NorthX Climate Tech, formerly known as the BC Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE), is a catalyst for climate action, funding the climate hard tech solutions that transform industries and build lasting prosperity.
Key people at BC CICE.
Key people at BC CICE.
The B.C. Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE), now rebranded as NorthX Climate Tech, is an independent, not-for-profit organization that funds the development, commercialization, and scaling of made-in-B.C. clean energy technologies. Its mission is to accelerate the global transition to a net-zero carbon future by providing non-dilutive funding and repayable investments to promising climate tech ventures, particularly those addressing hard-to-decarbonize sectors. CICE focuses on high-impact technologies such as low carbon hydrogen, renewable natural gas, battery technology and energy storage, carbon management, and bioenergy. By uniting innovators, governments, corporations, academia, Indigenous communities, and investors, it plays a critical role in strengthening British Columbia’s clean energy ecosystem and driving economic growth through climate innovation[1][2][3][4].
Founded in October 2021, CICE was established through commitments from the Government of British Columbia, the Government of Canada, and Shell Canada Ltd. It began with a focus on four key areas: batteries and energy storage, low carbon hydrogen, low carbon fuels, and carbon management. Over time, the organization evolved its investment approach and broadened its focus to back a wider range of climate hard tech innovations. The rebranding to NorthX Climate Tech reflects this evolution, emphasizing a global vision rooted in British Columbia’s strengths. Key leadership includes President and CEO Sarah Goodman, who has emphasized backing diverse and women-led climate tech ventures to unlock Canadian talent and economic potential[1][3][4].
CICE/NorthX rides the global trend of urgent climate action and the transition to net-zero emissions, focusing on technologies that address the most challenging aspects of decarbonization. The timing is critical as governments and industries worldwide increase climate commitments, creating demand for scalable clean energy innovations. By providing early-stage and scale-up funding, CICE fills a capital gap that traditional investors often avoid due to technology risk and long development cycles. Its role as a catalyst accelerates the commercialization of climate technologies, influencing the broader ecosystem by fostering collaboration across sectors and supporting economic growth in British Columbia and Canada’s clean tech industry[1][2][3][4][5].
Looking ahead, NorthX is poised to expand its funding solutions, increasing follow-on investments and repayable funding to strengthen supported companies and recycle capital for future innovations. Trends shaping its journey include growing global climate commitments, technological advances in energy storage and hydrogen, and increasing demand for sustainable fuels. As it scales its impact, NorthX’s influence is likely to grow beyond British Columbia, positioning it as a key player in the global climate tech investment landscape. Its evolution from a grant-focused funder to a more flexible investor reflects a maturing clean tech ecosystem and a strategic approach to bridging the “valley of death” in climate innovation financing[4]. This trajectory underscores its foundational mission: accelerating the world’s transition to a net-zero carbon future by backing the most promising clean energy solutions.
