CTRF - Carbon Technology Research Foundation

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Big problems need visionary solutions. At Carbon Technology Research Foundation (CTRF) we light the spark of ideas that will transform our world. By identifying and then funding promising research into ways to remove carbon from the atmosphere, we will do our bit to build a safer future. We stand ready to support the brightest and best around the world in our mission to preserve a liveable planet for all.

Image by wildnerdpix

Image by Artem Makarov

What we do

Founded in Oslo in late 2020 by Norwegian entrepreneur Stig Arff, CTRF seeks to apply private sector principles to the challenge of climate change.

To prevent catastrophic warming, we need to reduce emissions but also find more and better ways to remove existing carbon dioxide from the air.

CTRF funds research into new methods of carbon sequestration, which have their roots in nature but which could be scaled significantly using biotechnology.

We envisage transformational change, whereby the world responds successfully and in time to the severe and accelerating risks associated with cumulative greenhouse gas emissions.

What we fund

CTRF’s focus is on supporting people and institutions working to develop processes that have their roots in nature, with the potential to be scaled significantly to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and help stop climate change.

Throughout 2022 and early 2023, we will be identifying high quality, credible research institutions, individuals and projects for funding to be part of the CTRF portfolio launch in 2023.

Please get in touch if you know of someone we should fund.

Our first Call for Proposals is now open for applications. CTRF will fund cutting-edge research into the application of biotechnology to deliver enhanced, scalable solutions to carbon sequestration. Key research challenges have been identified and these form the priority areas of this Call. CTRF remains open to highly transformative research which has the potential to disrupt and encourages researchers to engage with us in speculative discussion if your research is not specifially listed as a priority area.

The Call for Proposals, relevant application forms and guidance documents can be found by clicking the link below:

More information

Image by Los Alamos National Laboratory

Who we are

About Us

We are a group of passionate, visionary professionals united in our belief in the imperative of urgent action to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to help prevent dangerous warming. We believe in the power of technology to supercharge the solutions already found in nature, and we look forward to collaborating with people who share our vision and commitment to a different world.

Stig Arff

Founder

Stig has a PhD in physics from the University of Oslo combined with an MBA from the Norwegian School of Management (BI). For the past two decades Stig has worked within the finance sector, and has established several successful business ventures. His early career years were within research and industry and he first became aware of the problem of climate change when he was studying physics in the early 1980s. He is struck that the changes to our climate are following a trajectory which to a large degree was predictable even then. Whilst our knowledge of the science and the solutions has increased by orders of magnitude, and the public and politicians are increasingly aware of the problem, not enough has been done to tackle it. Stig created CTRF to pursue brilliant scientific ideas that increase the chances of preserving a liveable planet.

Dave Hillyard

Chief Executive

Chief Executive of CTRF since April 2022, Dave holds a BSc in Engineering from the University of Nottingham and an MSc in Environmental Management from Imperial College London. For the past 25 years Dave has worked in the international development, environment and conservation sectors in a variety of leadership roles, collaborating with both the academic and private sector. He has a passion for sustainable development and tackling the climate emergency. Dave grew up in Kenya, spending many school holidays camping in wild areas where he developed his love of Africa and its wildlife. He continues his passion for wildlife conservation in his role as a UK Trustee for the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Northern Kenya. He now lives in west Oxfordshire with his wife Emma and two children Lara and Luke.

Sarah Wagstaffe-Jones

Director of RESEARCH

Sarah joined CTRF in November 2022 as Director of Research. With an undergraduate degree in Chemistry (University of Wales, Cardiff) and PhD in Materials Science (Imperial College), Sarah has spent more than a decade in research management and leadership roles at UK funding agencies and academic institutions. With a broad passion for science and innovation, most recently Sarah led the Translational Research Office at the University of Oxford, where she has played a pivotal role in driving impact from the Universities ground-breaking research portfolio. Originally from South Wales, Sarah now resides in West Oxfordshire with her family.

Cat Corlett

Operations and Project Manager

With over 15 years’ experience in sectors such as energy, management consulting and legal, Cat brings a varied skill set to CTRF. With her knowledge of project management and operations support, and an ability to set up and oversee operational systems and procedures, she is well-equipped to help CTRF run smoothly. Outside of the office, Cat is passionate about food and fitness. She finds joy in yoga and barre. Originally from Sydney, Australia, Cat lived for many years in Texas and now resides in Oxford with her family.

Image by Dylan Gillis

Advisory Council

Over the course of 2022-3 CTRF will establish an Advisory Council to help define the focus and criteria for our funding, and help us set up an application, assessment, selection and reporting process. The Council will advise the CTRF executive on its research portfolio, and evaluate progress. The Advisory Council will be multidisciplinary, drawing expertise from different sectors including science, engineering, and finance. To apply or nominate someone to join our Advisory Council please get in touch.

_{CHAIR OF ADVISORY COUNCIL}

Surabi Menon

Surabi was appointed Chair of the Advisory Council in November 2022.

Dr. Surabi Menon is a leading climate scientist with over 25 years of experience in the field of climate change and vice president of Global Intelligence at ClimateWorks Foundation. Her work supports philanthropy innovate and accelerate climate solutions that scale.

Before joining ClimateWorks Foundation in 2012, Surabi was a staff scientist and leader of the Heat Island Group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, California. Prior to that she worked as a climate scientist at Columbia University and NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York. She has a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science and an MBA in Sustainable Management. She has published over 60 peer-reviewed publications and co-authored the 2007 IPCC report that was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize.

_{ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS}

Prof. Alistair McCormick

University of Edinburgh, UK

Professor of Plant Engineering Biology

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Dr. Colin Averill

ETH Zurich, Switzerland

Senior Scientist at Crowther Lab. Founder of Funga

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Prof. David Beerling

University of Sheffield, UK

Director of Leverhulme Centre for Climate Change Mitigation

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Dr. Jerry Blackford

Plymouth Marine Laboratory, UK

Head of Science: Marine Systems Modelling

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Prof. Louise Horsfall

University of Edinburgh, UK

Chair of Sustainable Biotechnology

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Sarah Sclarsic

Voyager, New York, US

Founding Partner of Voyager

Image by Climate Visuals

Join us

The founding member of CTRF is sustainable investment firm Fremr AS (meaning “further forward” in Norse language). Fremr is headed up by Stig Arff and has contributed the initial operational and research budgets for CTRF.

Stig Arff and Fremr invite other private sector investors with the same desire to tackle the climate crisis to join us as investors and implementation partners.

We are seeking partnerships with like-minded corporations and organisations who can contribute not only complementary funds, but also their unique expertise and insights.

In addition to seeking co-funders from the private sector, we will collaborate with governments, foundations and philanthropic entities to inform our work and ensure its benefits are disseminated.

Jobs

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Contact Us

If you are interested in learning more, exploring partner opportunities and have potential research ideas, please mail contact@ctrfoundation.com

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Address

Carbon Technology Research Foundation

location_on

46 Woodstock Road
Oxford, OX2 6HT

business

Company no.: 1285 6140

contact@ctrfoundation.com

Backing brilliant ideas for a liveable planet

What we do

What we fund

The Private Sector

Government and Civil Society/Philanthropic Institutions

Universities and Research and Development Institutions