Ottawa-based Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), the largest single funder of clean technology in Canada, announced Wednesday that its $550-million SD Tech Fund is open for statements of interest for its 14th round of funding.

"We want to hear from clean technology developers across Canada about the technology solutions they bring to environmental issues," said Vicky J. Sharpe, president and CEO of SDTC, in a statement. "By providing entrepreneurs with early-stage funding when it is most needed, SDTC helps propel innovative clean technologies to commercialization thereby building tomorrow's industry leaders while tackling our environmental challenges."

SDTC said it is seeking applications for technology innovations in all areas of sustainable development that deliver clean water, clean soil, clean air, and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. In particular, the organization said it sees tremendous growth potential for technologies addressing issues related to clean water and clean soil.

Water purification, conservation, waste and storm water treatment, in addition to soil decontamination and soil quality improvement solutions, are also areas in which SDTC is seeking to fund projects.

"Water and soil solutions are still at the nascent stage in Canada. Developing new technologies to address the growing environmental challenges facing the industrial, resource extraction and municipal sectors represents an enormous economic opportunity for innovative companies to capitalize on," said Ms. Sharpe.

To date, the SDTC has allocated $342 million to 144 clean technology projects in Canada. The organization said an additional $800 million has also been leveraged from project consortia members, for a total portfolio value of $1.14 billion.

SDTC is a not-for-profit corporation created by the federal government to finance and support late-stage development and pre-commercial demonstration of clean technologies.

The corporation said it will receive statements of interest until Oct. 22, 2008.