The Carbon Technology Research Foundation is seeking to identify and then fund research into specific scientific problems which are inhibiting the progress of biotechnological routes to greenhouse gas removals from the atmosphere and oceans.
This is a two-phase call. Firstly we are seeking pitches which define a problem. These should be tightly focused but the solutions to them should benefit the research ecosystem, leading to new paths of academic exploration and commercial growth.
These problems could originate from the academic, philanthropic, or commercial worlds. They may be something mused about long into the night, a regular topic of debate over coffee, or inspired by an offhand comment. Where is the roadblock which is often in the way, generally avoided, but could be answered relatively quickly if someone were to focus on it, rather than the longer journey?
Each problem should be relatively self-contained. We appreciate that there are many large and significant challenges in the carbon removals field. For this call we are targeting the focused and ignored problems which, if solved, could readily build momentum to tackle the broader challenges. Perhaps the challenge requires input from different research disciplines? Perhaps you don’t have the skills available within your organisation, but another research team might?
From the list of challenges submitted, CTRF will select a small number to focus this fund on supporting.
In April 2025, the second phase of the call will begin when teams will be invited to pitch to solve the selected problems. This will be a rapid call, with reduced bureaucracy, and aimed at academic researchers and non-profit researchers only. CTRF is an international funder and both problems and solutions are invited from across the globe.