FAQ
You Have Questions about CRIN. We Have Answers.
1. Who is CRIN?
2. How does CRIN work?
3. How is CRIN different than other initiatives and organizations already in place?
The Canadian oil and gas industry is globally recognized for its excellence in innovation and collaboration through many successful organizations like Alberta Innovates, Pathways Alliance, Petroleum Technology Alliance of Canada (PTAC), Saskatchewan’s Petroleum Technology Research Centre (PTRC), and Energy Research & Innovation Newfoundland and Labrador (ERINL), which have varying core focus areas. Our work has evolved to unite end users across hard-to-abate industries with the intent of broadening our approach so we can better align our challenges and accelerate solutions.
4. What Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) does CRIN focus on?
Our strategic focus is on the later stages of technology development (higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs)). This allows us to consolidate and enable the ‘industry pull’ to scale innovation through commercialization and then widespread adoption. It also enables earlier stage technology development that fuels future development. Additionally, we endeavour to extend the ecosystem to create the critical ‘end-user pull’ to enable broad adoption of technologies beyond immediate industry implementation and into other industries.
One of our key roles is to provide clear communication of the industry’s needs to the myriad of solution providers to:
- Focus resources
- Shorten development time
- Accelerate adoption
- Encourage more ideas and new innovators into the system
We are open to the full range of ideas at different TRL that feed into the platform areas identified through CRIN. When evaluating technologies that are more commercially ready with a path to deployment, areas we have identified as a gap will rank higher.
Our $100M in funding from the Government of Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) has been allocated in the following way:
TRL 6-9 – $5M/$25M/$50M
- Three Oil and Gas Technology Competitions –
- Digital
- Low Emission Fuels and Value Added Products
- Reducing Environmental Footprint
- Three competition coordinators
- Technology projects to progress to commercialization with producer partners
TRL 2-5 – $20M
- Ecosystem development; CRIN managed
- Administration and management
5. How can I access funding?
Currently, we have no open funding available. However, there are opportunities within the CRIN Membership Network. We encourage you to explore the Money Talks series and enroll your project in the Innovation Central. Additionally, you can be featured in our newsletter as a featured Member and indicate that you are looking for investment.
6. Does CRIN track technology projects and results, including summarized outcomes?
7. How does CRIN engage with Indigenous culture, businesses and reconciliation?
8. What is CRIN's role in advancing clean technology?
According to a 2018 research report by Global Advantage, Canada’s energy companies lead the way as the largest investor in clean technology. We provide the platform to connect innovators across many disciplines to further accelerate the development, deployment and commercialization of cleantech solutions, supporting a robust cleantech sector.
The development of clean technologies that are cost competitive and contribute to cleaner energy production and use is critical to our collective energy future. The clean technologies developed and supported in Canada can be exported around the world, supporting the global transformation of energy systems that are efficient and meet long-term climate objectives.