Lawson Climate Institute (LCI) at the University of Toronto is pleased to support the SMART-CDR Competition, a Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) Mission Initiative, under the Mission Innovation banner.
On Wednesday, October 29, Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Canada, announced the launch of the Mission Innovation SMART-CDR Competition, supported by Lawson Climate Institute. The Student Minds Advancing Research and Technologies for Carbon Dioxide Removal (SMART-CDR) Competition taps into the creative power of university students globally to provide innovative, novel approach, small-scale solutions including technology, policy, finance, monitoring and reporting, or community engagement models around carbon dioxide removal (CDR).
Teams of university and college students from around the world interested in proposing solutions that will help to advance this important clean technology can apply for the competition in December 2025. Applications will close in February 2026. Finalist teams will receive mentorship, build their networks, gain international recognition, and will be supported to pitch their idea at the World Energy Congress in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in October 2026 where they will compete to win cash prizes. All travel stipends for invited students and cash prizes will be coordinated by the competition’s generous sponsors (information to be announced). For more information on last year’s competition, or to contact CDR Mission directly, please visit their website.
“University of Toronto researchers are tackling the climate crisis through deep expertise, bold ideas, and a drive to turn solutions into action,” said Shatha Qaqish-Clavering, Interim Executive Director of LCI. “We are pleased to extend our climate impact on a global scale through the Mission Innovation Smart-CDR Competition, as we unite students from around the world to shape a more sustainable future.”
More information will be released through the Lawson Climate Institute leading up to applications opening.
Check back for details: lci.utoronto.ca.
Learn more about the CDR Mission: mission-innovation.net