The University of New Brunswick is now accepting applications for the 2016 cohort of its Summer Institute, which will include for the first time a program in clean technology.

The Summer Institute is a three-month accelerator in Fredericton, in which participants pursue entrepreneurial endeavours with a focus on artistry and passion rather than analytics and data.

Through this approach, the Summer Institute hopes to develop products and services that connect with consumers on a personal level, and create a devoted following rather than one-time customers.

The program is led by Dhirendra Shukla, the Dr. J. Herbert Smith ACOA Chair in the university’s engineering department. The application form can be found here.

Read Our Report on the First Summer Institute 

As in previous years, the Summer Institute will offer its Foundry program, a low-risk testing environment where participants are given startup capital to assess the viability of their business models through coaching and classes.

But this year, the Summer Institute is also introducing the new Spark program, which is focused on environmental sustainability through innovation in clean energy, sustainable agriculture, transportation and other fields. Spark hopes to turn dire environmental circumstances into economic opportunities by melding technology and entrepreneurial spirit. Similar to the Foundry program, Spark will provide necessary capital and instruction to participants.

Graduates from the previous Summer Institutes include Wear Your Label, a fashion brand fighting the stigma of mental illness. The award-winning company is now working with the Fashion Zone at the Digital Media Zone at Ryerson University in Toronto.

Applicants do not have to be UNB students – in fact, the Summer Institute last year included Zak Single, an entrepreneur who traveled from the U.K. to develop his cardboard furniture business.

All admitted applicants will be offered a full-time wage, plus living expenses. They will also have access to as much as $2,000 in prototyping costs. There is no set number of openings in the program as the number of positions will depend on the quality of the applications received.

The 2016 cohort will meet at the University of New Brunswick campus from early May to the end of July. Applications are open until March 14 for anyone over 19 years old who exhibits traits of responsibility, ambition, competence and judgment.