Carbon Fibre Grand Challenge (CFGC): Phase III

Who can apply

This program is open to all categories of lead applicant, providing they are legally able to execute the Investment Agreement.

Participation in the Carbon Fiber Grand Challenge Phase III is not dependent on having applied to or been awarded funding in any previous Phase.

Projects can originate from anywhere globally, but Applicants must demonstrate that benefits will accrue to Alberta.

Collaboration between multiple organizations with complementary expertise across the carbon fibre value chain is strongly encouraged. Collaboration can often represent a strong value proposition by demonstrating opportunities for leveraging knowledge, technology validation, and sharing of results.

The maximum project length for projects funded under this Call is three (3) years from project commencement. Projects could commence as early as October 2023 and must be completed by September 2026.

Projects or portions thereof that have received Alberta Innovates funding are not eligible to receive further Alberta Innovates funding for the same development. However, applicants may request support for a new phase of development that builds on and sufficiently advances a previously funded project.

The Carbon Fibre Grand Challenge Phase III is open to technology developers, industry (including small, medium and large size enterprises), industry associations, research and development (R&D) organizations, post-secondary institutions, not-for-profit organizations, and government research labs.

Applicants are not required to be based in Alberta but must demonstrate a clear value proposition for Alberta.

Applicant teams must meet the following requirements:

• Team qualification requirements:

1. Demonstrated ability to modify bitumen-based feeds
2. Demonstrated ability to prepare carbon fibre (> 10 grams per day)
3. Demonstrated ability to evaluate carbon fibre end use application

• General Requirements

1. Canadian IP ownership or guaranteed ability to license to Canadian entities
2. Spinoff companies are not required
3. Teams must supply at least 25% of all funding (cash/in-kind).

• Proposal Requirements

1. Have a proposed carbon fibre manufacturing process.
2. Preliminary energy requirements for the manufacturing process.
3. Potential end uses identified.

Applicants will address the above requirements in their application.

In addition, to qualify for funding, the Applicant must:

1. Exist as a corporate person, with up-to-date corporate filings;
2. Be authorized to undertake the proposed project, and execute a grant with Alberta Innovates on our

standard terms; and

1. Not otherwise be prohibited from receiving Alberta Innovates funding, for instance due to a past

bad debt or otherwise not be in good financial standing with Alberta Innovates or its subsidiaries, InnoTech Alberta and C-FER Technologies.

Please note: For Applicants that are not post-secondary institutions, Alberta Innovates may perform corporate, bankruptcy and litigation searches, and conduct other forms of due diligence on the Applicant company and its principals.

For International Applicants Carbon Fibre may be a controlled material governed by the Applicant country’s national export control laws. Should the Applicant be awarded funding in the Carbon Fibre Grand Challenge – Phase III, as part of Alberta Innovates’ reporting requirements, the Applicant will be required to report, in a confidential manner, technical details regarding the testing methods and manufacturing processes related to the carbon fibre developed in the Applicant’s project. The Applicant may also be asked to provide a sample of the carbon fibre manufactured in the project to Alberta Innovates. Applicants should ensure that they are familiar with their national export control regulations related to carbon fibre materials and are able to comply with Alberta Innovates’ reporting obligations in the event that success in the Phase III project triggers export control regulations and associated licensing requirements within their jurisdiction. Export control regulations and/or failure to obtain an export clearance (to the extent required) do not absolve the Applicant from the responsibility of reporting on technical details in a confidential manner and providing a sample to Alberta Innovates (and the Alberta Government who is Alberta Innovates’ sole shareholder). If an Applicant is unable to ensure that the reporting obligations can be fulfilled under their national export control regulations, then an application should not be submitted to the Carbon Fibre Grand Challenge – Phase III.

To qualify for funding, all Projects must:

1. Align with the objectives of the Carbon Fibre Grand Challenge Phase III;
2. Be structured with well-defined project objectives, milestones, deliverables, and timelines to meet

the following Phase III outcomes:

1. Continuous & repeatable carbon fibre manufacture of >1 kg per week with consistent

performance properties over a period of time that allows for the understanding of the environmental impacts and waste streams associated with the manufacturing process.

1. A minimum tensile strength >1,720 MPa and modulus >172 GPa or other strength/modulus

combination that meets commercial needs and can be demonstrated through end user performance requirements.

1. Building small-scale prototypes of end products (e.g. test parts) that include bitumen

derived carbon fibre.

1. Estimate of lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions and other socio/environmental impacts of

the carbon fibre and their products;

1. Projected commercial cost of carbon fibre <US$9 per kg or a demonstrated carbon fibre

cost-performance relationship that is at least 50% less expensive than incumbent competitors.

1. Line-of-sight to scale the carbon fibre manufacturing process to >2000 tonnes per year.
2. Demonstrated market potential of products incorporating carbon fibre, utilizing >10,000

tonnes per year of bitumen derived feed use by 2030. viii. Potential of mass manufacture of identified end use products(s) in (iii), concepts for their re- use and end-of-life disposition.

1. Be completed by September 30, 2026.
2. Include as a work task, at the end of the project, the preparation of a commercialization plan or

technology transfer plan that outlines how the technology developed in Phase III will be commercialized for the benefit of Alberta.

1. Any project that does not involve the production of carbon fibre from an Alberta bitumen derived

feed will be immediately disqualified and not reviewed.

Applicants are required to provide at least 25% of total project funding. Applicant funding may be in

the form of cash or in-kind. Cash is preferred and in-kind is also accepted.

Feedstock Samples Feedstock(s) used in Projects funded by the Carbon Fibre Grand Challenge Phase III must be derived from Alberta oilsands bitumen. No exceptions will be made.