News & Updates

June 16, 2020

CE Named a 2020 World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer

CE Named a 2020 World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer
  • The World Economic Forum has announced its selection of the most promising Technology Pioneers of 2020, who are shaping industries from agriculture to clean energy while also working on sustainability issues and much more.
  • Carbon Engineering Ltd. (CE), a Canadian company working to deploy Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) directly from the atmosphere, was selected as a Technology Pioneer for its contributions in the field of clean energy and carbon capture.

Squamish, B.C., 16 June, 2020 – Carbon Engineering Ltd. (CE), a Canadian-based clean energy company focused on the deployment of Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology, was selected among hundreds of candidates as one of The World Economic Forum’s “Technology Pioneers”. Founded by Harvard Professor, David Keith, in 2009, CE has now fully demonstrated its DAC technology and is working to deploy industrial-scale DAC facilities that will each capture one million tons of CO2 from the atmosphere each year – equivalent to the work of 40 million trees.

Speaking on the announcement, CE’s CEO, Steve Oldham, said: “Being selected to join the community of Technology Pioneers, alongside leading innovators and entrepreneurs, is an honour for CE. We are delighted that Direct Air Capture technology is gaining global attention as a feasible, affordable and available climate change solution. CE is proud to be part of this important community working to address global issues and we will use this platform to further our work and vision of making a material impact in the fight against climate change.”

The World Economic Forum’s Technology Pioneers are early to growth-stage companies from around the world that are involved in the design, development and deployment of new technologies and innovations, and are poised to have a significant impact on business and society. The Technology Pioneers community is an integral part of the larger Global Innovators community of start-ups at The World Economic Forum.

“We’re excited to welcome Carbon Engineering to our 20th cohort of Technology Pioneers,” says Susan Nesbitt, Head of the Global Innovators Community, The World Economic Forum. “CE and its fellow pioneers are developing cutting edge technologies all over the world. Beyond their innovations, these firms are contributing greatly to improving the state of the world.”

Following CE’s selection as a Technology Pioneer, CEO Steve Oldham will be invited to participate at World Economic Forum activities, events, and discussions throughout the year. CE will also contribute to Forum initiatives over the next two years, working with policymakers and private sector leaders to help define the global agenda on key issues.

This year’s cohort selection marks the 20th anniversary of the Tech Pioneers community. Throughout its 20-year run, many Technology Pioneers have continuously contributed to advancement in their industries while some have even gone on to become household names. Past recipients include Airbnb, Google, Kickstarter, Mozilla, Palantir Technologies, Spotify, TransferWise, Twitter and Wikimedia.

2020 Tech Pioneer firms are shaping the future by advancing technologies such as AI, Direct Air Capture, IoT, robotics, blockchain, biotechnology and many more. They have been selected based on the community’s selection criteria, which includes innovation, impact and leadership as well as the company’s relevance with the World Economic Forum’s Platforms. The full list of Technology Pioneers can be found here.

All info on this year’s Technology Pioneers can be found here: http://wef.ch/techpioneers20

More information on past winners, information on the community and the application link can be found here.

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About CE: Founded in 2009, CE is a Canadian-based clean energy company focused on the deployment of Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology that captures carbon dioxide (CO2) directly from the atmosphere so it can be permanently stored deep underground or used to produce clean, affordable transportation fuels. From a pilot plant in Squamish, British Columbia, CE has been removing CO2 from the atmosphere since 2015 and converting it into fuels since 2017. Today, with its partner Oxy Low Carbon Ventures, CE is engineering a commercial scale DAC facility that will capture one million tons of CO2 per year, equivalent to the work of 40 million trees.

About The World Economic Forum: The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The World Economic Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. (www.weforum.org).

About the Global Innovators: The Global Innovators Community is a group of the world’s most promising start-ups and scale-ups that are at the forefront of technological and business model innovation. The World Economic Forum provides the Global Innovators Community with a platform to engage with public- and private-sector leaders and to contribute new solutions to overcome current crises and build future resiliency.

Companies who are invited to become Global Innovators will engage with one or more of the Forum’s Platforms, as relevant, to help define the global agenda on key issues.

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