Jun 8, 2023

Reading Time: 3 minutes Clean hands should not have to touch dirty devices, and with the average Canadian smartphone user picking up their phone at least every ten minutes , how many times per week, per month, or even per year is a mobile device efficiently disinfected? The harsh reality is that most of us do not disinfect our devices at all. During an era where the fear of contagion has heightened due to a virus sweeping the nations, this is not an issue that should be overlooked; this is an issue that requires a widespread solution. The Government of Canada’s NRC-IRAP funding program has granted $300,000 to Toronto-based company CleanSlate UV to test and produce mobile device disinfection machines. In an effort to combat the spread of bacteria, CleanSlate UV’s innovative sanitizing machines will provide hospitals, businesses, and other highly populated places with a simple and successful method to ensure portable devices are disinfected at the same time as someone washes or sanitizes their hands, thereby putting readily clean devices into clean hands. IRAP Funding Supports CleanSlate UV in Innovative Solutions Did you know that bacteria can survive on a cellphone for up to seven days? Protective measures such as washing your hands, not touching your face, and social distancing from others have been heavily publicized since the COVID-19 pandemic began, but why is it that nobody warns against the dangers of mobile device bacteria? “With infection rates spiking in hot spots, we believe CleanSlate UV offers a unique, safe and effective solution that can support efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 in both healthcare and commercial environments. – Taylor Mann, CEO and cofounder of CleanSlate UV With help from a government funding grant of $300,000 from the National Resource Council of  Canada’s Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) , CleanSlate UV has unveiled a solution that will kill at least 99.979% of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) on mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, barcode scanners, wireless payment machines, and other portable items. The sanitation machine only takes 20 seconds, requires no training, and can disinfect 3-4 portable items at a time. More so, the mobile cleansing machine uses a chemical-free solution that is safe for even the most sensitive touchscreen devices, so that device owners can sanitize their gadgets worry-free. Learn More About NRC-IRAP Funding and COVID-19 Support Programs The government funding comes as part of the Government of Canada’s ongoing COVID-19 response initiatives to help Canadian businesses accelerate the research and development (R&D) of innovative technology-driven projects. The NRC’s IRAP funding program has invested in many projects to assist with R&D projects across Canada to help combat the pandemic. A couple of these include the funding grants for new mask filtration materials , as well as the R&D of new simplified and accessible virus detection tests . IRAP funding offers grants of up to 60-80% of technical labour and subcontractor costs to assist with the research and development of groundbreaking solutions including alternative approaches to products, processes, and/or services. Learn more about the government funding that may be available for your business by visiting our COVID-19 Support Page or by contacting the Mentor Works Team .