Welcome to this week's Sunday Briefing. In this issue, read about CO₂-enhanced materials you’ll find in Calgary, plus 11 other stories you may have missed. Have a great day. We'll see you again on Wednesday.

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CO₂ enhanced products are coming to a construction site near you

Carbon Upcycling announced today the first delivery in 2024 of 200 tonnes of CO₂-enhanced fly ash to BURNCO Rock Products as part of an initiative to deploy low-carbon concrete in the City of Calgary.

If you, like me, are wondering what the heck fly ash is used for, here’s the shortest answer Google and I could find: fly ash, a byproduct of burning pulverized coal for electricity, is “used as structural fill for road construction and fly ash can be used to make bricks, ceramic tiles, plaster, Portland cement, and ready-mix cement” and a whole lot of other building materials.

The construction industry is a key market for Calgary-based Carbon Upcycling, which provides a decarbonization solution for hard-to-abate industries. Earlier this year, the company was recognized on a global list of the top 100 cleantech companies.

The fly ash BURNCO is receiving is sourced from reclaimed material from a landfill and processed through Carbon Upcycling's proprietary technology which captures CO₂ from flue gas and utilizes it to enhance materials like fly ash to be a more sustainable and efficient alternative for a portion of cement.

"Carbon Upcycling's technology represents a game-changer in the construction industry, offering a viable solution to reduce carbon emissions while producing high-quality, low-carbon concrete," said Apoorv Sinha, co-founder and CEO of Carbon Upcycling Technologies. "By harnessing CO₂ and waste materials, we are not only mitigating environmental impact but also driving innovation in sustainable construction practices."

The partnership between Carbon Upcycling and BURNCO extends beyond this delivery. Over 2,000 tonnes of CO₂-enhanced material have been deployed across Alberta's built environment, including sidewalks, housing foundations, slabs, pathways at Telus Spark, and gutters at the Calgary Zoo.

🤝 Funding, Deals, and Partnerships

• Alberta Innovates and Emissions Reduction Alberta Announce New Hydrogen Funding. $57 million in projects announced at the Canadian Hydrogen Convention. Alberta Innovates

• Northstar Receives Second Government Grant of $100,000 from Alberta Innovates for Engineering Costs of Empower Calgary Facility. Upon completion of detailed engineering design for its planned asphalt shingle reprocessing facility in Calgary, Northstar Clean Technologies Inc. has received the second instalment of $100,000 in grant funding. Northstar Clean Technologies

📰 Need To Know

• TalentED YYC creates hundreds of WIL opportunities in first pilot year. Since its official launch in April 2023, the TalentED YYC project has facilitated over 890 work integrated learning (WIL) opportunities for students and supported over 160 local employers. Calgary Economic Development

• Tech hub watch: Genesis loses its CEO, Edmonton Unlimited welcomes a new one. Edmonton Unlimited has announced the appointment of Tom Viinikka as its new CEO. Betakit

• Innovators of the Week: ZayZoon Aims to Reduce Financial Stress with Earned Wage Access. Co-founded by Darcy Tuer, Tate Hackert and Jamie Ha, the Calgary-based fintech startup partners with small and medium-sized businesses to provide employees with on-demand access to wages. Avenue Calgary

• How Terry Rock is shaping Calgary’s tech scene at Platform Calgary. From building supportive communities to bridging connections with investors, Terry Rock and Platform Calgary are reshaping the city’s tech landscape. Troy Media

• From Basement Startup to Tech Powerhouse: Showpass' New HQ Raises the Bar for Calgary. Move over Silicon Valley because Showpass is levelling up Calgary's tech scene with the launch of its state-of-the-art office space. Showpass

• Alberta eyes greater reliance on wildfire technology. Todd Loewen, the minister of forestry and lands, said an internal review followed the unprecedented season. Among its recommendations are more use of high-tech support like night vision and thermal imaging. Airdrie City View

• Introducing the Society 5.0 Summit: The Future of Integrated Technology and Innovation. The IoT North Conference has served as a pivotal gathering for IoT professionals and industry leaders, fostering an environment of knowledge sharing and innovation. Society 5.0