What is Canada Cleantech Alliance?
Canada Cleantech Alliance (CCTA) is the national voice for Canada’s entire cleantech ecosystem. It brings together associations, clusters, incubators, accelerators, and companies from coast to coast. Since 2016, CCTA has been on a mission to accelerate Canada’s clean technology sector into a global powerhouse of investment, innovation, and job creation. The goal? Supporting a strong, low-carbon economy that benefits everyone. It’s not just about technology; it’s about building the future of Canada’s clean economy.
Main Benefits and Key Figures
Here’s a quick snapshot of what cleantech means for Canada right now:
- In 2023, clean technology product activities contributed a whopping $40.6 billion to the Canadian economy — that’s 1.3% of the entire GDP.
- These activities supported 224,030 jobs across the country in 2023.
- There are 2,470 pure play cleantech firms operating in Canada, driving innovation and growth.
Collaborative Efforts and Partnerships
CCTA isn’t working alone. It’s powered by a strong board made up of members from Écotech Québec, OCTIA, Evok Innovations, MaRS, Sussex, RXNHUB, NorthX, and Cycle Capital. Plus, it partners with ecosystem players representing sectors, regions, and governments nationwide. This broad coalition helps ensure that cleantech initiatives are well-rounded and impactful across Canada.
Vision and Mission
The vision is clear: turn the global climate crisis into a long-term economic opportunity by making Canada the best place on earth to invest in clean technology. The mission? Opening up new opportunities for Canada’s cleantech innovators. It’s about creating a thriving environment where innovation can flourish and where clean technology can truly take off.
How Canada Cleantech Alliance Works
The Alliance operates through three main pillars:
- Leveraging Knowledge: Rallying the Canadian cleantech ecosystem to create synergies, share knowledge, and develop policy recommendations.
- Reducing Barriers: Advocating for policies that break down obstacles to innovation and cleantech adoption.
- Connecting the Dots: Linking cleantech ventures with buyers and investors to accelerate growth and deployment.
Impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Recent Initiatives and Future Outlook
November was a busy month for CCTA, with lots happening — mostly tied to the federal budget and the challenging economic times. As a proud member of the One Canadian Clean Economy Task Force, CCTA helped develop The North Star Action Plan, which outlines 30 solutions targeting the government’s biggest priorities: selecting strategic projects of national significance, reducing internal trade barriers, advancing Indigenous reconciliation, and realizing a federal climate competitiveness strategy. Some of CCTA’s recommendations made it into Budget 2025, including progress on investment tax credits, SR&ED modernization, trade diversification, and capital mobilization. Sure, there’s more work ahead, but overall, it’s a positive step for cleantech competitiveness and deployment in Canada.
