A Sustainable Built Environment

Canada has a unique opportunity to elevate competitive advantages in the construction and building management sectors, and to use the existing innovation ecosystem to create a thriving market for green building products. The construction industry in Canada is one of the most important economic sectors, generating $141 billion in GDP in 2020. This sector also generates one-third of total solid waste in Canada (more than 4 million tonnes of waste per year), and a staggering 39% of total global carbon emissions.

As a critically important innovation space, there is an urgent need to engage companies and investors operating in these sectors, bringing together a highly focused innovation cluster. Through a market-driven approach to current research and technology innovation efforts, we can help to speed up technology commercialization and deployment. 

Key Focus Areas

In response to industry needs, we are looking for emerging ventures with solutions in five areas:

High Efficiency Zero-Carbon

Heating, Cooling, and Ventilation Systems

Construction Systems

That Minimise Embodied Carbon, Maximise Constructability, and Minimise Heat Transfer In and Out of the Building

Low Embodied Carbon, Low Energy Use

Affordable Housing Technologies

Water Conservation Technologies

Building Management Systems

Accelerating Built Environment Innovation

Foresight has launched buildNEXT, a sector-specific, ecosystem-based accelerator to drive development and scaling of Canadian ventures in the built environment. buildNEXT builds on the successful waterNEXT, bioNEXT, and carbonNEXT initiatives to advance a sustainable economy and built environment innovation in Canada.

buildNEXT Activities

Industry-Driven

Innovation Challenges that focus innovators on the needs of industry and accelerate cleantech adoption

Training & Mentorship

that's sector-specific for ventures that meet determined challenges and innovation gaps

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Global Market Connections

to introduce Canadian innovators to international customers and networks

Events & Capital

planning to connect innovators with industry and investors

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Research & Marketing

campaigns to build knowledge and accelerate Canada’s profile globally

Kanaka Bar Challenge

The village of Lytton, BC and surrounding areas were destroyed by wildfires in June 2021. The Kanaka Bar Indian Band is leading a project that is taking an innovative approach to rebuilding.

The Kanaka Bar Resilient Housing Solutions project is a community-led and community-driven initiative. The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) is leading a collaborative team with participants from Okanagan College, Foresight Canada, and Seko Construction to create foundational options for rebuilding in the Lytton region.

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Become a buildNEXT Partner

Foresight is securing industry partners to help guide the bottom-up development of this cluster. Initial work includes:

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Business Development

Identification, support and training for 24 ventures in the build environment space, creating new jobs, new exports, and new companies.

Ecosystem Capacity Building

Working with industry partners to identify the specific challenges and opportunities facing the construction, real estate, and building management industries, communities that rely on them, and the potential clean technology solutions, then designing programming or initiatives that will enhance the competitiveness and help the sector grow sustainably.

Related Posts

Looking for more ideas or inspiration? Check out some similar posts from the Foresight blog.

Community of Innovators

Do you have a passion for cleantech and ideas about greening our economy? Foresight’s Community of Innovators is a dedicated Slack channel for Canadians who are actively involved in cleantech and sustainability.

Join our Community of Innovators

Become A Partner

Discover how collaborating with Foresight can help you connect with cleantech opportunities and achieve your goals.

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