, emerging technologies and concepts from the laboratory to the market may take decades to achieve. Given the critical importance of action during the next 10 years and the time that it typically takes for emerging technologies to get from the laboratory to market, Nova Scotia cannot afford to wait for market incentives to deliver the level of change required. 

About the program

The Net Zero Emerging Concepts and Technologies (ECT) Research Program will help to expedite this process of moving from the laboratory into the market. The ECT-NS Research Program seeks to identify gaps in carbon-reduction pathways for hard-to-abate emissions and to support made-in-Nova Scotia solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions required to achieve net-zero by 2050. The priority research themes include decarbonization of fishing vessels and ferry fleets, nature-based solutions, direct air capture, agricultural emissions, electricity system challenges post 2030 and long term energy storage. Additional themes may be added for each call and will be included in the updated applicant guide when it is made available.

Please read the ECT Research Program’s objectives  before preparing your application.

The ECT-NS Research Program is a three-year recurring open call program that will make R&D investments in two areas:

1. fostering conceptual, early-stage genesis of novel technologies in Nova Scotia, and
2. evaluating the suitability of technologies emerging in other jurisdictions for Nova Scotia.

The primary objective of the ECT-NS Research Program is to encourage and fund the Nova Scotia research and innovation community (both private and academic sectors) to identify and develop a suite of promising, emerging clean technologies, approaches and practices that warrant continued funding from Nova Scotia’s technology incubation ecosystem. 

Please send any inquiries about the ECT Research Program to info@netzeroatlantic.ca.

 

Call for submissions

The fourth call for Nova Scotia is now open, running from October 22 to November 29, 2024. To prepare, review the resources below and subscribe to our mailing list to receive the latest news and notices of opportunities. 

How-to apply

ECT-NS applicants can review the projects underway from previous calls for Nova Scotia and read the press releases announcing the projects from June 2023 and November 2023 to become more familiar with the program.

Before applying, we recommend reviewing the following list of resources:

• Watch the recording of the Net Zero ECT Research Program Call 2 information webinar here.
• Watch the ECT-Call #1 Debrief here. 
• FAQ November 19, 2024 (update coming after question period closed on November 22, 2024.)

To apply, please use the following submission materials:

• ECT-NS Applicant Guide (October-November 2024)
• ECT-NS Proposal Submission Template (October-November 2024)
• ECT-NS Budget Submission Template (October-November 2024)

 

Support for the program

The Net Zero ECT Research Program is led by Net Zero Atlantic and is partially supported by $3 million in funding from Natural Resources Canada and $3 million in funding provided by the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change.

The federal government's contribution is made through the Energy Innovation Program managed by the Office for Energy Research and Development and the provincial government's funding being provided advances actions 13 and 63 of Nova Scotia’s Climate Change Plan for Clean Growth, specifically research on natural carbon sinks – such as soil and forests, which absorb carbon dioxide – and research on new clean technologies and practices to help meet our net zero by 2050 target.

 

“Wild cards” (high-risk, high-reward solutions that are still in early stages of development) have an important role to play in Canada’s transition to net-zero. Wild cards have the potential to fundamentally change Canada’s path to net-zero, and action is required now to ensure these solutions are ready when Canada needs them.”

--Canadian Climate Institute