NineSigma Announces Selection of 55 Promising Solutions to Climate Change and Emissions Management (CCEMC) Corporation Grand Challenge

CLEVELAND, Nov. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, NineSigma, Inc., the leading innovation partner to organizations worldwide, announced that the Climate Change and Emissions Management (CCEMC) Corporation has shortlisted 55 projects for the first round of funding from its international CAD$35 million Grand Challenge: Innovative Carbon Uses. The CCEMC is using NineSigma's expertise to reach technical solution providers from around the world.

"NineSigma has cultivated a global network of diverse scientific experts and extensive experience running Grand Challenges. Through our proven process, we tap the 'global brain' for the most brilliant approaches to address a problem of major global importance, and facilitate their development to create real innovations that change the world," said Andy Zynga, CEO of NineSigma.

The 55 shortlisted projects were selected from submissions received from 334 solution providers worldwide. The Grand Challenge is seeking to create new products and markets based on the utilization and conversion of carbon dioxide.  

A Grand Challenge is a "call to the world" to help solve problems of global magnitude, often associated with a significant monetary award. Executed with NineSigma's finely honed methodology, these challenges reach scientists, inventors, and others not normally in the sponsor's "sphere of contacts," to surface breakthroughs that change the course of history.

The CCEMC is a not-for-profit corporation focused on stimulating transformative change by funding projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within Canada. The goal of its Grand Challenge is to help achieve a net reduction in emissions of 1 megatonne per year as a way to combat climate change.

The CCEMC Grand Challenge, launched in February, sought innovators with potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through conversion of carbon dioxide into valuable carbon-based products. Projects could be at any stage of development from initial proof-of-concept to commercial deployment.

CCEMC Chair Eric Newell said, "We are pleased with the spectrum of approaches proposed, and optimistic about the 55 promising submissions we shortlisted. Through NineSigma's methodical approach to Grand Challenges, we now have valuable new perspectives that we otherwise would not have identified."

Shortlisted solutions involve a broad range of processes, including chemical synthesis, carbonate production, liquid fuels, bacteria bio-fixation, methanol production, solid carbon products, polymer processing, syngas production, fertilizer production, algae bio-fixation and water treatment.

Ultimately, 20 of the 55 semifinalists will receive $500,000 to develop their ideas. The winning projects will be announced on April 15, 2014 at the Zero2014 conference in Edmonton. More detail on the conference will be available at http://www.zero2014.com/.

The second round of the CCEMC Grand Challenge will open for submissions in March 2015 to new entrants and all applicants from the first round. Ultimately, five solution providers will receive grants of up to $3 million each to develop their technologies. The final winning solution will be announced in 2018, with the winner receiving a $10 million grant.

Solution providers can learn more about the Grand Challenge by going to the CCEMC Grand Challenge gallery on NineSights®, NineSigma's open innovation exchange platform. Solution providers can register on NineSights to download all documents related to the Challenge, ask questions, and sign up to receive regular updates.

About NineSigma

NineSigma connects organizations with external innovation resources to accelerate innovation in private, public and social sectors. The company provides open innovation services to organizations worldwide, including Mondelez, Philips, Siemens, and Unilever, to solve immediate challenges, integrate new knowledge, fill product pipelines, and stay ahead of the competition. Named to the 2012 Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private U.S. companies, NineSigma's proprietary process has produced billions of dollars in value for its clients. NineSigma has the largest open global network of solution providers and an extensive database of existing solutions spanning numerous industries and technical disciplines. NineSigma's online innovation community, NineSights®, is the world's first open innovation social media destination, connecting innovators of all sizes with resources and relationships to drive growth. Learn more at www.ninesigma.com and www.ninesights.com. 

About the CCEMC
The CCEMC is an Alberta, Canada based not-for-profit corporation that focuses on stimulating transformative change by funding projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help Alberta adapt to climate change.  Funding for the CCEMC is collected from industry. Since 2007, Alberta facilities that annually produce more than 100,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions are required to reduce their greenhouse gas intensity by 12 per cent relative to a historic baseline. Paying $15 into the Climate Change and Emissions Management Fund for every tonne over the reduction limit is one compliance option. The CCEMC invests the money collected into the discovery, development and deployment of clean technology. More information about the CCEMC is available at www.ccemc.ca.

Media Contact: 
Jackie Lucas, Warner Communications — [email protected], (978) 255-1159

Celia Sollows, CCEMC – [email protected], (780) 239-4150

SOURCE NineSigma