Business View Magazine | Volume 9, Issue 3

57 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 3 O ntario’s clean technology sector needs a unified voice – to promote our good work, continue to attract top talent, and secure support to grow leading companies. Our sector also needs a seat at decision-making tables. It’s time for Canada’s largest and most industrialized province to champion the clean technology sector. Formed by experienced clean technology leaders in January 2019, the Ontario Clean Technology Industry Association (OCTIA), is that voice and champion for the very wide diversity that is the cleantech sector in Ontario. OCTIA’s mandate has several pillars: To strengthen, foster, and promote Ontario’s cleantech community. To build partnerships and networks to generate quality business opportunities. To encourage industry and government leaders to act in support of Ontario’s cleantech sector. Collectively, OCTIA members are dedicated to building support for this high-potential, globally competitive sector – for the benefit of the environment and the future economy of Ontario and Canada. OCTIA’s biggest supporters are its Founding and Evergreen Members: ARC Financial, Char Technologies, CleanTech North, Clear Blue Technologies, Climate Innovation Capital, Enbridge, Flow Ventures, Goodmans LLP, KPM, MaRS, MNP, Morgan Solar, RBC, Silfab Solar, Smarter Alloys and SWTCH. Business View spoke with Maike Althaus, Executive Director of OCTIA, about the ever- evolving cleantech sector and how her association is helping its members make a difference. BVM: Can you share some background on your association? Althaus: “OCTIA was formed out of the need to have an organization that represents the full Ontario Clean Technolog “Cleantech is the future”