Global Research Initiative
in Sustainable Low Carbon Unconventional Resources
Driving Innovation. Fueling results.
For many decades, the University of Calgary (UCalgary) has been a globally leading energy research university with many research and technology outcomes benefitting the petroleum and renewable energy industries. UCalgary’s Global Research Initiative in Sustainable Low Carbon Unconventional Resources (GRI), a $75M Canada First Research Excellence Fund program, is a major energy-focussed solution-centric research and training program motivating active translation of lab-based technology innovations into field-deployable solutions.
Focused on collaborative research, the GRI has created a research hub for discovery, creativity, and innovation in unconventional and renewable energy research. The GRI main research areas are Heavy Oil and Bitumen, Tight Oil and Gas, and Low CO2 Solutions.
About Canada First Research Excellence Fund
The Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) helps competitively selected Canadian post-secondary institutions turn their key strengths into world-leading innovations.
In September 2016, CFREF awarded the University of Calgary, in partnership with the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), $75 million to implement the Global Research Initiative in Sustainable Low Carbon Unconventional Resources (GRI), which aims to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of unconventional resource development and contribute to a climate-neutral energy system.
Global Impact
We are developing solutions for some of the greatest challenges facing the global energy industry and pressing issues confronting the environment.
Fueling a Clean Energy Future
A key ingredient to achieving our goals are the highly qualified personnel (HQP) — the students and postdoctoral scholars — who are the lifeblood of these research projects. Their ideas, enthusiasm and passion drive much of what we do as a research-intensive university. Their energy and tireless pursuit of excellence enables us to deliver on our commitment to take our energy research from great to best, to operate ‘not business as usual’, and to make significant impacts in scholarship, training, industry solutions, and contributions to the community.
Read about the research and the hard-working people behind the Global Research Initiative.
GRI Artwork Book
This publication is an anthology of the creativity and artistic aptitudes of faculty members, students, postdocs and staff at the University of Calgary.
Please join us on this journey to discover the hidden talents of our
University community.