Metro Vancouver's Sustainability Innovation Fund (SIF) supports projects led by Metro Vancouver staff across the Regional District (MVRD), Liquid Waste (GVS&DD), and Water (GVWD) functions. These projects advance sustainability, climate resilience, and continuous improvement through innovative approaches to service delivery, resource recovery, waste management, energy efficiency, and much more.
Established in 2004, the SIF program has become a cornerstone of Metro Vancouver's efforts to pilot new technologies, validate proof-of-concept studies, and accelerate climate adaptation and resilience. Since 2015, over 100 projects have been funded wholly or in-part by the SIF program and have been undertaken in coordination with a wide range of project partners.
Project focus areas
The SIF program is designed to support initiatives that:
- Demonstrate innovative approaches that are less proven or carry higher risk than typically approved through the regular budget process
- Enable continuous improvement that would not otherwise be feasible due to funding or resource constraints
- Bridge the gap between research pilots and operational deployment, helping de-risk technologies and validate their potential
Application process
The SIF program is open exclusively to Metro Vancouver staff. Members of the public, NGOs, and external organizations are not eligible to apply directly. However, many staff-led projects involve external partners such as academic institutions, member jurisdictions, non-profit organizations, crown corporations, and other public entities/orders of government.
Each year, Metro Vancouver staff submit proposals for funding through an internal application process. These proposals are then reviewed and approved by the appropriate Committee and Board.
Funded projects which are in varying stages of completion are listed below. For more information, contact SIF@metrovancouver.org.