Smart CDR Competition
University of Toronto’s Lawson Climate Institute is pleased to support the SMART-CDR Competition 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 will be 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).
The CDR Mission Initiative is a first-of-its-kind global coalition of governments dedicated to facilitating international cooperations for research, analysis, and demonstration of CO2 removals.
Learn more about the CDR Mission: https://mission-innovation.net/missions/carbon-dioxide-removal/smart-cdr-competition/
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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.
Dates and Deadlines
Information is subject to change. Check back for details.
- October 2025: Competition is announced
- December 2025: Competition applications open
- February 2026: Competition application deadline
- October 2026: World Energy Congress
How to Apply
Applications will open in December of 2025. Please check back for details on eligibility and requirements.