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.
In Phase 1, which closed in March, we received a number of strong applications. Team members represented 20 different countries from around the world, spanning six continents. Students are studying in business, chemistry, engineering, finance, life sciences, mathematics, policy, social sciences, sustainability and much more. There was disciplinary, geographic, and economic diversity represented within many team compositions. Their applications were reviewed by an international panel of industry experts.
The CDR Mission Innovation is a first-of-its-kind global coalition of governments dedicated to facilitating international cooperations for research, analysis, and demonstration of CO2 removals. This year’s competition, supported by Lawson Climate Institute, welcomes projects that advance climate solutions under the themes of CDR Technology, Carbon Management Policy and Regulatory, Carbon Management Finance and Markets, and Carbon Management Community Engagement and Social.
Teams of university and college students from around the world interested in proposing solutions that will help to advance this important clean technology have applied for the competition. Finalist teams will receive mentorship, build their networks, gain international recognition, and will be supported to pitch their idea at the Mission Innovation 11th Ministerial, 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.
Congratulations to the 19 teams advancing to Phase 2. Here is a list of the semi-finalist teams:
- Biochar-CNT Arabia
- Biocharizard
- Built for Removal
- CarbonSync
- CDR2 (CDR Squared)
- Clean Energy Lab @ UTSC
- Decarbonators
- EcobagMart
- Elemental Roots Carbon
- EPFL Carbon Team
- Green Minds
- NanoFlux
- Pacific Alkalinity Research Collective (PARC)
- Project CERULEAN
- ReactorU
- Scriptica
- SOAS oCDR Team
- TUM Carbon Removal Initiative e.V.
- Waseda CDR team
We are grateful to this year’s sponsors for their generous support:
- Platinum Sponsors: Academy 32, KACST, and KAPSARC
- Silver Sponsors: 1PointFive and Carbon Engineering
- In-kind Sponsor: Global CCS Institute
To learn more about the Mission and track updates, visit: lci.utoronto.ca/mission-innovation-smart-cdr-competition