Atlantic Canada’s growing cleantech sector is a driving force behind the region’s economic resilience and progress toward a more sustainable future. The inaugural Atlantic Canada Cleantech Awards, held in Halifax, celebrated the achievements of innovators, funders, adopters, and supporters who are collectively accelerating clean technology adoption and advancing net zero goals.
Key highlights of the event include the recognition of the winners across various categories, including Adopter of the Year, Supporter of the Year, Funder of the Year, Startup Venture of the Year, and Scaleup Venture of the Year.
Meet the Winners
- Adopter of the Year: City of Summerside
- Supporter of the Year: Dalhousie University
- Funder of the Year: Carbon to Sea
- Startup Venture of the Year: pHathom Technologies
- Scaleup Venture of the Year: CarbonRun
| Category | Winner | Reason for Win |
|---|---|---|
| Adopter of the Year | City of Summerside | Summerside has expanded its smart grid, integrated renewable energy sources, and introduced innovative programs for energy efficiency and clean transportation, paving the way toward a more sustainable future. |
| Supporter of the Year | Dalhousie University | Researchers at Dalhousie University are developing clean, carbon-free technologies that will facilitate the transition to a more sustainable future, including clean fuels, chemicals, and materials, and long-life batteries for electric mobility. |
| Funder of the Year | Carbon to Sea | Carbon to Sea is evaluating ocean alkalinity enhancement for CO2 removal at scale, aligned with key scientific bodies, such as IPCC and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. |
| Startup Venture of the Year | pHathom Technologies | pHathom is advancing a breakthrough carbon removal technology through its Accelerated Weathering of Limestone (AWL) process, which uses seawater and limestone to capture biogenic CO2 while helping to reduce ocean acidification. |
| Scaleup Venture of the Year | CarbonRun | CarbonRun’s innovative river restoration method permanently removes CO2 from the atmosphere and improves river health simultaneously, with commitments from large corporate buyers for its credits and a robust pipeline of projects. |
Quotes from the Winners
“For the City of Summerside, being nominated for and receiving this award is like a boost of clean tech energy-fueling our momentum and reaffirming our path forward. Over the past 20 years, we’ve been deeply committed to validating and scaling solutions in the innovation and clean tech space. Along the way, we’ve learned that real progress takes a united effort-it takes a community to move mountains. The work we do with our partners can be complex, but it’s incredibly rewarding. By leveraging our infrastructure, collaborating with leading businesses, and cultivating a thriving ecosystem for change, Summerside is proud to lead and support Canada’s transition toward a sustainable future. Driving innovation, clean tech solutions and economic growth isn’t just our mission-it’s our passion.” – Mike Thususka, Director of Economic Development, City of Summerside
“We are extremely honoured to be recognized by the Atlantic Canada Cleantech community. We are thankful for the support of our partners and the broader network in helping us get to this stage, and we hope to live up to your expectations by continuing to fight climate change while also restoring and enhancing the ecosystems we depend on.” – Dr. Halfyard, Co-Founder and CTO, CarbonRun
“We’re capturing CO2 right at the source and using natural ocean chemistry to lock it away safely for thousands of years. It’s high-integrity carbon removal, rooted in science, and it’s happening right here in Atlantic Canada. We’re honoured to accept this award and proud to be doing that work here, in a region that understands resilience, collaboration, and bold ideas.” – Kim Gilbert, CEO, pHathom Technologies
“Nova Scotia’s growing reputation as a home for innovation makes it a great location to advance ocean climate science, and Carbon to Sea is proud to play a role in that. As the world grapples with the need to remove billions of tons of carbon from the atmosphere safely in the coming decades, we look forward to deepening our work here. We’re grateful to Foresight for this recognition, and for all they do to support climate innovation across Canada.” – Miriam Zitner, Canadian General Manager, Carbon to Sea Initiative
“A heartfelt congratulations to the winners of the inaugural Atlantic Canada Cleantech Awards! Your innovative spirit is propelling the region’s cleantech growth in exciting new directions. We celebrate your vision and look forward to witnessing the ecosystem thrive and the significant contributions you’ll make in transforming East Coast industries.” – Jeanette Jackson, CEO, Foresight Canada
“Marking a pivotal moment, the first Atlantic Canada Cleantech Awards celebrated the remarkable strength and innovation thriving within our region. The achievements of this year’s winners pave the way for a future where Atlantic Canada is a true leader in clean technology, and I couldn’t wait to see what comes next in East Coast innovation.” – Lindsay Murray, Sr. Manager, Partnerships, Foresight Canada
The Atlantic Canada Cleantech Awards are presented by Foresight and Bloom Funding with support from Bonsai Growth, MNP, Springboard Atlantic, and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).
