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Canada’s Premier Cleantech Destination

CLEANTECH COMMONS™: TENANT CRITERIA

What is Cleantech Commons?

Cleantech Commons at Trent University® is a Research and Innovation Park currently under development on the main campus of Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario. Cleantech Commons is a partnership between Trent University and the City of Peterborough.

Sector Focus

The vision for Cleantech Commons is to be Canada’s premier hub for clean, green, low-carbon, and sustainable technology research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and commercialization.

Cleantech Commons will host a cluster of established cleantech companies, growth enterprises, startup ventures, corporate accelerators, and “innovation outposts”, as well as associated value-adding professional service providers, investors, incubators, and accelerators – all focused on:

  • Water technology.
  • Clean technology.
  • Environmental services.
  • Advanced material sciences.
  • Biotechnology.
  • Medical and health products.
  • Agri-food and agri-business.
  • Information & communications technologies.

 

Cleantech Commons will either directly provide or facilitate access for tenants to business support services, research infrastructure, laboratory facilities, and business, social, and lifestyle amenities.

Cleantech Commons is designed for any size company at any stage of development.

(If you don’t see your industry on this list, but are interested in doing business in Peterborough & the Kawarthas region, please contact our friends at Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development to assist you in identifying alternative opportunities in the region. Click here to connect with Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development!)

Tenant Evaluation & Assessment Process

The Cleantech Commons Management Committee will thoroughly assess all applications from companies seeking to take up residency in the research park, ensuring that they meet admission criteria, including the requirement to engage in research and development activities.

In addition to being involved in one of the core sector focus areas, tenants must commit to locating their innovation functions as a significant portion of their overall operations at Cleantech Commons.

Due diligence will ensure that every tenant adheres to these requirements.

Applications from professional services companies that provide value-adding business support and consulting services – in so far as they are considered necessary for supporting the needs of tenants of the research park – will be considered; as will the provision of ancillary amenities that support the overall objectives of Cleantech Commons, provide gathering spaces for the innovation community and support the successful growth of tenants and the attraction of employees.

Cleantech Commons will prioritize applications from companies committed to fostering connections between the business and startup communities and the academic and student communities, including collaborative R&D and the provision of experiential learning opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students.

Cleantech Commons offers opportunities for tenants to either lease office and laboratory space in a state-of-the-art multi-tenant building, or to lease land to erect their own customized facility designed to their own specifications.

All tenants are required to observe the Design and Development Guidelines, and all structures will be subject to approval by the Cleantech Commons Management Committee.

Tenant Criteria

The Management Committee of Cleantech Commons is inviting applications for tenancy from companies whose business products, processes, and models:

  • Focus on clean technology, green industry, and/ or water treatment technologies, such as those that:
    • Eliminate pollutants and toxins in the environment.
    • Contribute to a low-carbon economy or climate change mitigation.
    • Improve green transportation.
    • Enhance resource and energy utilization efficiency or reduce waste.
    • Contribute to agricultural sustainability and innovation, including food production, growth and nutrition enhancement.
    • Develop biomaterials products engineered from partially or fully renewable resources.
  • Work or conduct research in one or more of the following fields:
    • Water technology.
    • Clean technology.
    • Environmental services.
    • Advanced material sciences.
    • Biotechnology.
    • Medical and health products.
    • Agri-food and agri-business.
    • Information & communications technologies.
  • Focus on research, development, and knowledge transfer.
  • Involve the advancement and development of new technology and intellectual property (IP).
  • Have an existing, or commit to creating, a collaborative relationship with Trent University, Fleming College, or other local post-secondary education institutions, leveraging the skills, research, students, facilities or amenities of the institution. Examples may include:
    • Jointly funded research & development projects and technology transfer activities.
    • Partnerships to enhance the business environment dedicated to applied research and technological discovery for the benefit of faculty, staff and students
    • Facilitating the transfer and application of scientific research to the global economy
    • Engaging students in experiential learning opportunities.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to taking advantage of being part of a cluster of similar businesses.
  • Make a potential contribution to the economic development of the Park, a post-secondary educational institution and the community.
  • Include sustainable site design and green building principles, green transportation principles, and low impact design. A tenant’s operations at Cleantech Commons must be environmentally friendly.
  • A tenant’s operations at Cleantech Commons should not be primarily in mass production, although small-scale pilot production or high value-added production in support of product and market development and innovation may be permitted.
  • Consideration will also be given to institutions and organizations which create or expand economic development opportunities and create employment in the private sector. This may include:
    • Organizations that can clearly demonstrate a defined purpose to advance academic institutions and tenants of Cleantech Commons.
    • Offices and related facilities of not-for-profit research or educational institutes, as well as professional, training, research, scientific or engineering associations that advance the interests of post-secondary educational institutions and other Cleantech Commons tenants.

 

Locating your business at Cleantech Commons

Interested in joining the dynamic Cleantech Commons community of passionate and driven cleantech innovators, entrepreneurs and professionals?

Please contact us to learn more. Our executive director will be delighted to discuss the benefits and opportunities associated with locating your venture at Cleantech Commons.

If you don’t see your industry on this list, or don’t feel that your company is a fit for Cleantech Commons, but you are interested in doing business in Peterborough & the Kawarthas region, please contact our friends at Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development to assist you in identifying alternative opportunities in the region. Click here to connect with Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development!