Next Generation Manufacturing Canada, the industry-led organization behind Canada’s Advanced Manufacturing Supercluster, has announced over $27 million in funding for winners in its Strategic Supply Challenge.

The competition, which ran last summer, challenged companies to employ advanced manufacturing technologies to build a sustainable, made-in-Canada, cost competitive supply of critical products that can be used in Canada’s fight against COVID-19 and beyond.

One of those selected is Titan Clean Energy Project Corp., out of Craik, Saskatchewan, and partners Panther Industries Inc., of Davidson, BIG-nano from Waterloo, Ontario, K+S Potash Canada of Saskatoon, and Canada Masq from Richmond Hill, Ontario. They are developing a process that will build a 100% Canadian supply of biodegradable fabric for use in PPE and HEPA filters. The project will produce 100% renewable Canadian product, replacing the highly polluting fossil-fuel derived resins that are currently imported from Asia, Europe and the USA. The benefits include reduced air pollution, a lower carbon footprint, and improved and biodegradable N95 masks and HEPA filter products.