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 college and university students globally to provide innovative, novel approach, small-scale solutions including technology, policy, finance, monitoring and reporting, or community engagement models around carbon removal.
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.
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).
To read the Official Rules Document, click here.
For more information on last year’s competition, please visit their website.
Teams are encouraged but not mandatory to form multidisciplinary and multinational teams. Team diversity, including disciplines (e.g, university / college concentration/major) and geographic diversity – including representation from low- and middle-income countries – is one of the evaluation criteria. To assist with matchmaking and forming diverse teams, join the appropriate LinkedIn Group below and post your interest or idea:
- Mission Innovation – SMART CDR – CDR Technology: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/16579033/
- Mission Innovation – SMART CDR – Carbon Management Policy and Regulatory: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/16567097/
- Mission Innovation – SMART CDR – Carbon Management Finance and Markets: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/16586023/
- Mission Innovation – SMART CDR – Carbon Management Community Engagement and Social: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/16577033/
Dates and Deadlines
- Friday, December 5, 2025: Competition Launch
- Thursday, February 26, 2026: Phase 1 Submissions Close (23:59 UTC)
- Thursday, April 2, 2026: Phase 1 Winners Announced (anticipated)
- Tuesday, July 7, 2026: Phase 2 Submissions Close (23:59 UTC)
- Monday, August 3, 2026: Phase 2 Winners Announced (anticipated)
- October 12-15, 2026: Phase 3 Final Presentation and Winners Announced (anticipated) at World Energy Congress
Information subject to change.
How to Apply
Applications are now open. If you require support with your application, please contact Samantha Young at samanthak.young@utoronto.ca.
Click here to apply by February 26, 2026.