Alberta-Finland collaboration to improve water treatment in the petroleum industry
Edmonton – Alberta-based company Fluid Clarification is partnering with Finland’s Sofi Filtration to improve water cleaning in the petroleum sector’s industrial processes. The collaboration starts today and results are expected by July 2015.
Sofi Filtration, a world leader in industrial water cleaning, has developed a revolutionary product capable of cleaning high volumes of process water that filters out the smallest particles. More efficient and cost effective than traditional filtration methods, the technology leaves a small environmental footprint and is available at a lower cost.
“This project is a unique opportunity for our business,” says Arthur Potts, P.Eng., president of Fluid Clarification. “We are working with Sofi Filtration to test and adapt their filter for oil and gas, as well as oil sands applications. If we are successful, we’ll be able to bring an exciting product to new markets.”
Fluid Clarification provides advanced fluid separation technology to industry. Founded in 1992, the company has three offices in Alberta, including its head office in Calgary.
Adapting the existing technology to Alberta’s petroleum industries has strong potential to help companies lower operational costs, reduce disposal volumes and improve productivity.
Fluid Clarification and Sofi Filtration met in Finland last year through a mission led by Alberta Innovates-Technology Futures.
The collaboration is the first project awarded through the new Alberta-Finland Innovation and Commercialization Program. The program aims to enhance commercialization activities between Alberta and Finland. By granting joint funding to Alberta small- and medium-sized enterprises that collaborate with Finnish companies, the program supports projects that promote innovation and commercialization in advanced materials, instrumentation and sensors, health, ICT, and clean technologies.
“We need to partner with technology leaders like Finland,” said Thomas Lukaszuk, Alberta Deputy Premier and Minister of Enterprise and Advanced Education. “Being open to collaboration can bring a solution from one industry to solve a problem in another, and with support from this joint program it can be a win for the environment and a win for our economies.”
The total value of the Fluid Clarification-Sofi Filtration project is $330,000. The Alberta portion is supported by Alberta Innovates-Technology Futures and Fluid Clarification. The remaining funding is being provided by Sofi Filtration and Tekes, Finland’s government-supported innovation funding organization.
The Alberta-Finland Innovation and Commercialization Program is opening its third round of applications. Interested companies are invited to submit Expressions of Interest by March 31, 2014.
About Alberta Innovates-Technology Futures
Part of Alberta’s research and innovation system, Alberta Innovates-Technology Futures is helping build healthy, sustainable businesses in the province. Through a suite of programs and services for entrepreneurs, companies, researchers, post-secondary institutions and investors, Tech Futures provides technical services and funding support to facilitate the commercialization of technologies, to develop new knowledge-based industry clusters and help encourage an entrepreneurial culture in Alberta. Visit us at AlbertaTechFutures.ca.