B.C. technologies poised to make climate breakthrough, SFU professor says
B.C. could become a world leader in sustainable communities, say experts
According to a professor at Simon Fraser University, B.C. is well poised to become a leader in the emerging low-carbon economy.
Majid Bahrami, a professor in mechatronic systems engineering, is part of the province's growing cohort of clean technology entrepreneurs, researchers and innovation leaders.
"Technology starts from an idea. We apply to the government for funding. We do the research in the lab, and it eventually turns into pilot studies and eventually industry adopts and it becomes a product," he explained.
Bahrami received the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award for his technology that can derive water from the atmosphere using 'waste heat.'
He says B.C. is particularly well-suited for creating water technology.
"Fresh water can be a major, major issue for anything we do, and here in B.C., we have several breakthrough technologies in small companies to larger companies that can have a major impact," he said.
"The water market is more than a $700 billion a year industry. There are lots of opportunities for B.C. clean tech to develop new solutions for a variety of applications from drinking water to industrial modern waste management to water treatments."
Bahrami will be speaking tonight at a public event called, Canada's climate change moonshot: B.C. made solutions & clean tech breakthroughs at UBC Robson Square at 7 p.m. PT.
Listen to the interview with Majid Bahrami on CBC's The Early Edition: