Carbon Fibre Grand Challenge (CFGC) Phase 3

Eligibility

Applicants to Phase 3 are not required to have participated in Phases 1 or 2.

Collaboration between multiple organizations with complementary expertise across the carbon fibre value chain is strongly encouraged.

Projects must:

• Align with the objectives of the Carbon Fibre Grand Challenge Phase 3.
• Be structured with well-defined objectives, milestones, deliverables, and timelines to meet the Phase III targeted outcomes.
• Be completed by August 31, 2026.
• Any project that does not involve the production of carbon fibre from an Alberta bitumen derived feed will be immediately disqualified and not reviewed.

Applicant teams must meet the following requirements:

• Team qualification requirements:
  • Demonstrated ability to modify bitumen-based feeds
  • Demonstrated ability to prepare carbon fibre (> 10 grams per day)
  • Demonstrated ability to evaluate carbon fibre end use application
• General requirements:
  • Canadian IP ownership or guaranteed ability to license to Canadian entities
  • Spinoff companies are not required
• Proposal requirements:
  • Have a proposed carbon fibre manufacturing process
  • Preliminary energy requirements for the manufacturing process
  • Potential end uses identified

Summary

NOTE: Applications will open on May 15, 2023.

The Carbon Fibre Grand Challenge (CFGC) aims to produce new carbon fibre products and processes, reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of carbon fibres, and aid in the economic diversification of Alberta. There exists significant potential to increase the value of Alberta bitumen and grow Alberta’s green economy, all while increasing employment and export potential. The CFGC is a $26 million three-phase competition with the objective of accelerating the development of large-scale production pathways for short and continuous carbon fibre from bitumen-derived feedstocks and promoting their use in manufactured products. The CFGC is part of the Bitumen Beyond Combustion (BBC) initiative by Alberta Innovates to further the development of non-combustion products, and their production technologies, derived from bitumen contained in Alberta’s oil sands.

The CFGC Phase 3 program is directed towards funding the development of technologies that can convert feedstocks derived from Alberta’s oil sands into carbon fibre. These feedstocks should be produced, or have the potential to be produced, in large enough quantities to supply a large-scale carbon fibre industry. These feedstocks may include, but are not limited to, asphaltenes and refinery feeds.

Alberta Innovates is working with partners to support Phase 3 of the CFGC. Funding partners will be confirmed with the full Program Guide release in April along with additional funding rules related to stacking and eligible/ineligible costs.

Information Webinar

Alberta innovates hosted an information webinar on May 3, 2023. Click here to view the recording. You can also download the accompanying slide deck.

Submission Process

This is a single-stage competition. The full application, plus approval in the Research Management System (RMS) via a Pre-Award/Application record, must be submitted to the RSO no later than June 21, 2023 at 12:00 pm. 

Please be sure to select 'Submitted for approval' (under Save & Progress) in RMS in good time to allow for approvals from your Department Head and/or ADR prior to the RSO internal deadline. Consult your department and faculty for more information on their approval processes and timelines. 

A Research Funding Application Approvals (RFAA) form is not required as approvals are collected electronically in RMS.

Do not submit to the agency until RSO's approval has been granted in RMS.

Once the institutional signature has been obtained, the Principle Investigator will receive an automated message from RMS to their @ucalgary email address. You can then proceed with submitting your application via the Alberta Innovates SmartSimple portal by June 26, 2023 at 2:00 pm (MT).

Resources

• CFGC Phase 3 Program Guide
• Alberta Innovates Information Webinar Slide Deck
• Alberta Innovates Program Contact: Dr. Paolo Bomben, Senior Manager, Clean Technology Development - Clean Resources (Paolo.Bomben@albertainnovates.ca)

Overhead

N/A

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsotrainee@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.

Co-Funding

To maximize available funding for the Carbon Fibre Grand Challenge (CFGC) Phase3, Alberta Innovates is working with Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) through their Partnership Intake Program. In some cases, there may be an opportunity to share CFGC Phase 3 proposals with ERA for consideration of co-funding. Funding from ERA is subject to Emission Reduction Alberta’s processes and requirements. Applicants will be asked in their application if Alberta Innovates can share their proposal with ERA to evaluate a potential co-funding opportunity.

If an Applicants permits Alberta Innovates to share their application, after application submission, applications will be reviewed to determine if an opportunity for co-funding consideration exists. If an opportunity is identified for co-funding consideration, additional information may be provided to Applicants by ERA at that time.