When you read the Tesla funding for its Giga Battery Factory, it is amazing the level of government support that they are getting. SpaceX also just received a contract from NASA for $2.6 billion. Given the DOE use of ZEN graphite at Oak Ridge and the potential for use at both Tesla and SpaceX, one wonders if the Canadian government will step up with more cash for ZEN to develop products from its unique graphite in addition to the IRAP and NSERC support. A likely candidate would be money from the SDTC tech fund

http://www.sdtc.ca/index.php?page=sdtc-profile&hl=en_CA

SDTC is essentially a government funding agency with a mandate to support the development of cleantech industries. ZEN would fit that perfectly if the battery connection is made and the graphite can be upgraded cleanly with out acids or other environmental impacts. SDTC provides an average of $2.5 million per project and has provided more than $5 million for some projects.

Of course the US government would also have no qualms about providing ZEN with cash, either, through various programs if the Albany graphite fit a niche that impacted national security such as uses by Tesla and SpaceX might well do, especially if Chinese battery competition is considered. This seems not that far fetched given the information in the two Oak Ridge presentations about concerns about Chinese and Japanese dominance in battery production.

Kinda makes you wonder the final outcome will be, all good thats for sure.