The Ontario Centres of Excellence invests in projects and people to accelerate industry R&D to impact the Ontario economy through the commercialization of leading edge research.  OCE invests in - Industry-Academic collaborative research - Commercialization of academic research through licensing and spin off companies - Early stage seed financing of start-ups - Skills development for high quality personnel  The Ontario Centres of Excellence is a not-for-profit corporation founded in 1987. Core funding is provided by the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation

Ontario Centres of Excellence

InnovoGENE biosciences

InnovoGENE biosciences is a research-driven biotechnology company with an innovative platform for developing diagnostic sensors targeting pathogenic bacteria.

InnovoGENE Biosciences is a Canadian biotechnology company that develops aptamer-based biosensors for diagnostic purposes. The company has created a proprietary solution called Urasensor, an affordable sensor designed to screen for pathogens with color-changing capabilities upon identification. The company combines experimental data and bioinformatics to develop molecular biosensors capable of recognizing various pathogenic bacteria. Unlike traditional antibody-based medical diagnostic biosensors, which are expensive to produce and have lower binding efficiency with analytes compared to enzymes, InnovoGENE's aptamer technology offers a more viable alternative.

5 Top Biosensors Startups Impacting Biotechnology

Pollution Management Tech

InnovoGENE

InnovoGENE Biosciences is a Canadian biotechnology company that develops aptamer-based biosensors for diagnostic purposes. The company has created a proprietary solution called Urasensor, an affordable sensor designed to screen for pathogens with color-changing capabilities upon identification. The company combines experimental data and bioinformatics to develop molecular biosensors capable of recognizing various pathogenic bacteria. Unlike traditional antibody-based medical diagnostic biosensors, which are expensive to produce and have lower binding efficiency with analytes compared to enzymes, InnovoGENE's aptamer technology offers a more viable alternative.

Axine Water Technologies specializes in on-site industrial wastewater treatment, focusing on the destruction of toxic and recalcitrant organic pollutants. The company's core offering is its proprietary electrochemical oxidation technology, which is designed to treat a wide range of contaminants including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), pharmaceuticals, solvents, and other persistent organic compounds. Axine's flagship product, electraCLEAR, provides a solution for the complete destruction of both long and short-chain PFAS in industrial wastewater. The technology applies electricity to advanced electrodes to oxidize and destroy pollutants without using hazardous chemicals or generating liquid or solid waste. This approach enables Axine to meet stringent treatment requirements across various industries such as pharmaceutical, chemical manufacturing, and microelectronics. In October 2019, Axine completed a long-term test program that validated its technology's ability to treat a wide range of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to very low levels, meeting industry-recommended targets for safe discharge. The company operates on a treatment-as-a-service (TAAS) business model, which allows customers to achieve their wastewater treatment and sustainability goals with minimal capital investment and technology risk.
Key customers and partnerships
Axine Water Technologies serves multinational customers in the pharmaceutical, chemical manufacturing, and microelectronics industries. The company has been working to expand its commercial market presence in North America. In June 2024, Axine was selected as a finalist in SEMI's Startups for Sustainable Semiconductors program, recognizing its work in sustainability and innovation within the semiconductor industry.

Axine Water Technologies

Soil Scout provides wireless underground soil monitoring solutions through its Hydra 100 Scout sensor system. The technology measures three critical soil parameters - moisture, salinity, and temperature - from up to two meters below the surface in real-time. The sensors feature a patented underground antenna that transfers data efficiently in any soil conditions and operate with an encapsulated lithium battery that lasts up to 20 years without maintenance. The system helps users monitor turf hydration levels, prevent decline in turf quality, and make informed decisions about resource allocation. Through a dashboard interface, users can access real-time soil data collected at various depths to optimize soil conditions, improve crop production, and reduce water consumption.Key customers and partnershipsThe company's monitoring system has been implemented at several prominent sports venues, including Wembley Stadium, Citizens Bank Park (home of the Philadelphia Phillies), and The Belfry Hotel &amp; Resort. The technology serves professionals across multiple sectors, including agriculture, golf courses, and sports turf maintenance. Agriculture customers use the system to understand field conditions and optimize soil environments for improved crop production. In golf course management, the system helps maintain turf quality while reducing operational costs and water usage.

Soil Scout

TEQOYA is a French company specializing in air purification technology. The company designs and manufactures ionizer-based air purifiers that generate negative ions to clean indoor air. TEQOYA's purifiers are designed to eliminate up to 99.9% of pollutants, including fine and ultrafine particles, allergens, bacteria, viruses, mold, and odors. The company's flagship products include the TEQOYA 200, suitable for spaces up to 30 m¬≤, and the TEQOYA 450, designed for larger areas. TEQOYA's air purifiers operate silently, consume minimal energy (as low as 1.5 watts), and require no filter replacements or maintenance. The company emphasizes eco-friendly manufacturing, with products made in France using environmentally responsible materials. TEQOYA offers a 10-year warranty on its products, reflecting their durability and longevity. In addition to residential use, TEQOYA has expanded into commercial applications, with its purifiers being used in Air France's VIP lounges at Charles de Gaulle airport since 2019.
Key customers and partnerships
TEQOYA has established partnerships and distribution networks in over 20 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. In 2017, the company entered the Chinese market through a partnership with Anyou, which has been distributing TEQOYA air purifiers since then. TEQOYA has also expanded its presence in other Asian markets, including Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan. In Europe, the company has partners in countries such as Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Romania, Sweden, and the Netherlands. In March 2024, TEQOYA announced a collaboration with ALDES, a leading ventilation systems manufacturer, to integrate its electrostatic filtration technology into buildings selected by SOLIDEO for the 2024 Athletes' Village. This partnership demonstrates TEQOYA's expansion into new applications within the construction industry.

Teqoya

AquaGreen, founded in 2014, is a Danish engineering company that has developed an innovative technology for treating wet biomass, particularly sewage sludge. The company's patented HECLA technology integrates steam drying and pyrolysis to convert bio-waste into valuable resources. This process dries and pyrolyzes sewage sludge at 650¬∞C without the need for auxiliary fuel, using only the calories from the sludge itself. The technology significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 80% compared to conventional sewage sludge disposal methods.
AquaGreen's HECLA 1,000 plant can process 1,000 metric tons of dry matter annually, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 1,800 tons of CO2 equivalent, producing 2,000 MWh of sustainable energy, and storing 500 tons of carbon in biochar. The resulting biochar is odorless and contains 5-6% plant-accessible phosphorus, making it valuable for soil improvement and fertilization. The process also eliminates harmful pollutants such as microplastics, medical residues, PFAS, and PAH while preserving essential nutrients like phosphorus.
The company's technology offers a cost-effective and environmentally efficient solution for handling wet bio-waste, presenting a sustainable alternative to traditional sewage sludge management methods. AquaGreen's system is self-sufficient and circular, as the gases produced during pyrolysis fuel both the steam drying and pyrolysis processes. The excess steam, condensed into hot water, can be used for district heating grids and other applications.
Key customers and partnerships
AquaGreen has successfully installed its HECLA plants in Denmark, specifically in Zealand and Funen. The company has also expanded its operations to Sweden and South Africa. In July 2023, AquaGreen secured a tender to supply installations in Malaysia and Borneo. The company was also working on an offer for 11 plants in Saudi Arabia and exploring opportunities in China and Australia.
One of AquaGreen's key customers is Odsherred Forsyning in Denmark, where the world's first integrated steam drying and pyrolysis plant was implemented. This installation has enabled Odsherred Forsyning to transform sewage sludge from 50,000 citizens from an annual expense into a sellable product.
AquaGreen has collaborated with the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) in developing and patenting its technology. The company also partnered with Odsherred Forsyning and VandCenter Syd in the development of its solution. These partnerships have been instrumental in refining and validating AquaGreen's innovative approach to biomass treatment.

AquaGreen

Molekule is a science and technology company specializing in air purifiers, founded in 2014 by Dr. Yogi Goswami and his children Dilip Goswami and Jaya Rao. The company's air purifiers utilize patented Photo Electrochemical Oxidation (PECO) technology, which aims to destroy pollutants at a molecular level rather than just trapping them like traditional HEPA filters. Molekule's flagship products include the Air Pro, designed for spaces up to 1,000 square feet, and the more compact Air Mini for rooms up to 250 square feet.
The PECO technology employs a UV-C light filter and free radicals to break down pollutants including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), bacteria, mold, viruses, and allergens. Molekule claims their technology can capture particles 1,000 times smaller than what HEPA filters trap. In testing, Molekule air purifiers have shown the ability to reduce common bacteria by over 99.99% and capture 90% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns in a 150 square foot room within an hour. The devices are certified by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for low ozone emissions.
Molekule air purifiers feature a cylindrical design with a 360-degree air intake at the bottom and an outlet on top. The devices can be controlled via a smartphone app that allows users to check filter status and view air quality data. Filters typically need replacement every six months. While praised for their sleek aesthetics and innovative technology, Molekule air purifiers have faced criticism for their high price points relative to performance compared to some traditional HEPA purifiers.

Molekule

Companies that use AI/ML, satellites, and biosensors for pollutant detection and microbial activity tracking in water, air, and soil quality.

Companies that use biological methods to treat contaminated soils including applications like oil spill cleanup and heavy metal removal.

Companies that use biological methods to provide solutions and systems, such as biofilters and air purifiers, mitigate industrial emissions and enhance overall air quality. It also includes the use of advanced technologies such as AI and biotechnology to develop air purification technology.

Companies that use biological methods to provide solutions for treating contaminated water and wastewater, such as biofilters, bioreactors, and constructed wetlands. It also includes advanced technologies such as IoT, AI, and biotechnology to remove contaminants from water.

InnovoGENE

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