Canadian cleantech accelerator launches XPRIZE platform
Avatar Innovations and the University of Calgary said August 25 they would join with Elon Musk’s XPRIZE Foundation to launch a “tailor-made accelerator” for technologies and companies interested in vying for the US$100mn carbon removal XPRIZE.
The Avatar Carbon Removal Accelerator will offer teams access to industry customers, partners and investors, workspace and facilities in Avatar’s new Energy Transition Centre, set to open October 1 in downtown Calgary. They will also have the opportunity to collaborate with UCalgary’s researchers in the institution’s labs and testing facilities.
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“The carbon technology industry is going to be the next Silicon Valley and Avatar is building it right here in Calgary,” Avatar CEO Kevin Krausert said. “By partnering with the world’s most prestigious technology competition – XPRIZE – [and] with leading energy firms and academia, Avatar is positioning Canada as a global superpower in emerging carbon and energy transition technologies.”
The carbon removal accelerator is supported by a number of major Canadian energy companies, including Suncor Energy, Enbridge, Shell Canada, Imperial Oil and Cenovus Energy. Each company has committed subject-matter experts to all teams accepted into the accelerator and will provide industry and customer access for these emerging technologies to succeed and reach scale.
“Shell has long recognised that innovation and collaboration go hand in hand,” Shell Canada country chair Susannah Pierce said. “We look forward to learning from and sharing our experiences with those companies working hard on low carbon energy technologies. Working in collaboration with other companies, both big and small, as well as with communities, governments and customers, will help everyone achieve their net zero ambitions.”