2019-2020 ANNUAL REPORT

INNOVATING THE FUTURE TO IT IS OUR PARK CLIENTS, PARTNERS AN AMBITIOUS AND STAKEHOLDERS

GOAL ...one that we are on track to attain and one that serves as the central purpose and true promise of our being

l A place, a destination, a home where talent and technology, industry (L-R): Aung Oo, Katherine Albion, Ron Listhaeghe, Rachael Fabbri and invention, dreams and discovery t is my pleasure to share • For the first time in the world-class technology entrepreneurs and new converge to contribute with you our 2019-2020 Research Park history, all incubator in the region. The industries to Sarnia-Lambton. extraordinary creations Annual Report. This is the lab suites at the Park four fundamental strategic Prudent investments in to our world and our an exciting time for the were fully occupied, priorities that will drive the Park facilities will attract IWestern Sarnia-Lambton Research Park’s planning and diverse businesses to the future Research Park as we • 21 tenants successfully activities are as follows: Park while securing financial “graduated” from our l An enabler, continue to expand the sustainability. Research Research Park onto • Pillar of economic growth, principled in all Sarnia-Lambton region’s and commercialization is a technology-driven business commercialization in the fundamental activity of the dealings, positive • Asset management and and economic development field since 2012, and Park along with enhancing in approach, and maximization of value, efforts. • In 2020, we welcomed community involvement. uncompromising 11 new tenants to the • Research and in values The year 2020 was a commercialization focused, The pandemic will re-shape challenging time for all Research Park, including the global economy, and 7 startup companies. and l A catalyst that businesses. We provided the Park will work with • Knowledge centre anticipates needs, unwavering support to our As we prepare for 2021 and our partners to create a Commercialization Centre stronger and more resilient responds to requests, economic recovery, the To become an essential pillar tenants, to assist these Sarnia-Lambton. The Park is in a strong position of regional economic growth, and continually seeks growing organizations internationally recognized for growth, through the to manage the Park facility as means and methods overcome unprecedented and award-winning Western implementation of our new a strategic asset of Sarnia- that can help all those challenges to achieve their Sarnia-Lambton Research strategic plan. The PARK Lambton, to lead regional technology and business Park will continue to be that share in the quest, Plan for Prosperity 2021-2025 innovation as a world-class development ambitions. the proud entity of the reach their own goals will strengthen the Western technology incubator and to The Research Park team is citizens of Sarnia-Lambton Sarnia-Lambton Research operate as the knowledge excited to share some of by rigorously building on l Relentless in the Park’s reputation in the centre in Intelligent Sarnia- our highlights in this report. our successes, and we will pursuit of forms and region and further raise our Lambton are the goals of In 2019 and 2020, we also continue to prosper into the formulas that can help profile locally, nationally and these strategic priorities. celebrated many unique internationally. In alignment future. create economic and successes: with the Park’s vision and Each strategic priority has social good today and three action items to achieve • Our tenants received mission statements, priorities Katherine Albion for tomorrow these goals. The Park will funding totalling more than of the strategic plan enhance Executive Director increase our visibility and $20 million to support local the role of the Research Park Western Sarnia-Lambton collaborate with key partners commercialization projects in the economic development Research Park to invest in and attract and initiatives, of Sarnia-Lambton and as THE HONOURABLE ELIZABETH DOWDESWELL LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF STORY WOODLAND OF SUSTAINABILITY BIOFUELS HARNESSING TECHNOLOGY TO REDUCE FUEL COSTS AND SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT reg Nuttall will The Research Park’s to get the demonstration in almost completely tell you that most key role in Woodland plant up and running. The eliminating GHG emissions, people believe that Biofuels’ success entire ecosystem that exists is making Canada a leader clean technology here in Sarnia and the in the fight against climate Gis desirable, but prohibitively Nuttall is quick to praise the expertise found here have change,” Nuttall has told expensive. Western Sarnia-Lambton made Sarnia the perfect reporters and investors. Research Park for its place for Woodland to He will also tell you that contribution to Woodland’s locate. The Research Park The profound results Woodland Biofuels is proving accomplishments - recently was an essential part of that demonstrated by the them dead wrong. recognized with a deliberation.” demonstration plant will $1.9 million grant from soon enable Woodland’s first Nuttall, CEO of the Natural Resources Canada’s Helping Canada to commercial plant, to be built private company, is using Investments in Forest lead the world in here in Sarnia-Lambton. a demonstration plant Industry Transformation fighting climate established with the assistance program and an additional change Clean, renewable fuel of the Western Sarnia-Lambton (L-R): Rick Williston, Katherine Albion, Her Honour the Honourable Elizabeth (L-R): Alex Ward, Doug Cuthbertson, Kashyap Vyas, Bill Gong, Her Honour $2.8 million investment at the lowest cost on Research Park to validate their Most ethanol currently Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario financed by Canada’s Clean the planet ability to transform biomass produced in Sarnia-Lambton Growth Program. Greg Nuttall’s claim that Cluster is helping to diversify feedstock. As other of the tenants of the into ethanol at a lower cost is blended into gasoline. The A border community Woodland Biofuels is the economy, change the international clean-tech Research Park. It was clear than gasoline, even at current “The level of collaboration at Woodland Biofuels cellulosic producing “clean, renewable ituated on the future of production in companies arrive, Sarnia- in my many conversations oil prices. the Research Park was the ethanol demonstration plant, fuel at the lowest cost on shores of Lake Southwestern Ontario, and Lambton’s influence will that the questions the absolute key to our success,” located at the Research Park, Remarkably, considering the planet” is being proven Huron, the riding of drive sustainability. Central continue to grow nationally community had been forced Nuttall said. “The Research is creating ethanol from that fuel is the largest single to prospective industry Sarnia-Lambton in to this evolving economy is and around the world. to ask itself were being Park made it possible for forestry and agricultural SSouthwestern Ontario is contributor to greenhouse partners, and the Western the Western Sarnia-Lambton met with innovation and our company to ‘navigate residuals and from gas emissions, the Woodland Sarnia-Lambton Research part of a rich agricultural Research Park. Reflections imagination. By utilizing the waters’ in Sarnia by construction and demolition region that enjoys one of Biofuels technology is slashing wood waste. Park is providing what Nuttall I was eager to visit the existing infrastructure, meeting and interacting with the warmest climates in Changing the future these emissions by as much describes as “essential Southwestern Ontario resources available from the suppliers, contractors and Canada. Largely known for as 92%. “The remarkable reductions support in making this For over a decade the as it reflected a very real agricultural surroundings, vendors and – ultimately – its traditional petrochemical accruing from the process, happen.” Research Park has been example of the need for and skilled labourers from industry, the border home to the country’s largest resilience when faced with the college, many of the community has more (L-R): The Honourable , London West MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Science and Sport and to the Minister of Public clean-tech incubator, the transformative change. This whom were part of retraining recently evolved into a centre Services and Procurement and Accessibility, Katherine Albion, Greg Nuttall Commercialization Centre. area once had the highest programs, the area has for bio-industrial research One notable company standard of living in the begun to reinvent itself. and the development participating in the incubator country, due to its border of newer eco-friendly The story of Sarnia-Lambton is Origin Materials, a US location and a history of technologies. is important for all Ontarians biochemical startup that was agricultural and industrial – it shows us what can be Accelerating growth attracted to Sarnia-Lambton power but its recent story achieved when we reimagine after scouting other locations was one of economic decline Thanks to its position at a future with people at around the world. Instead of and environmental challenge. the heart of decision the centre of the Great using petroleum, the startup Lakes corridor, Sarnia- Sarnia-Lambton had making. Though economic uses plant-based materials opportunity appeared Lambton has outstanding that are easily accessible questions about its future: access to major markets Where can we find hope to take priority over in the area like wood chips, environmental stewardship in Canada and the United corn stalks, and wheat and promise? How can we States. In the early 2000s, balance economic growth and social cohesion, it is straw – common byproducts apparent that the community the region established of the nearby agriculture with environmental health? the Sarnia-Lambton How can we cope with has embraced the concept industry. Thanks to newly- of sustainability, listening to Biohybrid Chemistry formed alliances with the change? Cluster in partnership with all sectors of the community, world’s two largest bottled During my visit to the region, Bioindustrial Innovation applying lessons from the water companies—Nestle I was invited to visit the Canada, Western University, past, with the objective of and Danone—they have Western Sarnia-Lambton Lambton College, and creating a resilient future developed and launched Research Park. I was struck local industry to accelerate for all. The story is a work a bio-based plastic bottle by the collaborative spirit growth for new enterprises in progress and one worth made from 100 percent and forward-thinking watching in the coming years. in the sector. Today the sustainable and renewable

Courtesy of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario BIC BIOINDUSTRIAL innovation canada INC. ACCELERATING TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT, PROMOTING COMMERCIALIZATION LAMSARNEW TO THE RESEARCH PARK IN 2020, LAMSAR INC. ALREADY FEELS RIGHT AND ENABLING BROADER PRODUCT ADOPTION AT HOME

BIC was the primary investor, ne of the company, with offices in professional staff, LamSar is involved with IEC for staff for example, in Forward fastest-growing Michigan and the Emirates. discovered some of the training. Water Technologies, and companies in the most competitively-priced A need for Taking advantage of was an early investor in region, LamSar office space in the entire OInc. came to the Western professional space region and a chance to opportunities at the Woodland Biofuels – two drew LamSar to the Research Park companies that currently Sarnia-Lambton Research share a working environment Research Park have labs and pilot plants Park only in the past year, with industry leaders in the Goertz says that LamSar located at the Western but is already proclaiming One of the benefits of Sarnia-Lambton region. believes in taking advantage Sarnia-Lambton Research the benefits. of opportunities, and he LamSar’s continuing As the knowledge centre Park. has found that in the ideal LamSar is a general and expansion was the awarding of Sarnia-Lambton, an location, and the well- mechanical contractor of a large project by advanced cluster of Creating jobs, organized, professional specializing in custom NOVA Chemicals – a long- companies are located at the diversifying the atmosphere of the Research shop fabrication of piping standing client. The new Research Park. In addition to economy and Park. and steel in support of contract created a need for Nova, they found Enbridge supporting clean professional floor-space for a multitude of projects – a client – and Worley – an “It sets the right tone for an technology drafting and engineering. in Sarnia-Lambton throughout the Sarnia- engineering firm with which expanding company,” Goertz Lambton petrochemical and LamSar found that, and LamSar is collaborating. feels, as LamSar continues Since 2008, BIC has been refining complex and the more, at the Western Sarnia- IEC Partnership (Industrial its work and plans future working with the Western hybrid chemistry cluster. Lambton Research Park. Educational Co-operative) projects. Sarnia-Lambton Research In addition to attractive recently became a tenant in Park to accelerate the Incorporated in 1979, meeting and office space the Research Park. LamSar development and to advance LamSar prides itself on the and knowledgeable, the commercialization company’s ability to seek of bioindustrial-based out and take advantage of products. Both partners are opportunities. The client- (L-R): The Honourable Kate Young, London West MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic focused on creating and driven company emphasizes Development and Official Languages (FedDev Ontario), Katherine Albion, Michael Faba, Sajib Barua, the fostering a knowledgeable the requirement to be Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and diversified cluster of reactive to customers’ needs. industrial, agricultural and “We have full confidence in ince 2008, when BIC Originally established as a Five years earlier, in 2015, BIC academic partners amidst any task assigned to us, says was first established Centre of Excellence for the had expanded its accelerator one of Canada’s primary LamSar’s Randy Goertzs. “No as a not-for-profit emerging bioindustrial sector, capability with the launch petrochemical refining task is too large or too small. business and BIC has grown to support the of COMM SCI – the Centre industry clusters and the We do it all.” Stechnology accelerator, emerging hybrid chemistry for Commercialization Southern Ontario agricultural the accelerator has been clusters in Sarnia-Lambton of Sustainable Chemistry heartland. That can-do attitude has a strategic partner of the and Eastern Ontario to Innovation. led to rapid growth and Western Sarnia-Lambton foster regional economic “There is not a better expansion for LamSar. Research Park. While the development, jobs and Through OBIN, of which place to be…” the Research Park is a key An international Research Park has provided access to global markets. “We promote the Western component, BIC is investing company with a the “bricks and mortar” Sarnia-Lambton Research The Ontario in some 150 early-stage, growing client list essentials of laboratory and Park always and everywhere,” office space, pilot plant Bioindustrial innovative clean technology proclaims BIC Executive LamSar’s elite team of hosting and an opportunity Innovation Network small and medium-sized Director, Sandy Marshall. managers and designers to meet and collaborate with (OBIN) companies (SMEs), enabling “There is not a better place to are spread over multiple potential partners and clients them to scale-up, grow and In February of 2020, BIC be if you need labs and pilot workplaces. Head office in throughout Sarnia-Lambton, develop. In the process, BIC received a $15 million space, and professional staff Corunna features ten acres BIC has offered investment, has created and maintained investment from FedDev support. We are constantly of paved surface for module advice, and critical services. almost 700 jobs, filed for Ontario. These funds were multiple patents, leveraged telling early-stage companies fabrication and pre-assembly. used to create the Ontario $142 million from third-party to locate here. We have great An adjacent rail spur allows Bioindustrial Innovation investors and developed assets at the Research Park shipment to anywhere in Network (OBIN). sixty-seven highly-trained at incredible value.” the world. LamSar recently personnel. became an international (L-R): Dave Hill, Randy Goertz Lambton Manufacturing Innovation Centre

FORWARD LAMBTON MANUFACTURING WAT ER TECHNOLOGIES INNOVATION CENTRE A COMPANY IN THE VANGUARD OF THE CELEBRATING LAMBTON COLLEGE’S KEY RESEARCH AND INNOVATION ROLE 21ST CENTURY SOCIALLY-CONSCIOUS ECONOMY WITHIN THE WESTERN SARNIA-LAMBTON RESEARCH PARK

ew stories at the For the rest of a world far and good water stewardship, to draw contaminated water wo decades ago, a helped it to diversify, and LMIC offers innovative is underway with a company Western Sarnia- less richly-endowed with and in the regulatory through a membrane, leaving revolutionary and has provided the highly services focused on 3D in , and LMIC is Lambton Research fresh water than Canada, the atmosphere involving behind the contaminants. progressive new role specific training that industry design, 3D printing and 3D providing assistance to Park are as inspiring promise and the potential is both. Respecting our water The low energy (and was crafted for the requires. It has also created measurement. Focused on other Lambton College Tprovince’s college system. local jobs. Lambton College product, process and service research centres which are Fas the scientific and even greater. resources is important. consequently, low cost) conservationist advances “Southern Ontario,” process was chemistry- Realizing the immense students have been given the development through partner working with Suncor Energy demonstrated by Forward The Research Park Honeyman says, “and induced, rather than applying benefit to communities, the opportunity to work closely collaboration, LMIC worked and Western University on Water Technologies. is helping Sarnia to especially Sarnia, is one of physical pressure. government began to fund with partners on “real world” with more than twenty antibody experiments. become a leader in the world’s most productive applied research and to focus applied research. partners in their labs at the Other innovations include Simply put, Forward Water clean water regions in the research of Forward Water became on practical teaching. Research Park last year. a device for Topspin is using a proprietary technology clean water technology.” independent in order to The Lambton technology known advance the process to the Lambton College was quick Manufacturing Innovative Technologies to reduce the as “forward osmosis” to Forward Water Technologies The technology of demonstrable engineering to embrace this new role. Innovation Centre manufacturing to severity and frequency of transform industrial CEO Howie Honeyman says forward osmosis stage, at which point the The college reached out (LMIC) solve practical concussions, and a prototype wastewater into clean water. that we are living in exciting Western Sarnia-Lambton to companies, hospitals problems allowing long-haul truckers Located within the Research scientific times, and that Some ten years ago, Queen’s Research Park became an and other key institutions to convert waste heat from Park, LMIC represents one LMIC has worked with For industry, the Forward more lie ahead. Canada has University research professor integral component. within the Sarnia-Lambton diesel engines to power Water technology promises enrolled in the fight against Philip Jessop, working community, with increasing of the most important Bluewater Health, 3D printing production. to eliminate the costly and climate change, and “the with GreenCentre Canada, Forward Water and success. As community evolutions of the partnership needed PPE components, environmentally harmful winds of change are blowing,” discovered the forward the Resource Park collaboration proliferated, between Lambton College and manufacturing hand methods currently employed he says, in the socially critical osmosis process. He was able the number of projects grew. and the Research Park. sanitizer. A vaccine project to dispose of wastewater. areas of environmentalism “We love the Research Park,” CEO Honeyman says. The College began seeking He cites economics – the increased capacity. It did so competitively low costs of at a time when the Western lab and engineering space, Sarnia-Lambton Research versus both Toronto and the Park was also expanding its local community. He also resources. praises the Research Park, their partners Bioindustrial Lambton College and Innovation Canada and the Research Park began Lambton College for, among working together, attracting other things, their expertise small and medium-sized on grant applications and enterprises (SMEs) that new and creative fundraising needed research and methods. development work (R&D) completed but were not Most particularly, Honeyman large enough to do on their cited the Research Park’s own. role in providing it a base from which to use the pilot As the Western Research plant to both meet potential Parks began to receive industrial clients for the international recognitions, clean water technology, and Lambton College’s reputation to demonstrate how the in research and innovation Forward Water process grew with it: today, Lambton can solve a problem for College is the only college industry while being socially in Canada which has been responsible and conserving ranked among the top three water. research colleges nationally for the past four years. The next stage for Forward Water is industrial contracts R&D conducted by Lambton leading to a full commercial College within the Research plant. Park has substantially Sajib Barua benefitted the community, Dariel Gomez WESTERN SARNIA-LAMBTON RESEARCH PARK ENERGYUPGRADES PERFORMANCE WESTERN SARNIA-LAMBTON RESEARCH PARK’S AGGRESSIVE PURSUIT OF ENERGY UPGRADES

r. Aung Oo has spent Investing in energy 2019-2020 a lifetime studying efficiency the strategic use of energy. As a result, investments D were made in five different Dr. Oo is the Director of projects to increase energy $ Technology and Facilities efficiency. Management at the Research 132,000,000 Park. His advanced program These included the ESTIMATED CONTRIBUTION TO THE of energy conservation has installation of variable made the Research Park frequency drives on the SARNIA-LAMBTON COMMUNITY one of the lowest energy- campus’ HVAC system. A consuming complexes in the program of automation region. His success has given upgrades affecting energy the Park a much smaller usage was conducted in all environmental footprint. five buildings of the Research Park, and a switch was made For our tenant partners, to LED exterior lighting. New 51 this has translated into interior LED lighting came NUMBER OF TRANSFORMING professional office, meeting with dimmers and controllers, and laboratory space that and additional improvements ENTITIES carries one of the most were made to the chiller competitive leasing costs in system and cooling tower. Ontario. The Research Park’s energy A mechanical engineer with upgrades resulted in energy a Master’s degree in energy costs reduced by half. technology and a doctorate 32 in heat transfer, Dr. Oo The Combined Heat and COMMERCIALIZATION CENTRE TENANTS came to the Research Park Power Project (CHP) in 2008 and immediately The CHP is a 400 kW natural began finding ways to gas engine with a heat lower operating costs. With recovery system. Installed successful strategic energy in 2018, the CHP allows the studies for Ontario Power Research Park to generate Generation and CF Industries, electricity for internal use. he set a target of achieving 10 The recovery heat from the INTERNATIONAL TENANTS the lowest per-square- CHP is used to keep the foot energy cost of any Park’s buildings warm. The commercial or institutional Park is currently generating user in Ontario. as much as 75% of the Following an initial spate of required electricity demand, energy-cutting measures that and the recovered heat produced significant savings, meets an estimated 60% of the annual requirement. 13 the Western Sarnia-Lambton NEW ENTITIES TO SARNIA-LAMBTON Research Park conducted As technological innovations a thorough and intensive arise, the search for new energy assessment in 2015. energy savings continues. 21 Aung Oo GRADUATES SINCE 2012 WESTERN SARNIA-LAMBTON RESEARCH PARK

TEAM

Katherine Albion Ron Listhaeghe Executive Director Facilities Services Manager

Aung Oo Rachael Fabbri Director, Technology and Administrative Coordinator Facilities Management

BOARD OF Directors

Mike Bradley Miriam Capretz (Chair) Associate Dean, Research of Mayor of the City of Sarnia Western Engineering, Western University Judy Morris (Vice Chair) Alison Ewart President and CEO of Lambton Vice-President, Programs, College MITACS

Bill Weber Ron Van Horne Warden of Lambton County (Advisor) Chief Administrative Officer, Kevin Marriott Lambton County Deputy Warden of Lambton County Larry Palarchio (Advisor) Tom Strifler General Manager, Finance, Former Executive Director of Facilities and Court Services, the Western Sarnia-Lambton Lambton County Research Park Stephen Thompson Lisa Cechetto (Advisor) Executive Director of CEO, Sarnia-Lambton Economic WORLDiscoveries®, Partnership Western University

1086 Modeland Road, Sarnia, Ontario, Canada N7S 6L2 sarnialambtonresearchpark.ca • 519-383-8303