The BC Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE) has officially rebranded as NorthX Climate Tech, signalling a bold new chapter in its mission to accelerate climate technology development and commercialization across Canada.
Founded in 2021 with support from the Government of British Columbia, the Government of Canada, and Shell Canada, the non-profit innovation hub has funded 65 emissions-cutting projects and helped create over 800 jobs. Now, the organization says it’s time to broaden its focus—and its name.
“Breakthroughs don’t always fit neatly into categories,” said Sarah Goodman, President and CEO of NorthX Climate Tech. “And bold ideas often stall because no one wants to go first—or stay to help them scale. We’re here to change that.”
The shift reflects a more expansive focus on what Goodman calls “climate hard tech”—technologies rooted in infrastructure, chemistry, and industrial systems. This includes next-generation batteries, clean fuels, carbon removal, and large-scale electrification. The goal: back solutions early, support them through scale, and bring more real-world climate innovations to market.
“We invest in what gets built,” Goodman emphasized. “Climate hard tech isn’t an app—it’s steel, circuits, and chemistry. It’s infrastructure, machines, and molecules. It’s what powers industries and transforms systems.”
The new name, NorthX, is designed to reflect both the organization’s Canadian roots and its mission-driven inflection point. “North is a direction. A signal to lead,” Goodman explained. “X is the inflection point—where potential meets opportunity, where innovation turns into industry.”
In tandem with the rebrand, NorthX is also evolving its investment model. In addition to traditional non-dilutive funding, the organization now offers repayable, non-dilutive investments aimed at filling critical capital gaps. It also plans to increase follow-on investments to support ventures ready to scale.
“This strengthens the companies we support and allows us to recycle capital into future breakthroughs,” said Goodman.
While its roots remain firmly planted in British Columbia, NorthX is setting its sights on national and global impact. “We believe climate tech isn’t just a climate solution—it’s a nation-building opportunity,” Goodman said. “A future where Canada prospers by helping the world decarbonize.”
The rebrand marks a renewed commitment to backing the builders tackling the toughest climate and industrial challenges. “To the entrepreneurs, innovators, industry leaders, investors, and policymakers shaping this future: we’re with you,” Goodman said. “Let’s back the bold. Let’s build what matters. Together.”
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