Low Carbon Business Action (LCBA) Canada

Does your organization have an unmet need for low carbon or circular economy solutions?
The European Union (EU) is pioneering an exciting project, Low Carbon Business Action in Canada (LCBA),
which aims to support the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through the increased adoption
of low carbon solutions, using a business opportunity-driven approach. This project will facilitate
purposeful business collaborations between Canadian industry (“Buyers”) and EU Small and Medium
Enterprises and Mid-Caps (“Sellers”), that have a distinct positive environmental impact, are scalable,
reflect a sound return on investment, and enable innovative technology transfer and business
transactions. The LCBA Canada Project Consortium is comprised of ICF, CESO, the Delphi Group, Cleantech
Group, and Mott MacDonald.
This initiative promotes EU company technologies and services to respond to unmet Canadian demand
for low carbon and circular economy solutions. The project uses a “Challenge Pitch” approach to focus the
search for EU SME and Mid-Cap Solutions based on a Canadian Buyers’ specific needs. The project
consortium is seeking interested organizations with low carbon and circular economy technology &
service Challenges to participate in this project.
Benefits to Canadian Buyers:
• Engages purposeful business partnerships between EU SME Solution Providers and Canadian
Buyers
• Provides exclusive access to cutting-edge EU technologies and solutions
• Technical Assistance and funding for activities such as feasibility studies, regulatory and legal
advice, financing modelling, safety certification, laboratory testing to enable stronger commercial
results
Project Details:
This is a three-year project that will leverage three high-profile events in Canada for Challenge Pitch
sessions in order to connect Canadian Buyers with EU Solution Providers. These events will allow for
broader engagement with other potential Canadian Buyers and Project participants, as well as between
Canadian and EU Solution Providers, seeking to form supply chains, local implementation and formal
business partnerships. The type of solutions sought are not prescribed, with some solutions focusing on
technology, some on a combination of hard-tech and software solutions, and some on service solutions.
Solutions can also be sourced from across the technology readiness level (TRL) spectrum, with any solution
that has moved beyond the research or lab-based phase qualifying.
The Challenge Pitch Process:
The Program is designed around a “Challenge Pitch” approach. Buyer organizations develop low carbon
or circular economy outcome-based statements relating to pain points in their organization. Buyer
organizations will work with the Delphi Group to generate and refine these statements. EU SMEs/Small-
Midcaps will apply to Challenges through the LCBA website. The Cleantech Group also conducts targeted
recruitment of EU SMEs to help further identify solutions to defined Buyer Challenges. Canadian Buyers
work with Delphi and Cleantech Group to select the top solution providers for Challenge Pitches. Selected
EU SMEs pitch their solutions to Buyers during a public event/pitch session, with an opportunity for EU
SMEs and Buyers to discuss solutions and project possibilities further, in private, one-on-one meetings
following the pitch session.
Buyer Commitments and Costs:
There is no upfront financial requirement to participate. However, Canadian Buyers need to be able to
commit to providing sufficient human resources to facilitate:
• Challenge Statement development (~1.5-2 pages per Challenge)
• Review of Expressions of Interest from EU SMEs (~7-10 applications)
• Ranking and approval of solution providers for pitch invitation (Select ~3-4 pitch candidates)
• Attending a 1-hour pitch event for your organization’s Challenge(s)
• One-on-one meetings with solution providers, following the pitch event(s)
Canadian Buyers must also commit to communicating with the EU Commission regarding next steps with
solution providers, should any follow-up arise. Canadian Buyers will only be required to commit funds
should you move to enter into a commercial arrangement with an EU solution provider directly.
Outcomes from Wave 1 – GLOBE Capital Pitch Sessions:
• The first round of LCBA pitches took place during GLOBE Capital 2021 (April 13-15)
• There were 5 challenges put forward by 4 distinct buyers: COSIA (Carbon capture utilization and
storage), Canadian Natural (Passive methane leak detection; Carbon capture, utilization and
storage), FPInnovations (Alternative bioproducts from kraft lignin) and Maple Leaf Foods
(Anaerobic digestion for on-farm bioenergy production)
• 14 companies pitched over the course of the 3-day event and over 90 audience members listened
in and participated in Q&A
• Follow-up conversations are now being pursued with 11 of the 14 SMEs, demonstrating strong
buyer-seller fit enabled through the LCBA Canada project approach
Timeline for Buyers Looking to Participate in Wave 3:
Challenge recruitment and market validation July 30 – October 15
Submission portal open to EU SMEs October 18 – November 26
Buyer shortlisting process December 6 – January 15, 2022
Pitch session preparation – technical prep calls, scheduling, etc.
February 7 – 11, 2022
LCBA Pitch Session Event February 15 – 17, 2022
For More Information – Project Website: https://lcbacanada.com Contact: [email protected];
[email protected]