Clean Resource Innovation Network

What Clean Resource Innovation Network does

Clean Resource Innovation Network (CRIN) is a Calgary-based Canadian non-profit innovation network established around 2020 and funded primarily by Canada's Strategic Innovation Fund and Strategic Response Fund. CRIN operates as a "network of networks" that does not develop technology itself but instead connects five ecosystem sectors — Adopters, Funders, Innovators, Support Services, and Talent Development — to accelerate deployment of late-stage clean technologies (TRL 6-9) in Canada's oil and gas industry and hard-to-abate industrial sectors. The organization has administered approximately $92 million CAD in matching funds across multiple competition programs, most recently the $12 million Accelerating Cleantech Innovation Competition coordinated with MaRS Discovery District.

CRIN's core "products" are technology competition programs (Accelerating Cleantech Innovation Competition, Reducing Environmental Footprint Technology Competition, Low Emission Fuels and Products Technology Competition, Digital Oil & Gas Technology Competition) and seven technology-theme working groups spanning methane abatement, carbon capture, water technology, novel hydrocarbon extraction, wellsite remediation, cleaner fuels, and digital oil and gas. Member services include an online member directory, resource library, event calendar, and the Innovation Central project submission platform. Operational reach is Pan-Canadian with named ecosystem participants including Acceleware (Saskatchewan deployment), VL Energy, Field Upgrading, PTAC, and Kathairos Solutions.

CRIN's revenue model is non-commercial: it operates as a government-funded network facilitator that distributes non-dilutive grants (up to $2 million CAD per project, covering up to 50% of eligible project costs) through competitive application rounds reviewed via third-party processes. GTM motion is event- and community-led, anchored by the EnerNext seminar series, industry conferences, technical training courses (e.g., ASME B31.3 Process Piping Code), and digital channels (website, email newsletter, newsroom). Customer concentration is effectively a single institutional funder (Canadian federal government), making capital renewal the primary business risk.

Name

Clean Resource Innovation Network

Legal name

Clean Resource Innovation Network

Website

https://cleanresourceinnovation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Clean Resource Innovation Network is a Calgary-based non-profit that operates a federally funded "network of networks" connecting cleantech innovators, adopters, funders, and support services to deploy late-stage clean technologies in Canada's oil and gas and hard-to-abate industries through grant competitions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Network Facilitation Services: CRIN operates as a non-profit network funded by Canada's Strategic Innovation Fund. They facilitate connections between cleantech innovators, adopters, funders, and support services. Revenue generation is not their primary function - they distribute funding to accelerate cleantech deployment.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CRIN is a network facilitator that connects cleantech innovators, technology adopters, funders, support services, and talent development organizations in Canada's oil and gas sector. It administers technology competitions providing non-dilutive matching funds (up to $2 million per project, covering up to 50% of eligible project costs) for late-stage cleantech deployment (TRL 6-9) across seven technology themes including methane abatement, carbon capture, water technology, and digital oil and gas. The organization operates as a 'network of networks' coordinating collaboration rather than developing or selling technology products.

Product overview

Clean Resource Innovation Network (CRIN) operates as a Network of Networks that functions as a coordination and funding platform rather than a single unified product. The organization manages a portfolio of technology competition programs that provide matching funds for late-stage cleantech projects, including the Accelerating Cleantech Innovation Competition (up to $12 million), Reducing Environmental Footprint Technology Competition, Low Emission Fuels and Products Technology Competition, and Digital Oil & Gas Technology Competition. CRIN also facilitates sector-specific technology themes and member services that enable collaboration among Adopters, Funders, Innovators, Support Services, and Talent Development organizations across Canada's energy ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Accelerating Cleantech Innovation Competition A $12 million pan-Canadian initiative offering up to $2 million per winning project for late-stage cleantech technologies (TRL 6-9) in oil and gas and hard-to-abate industries, coordinated by MaRS Discovery District and funded by Canada's Strategic Response Fund.
• Reducing Environmental Footprint Technology Competition Advanced technology solutions competition for high-priority environmental challenges across the oil and gas industry with the intent to export technologies internationally and for application across Canada's industrial sector.
• Low Emission Fuels and Products Technology Competition Technology competition sourcing solutions that reduce the carbon intensity of products and development processes from Canada's oil and gas industry, including transportation fuels and other hydrocarbon-derived products.
• Digital Oil & Gas Technology Competition Technology competition identifying high-impact digital technology solutions to address challenges in Canada's oil and gas industry to improve environmental performance and competitiveness.
• Technology Themes Program Technology-themed investments and working groups driving innovation across seven focus areas: Novel Land and Wellsite Remediation, Cleaner Fuels - Reducing Carbon Intensity, Digital Oil and Gas Technology, Methane Monitoring/Quantification/Abatement, Carbon Capture and Value Added Products, Water Technology Development, and Novel Hydrocarbon Extraction.
• Member Services Platform Network platform services including Personal Profile management, Innovation Central project submission, Event submission, Resource Library access, and Member Directory access for network participants.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to $2 million per project in non-dilutive funding (non-dilutive = no equity stake taken)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• MaRS Discovery DistrictcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCoordinates the third-party review process for CRIN's Accelerating Cleantech Innovation Competition. Manages application review and project selection across the pan-Canadian initiative.
• Emissions Reduction AlbertasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlberta-based organization that supports projects like Kathairos Solutions through TIER funding, working with CRIN-funded companies on emissions reduction initiatives.
• Field UpgradingsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly CRIN member and supporter, experienced first-hand the challenge of taking technology from lab-scale to commercialization. Provides industry perspective on large-scale project requirements for commercialization.
• Petroleum Technology Alliance CanadasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry collaboration on alternative cement barrier materials project, evaluating resins and polymers for effective well closure practices, aiming to reduce current average well closure costs.
• Industries in Transition Connection ConsultingsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsulting firm providing energy industry events, research reports, and recognition programs focused on identifying pathways of opportunity in precision innovation in the resource sector.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC): Federal Crown corporation that funds late-stage cleantech demonstration and deployment projects. Directly comparable as a government-backed cleantech funding platform targeting similar TRL stages and project structures as CRIN's competitions.
• Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA): Alberta-based organization funding emissions reduction technology through TIER-funded competitions. Directly comparable mandate — providing non-dilutive funding for cleantech deployment in the province, with CRIN even referencing ERA's role supporting companies like Kathairos.
• Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen): Industry-led supercluster operating advanced manufacturing innovation networks with government co-funding. Comparable as a 'network of networks' model that convenes adopters, innovators, and funders around technology themes through competitive funding programs.
• Alberta Innovates: Provincial innovation funding agency that supports cleantech, energy, and environmental R&D in Alberta. Comparable as a publicly-funded intermediary channeling grant capital to clean technology projects across multiple sector portfolios.
• MaRS Discovery District: Toronto-based innovation hub that coordinates the third-party review process for CRIN's Accelerating Cleantech Innovation Competition. Directly comparable as a Canadian innovation network operator and a strategic operational partner to CRIN.
• Foresight Cleantech Accelerator Centre: BC-based cleantech accelerator supporting commercialization of environmental technologies. Comparable as a Canadian regional cleantech network facilitator connecting innovators with capital and adoption pathways.
• Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada (PTAC): Industry-led consortium funding collaborative R&D for Canada's oil and gas industry, named explicitly in CRIN's partner roster. Directly comparable as an oil-and-gas-focused innovation network operator running member-funded technology development projects.

Broad incumbents

• Natural Resources Canada (NRCan): Federal department that funds and administers energy innovation programs including the Strategic Innovation Fund underlying CRIN's mandate. Comparable as a large government entity funding cleantech deployment, though operating at broader scope across all natural resource sectors.

Emerging players

• Canadian Cleantech Alliance: Industry coalition advancing Canadian cleantech interests. Comparable as an ecosystem convener, though focused more on policy advocacy and market development than competitive funding administration.

Others

• Cleantech Group: Global cleantech intelligence and advisory firm operating i3 platform for cleantech deal flow. Comparable as an ecosystem enabler connecting cleantech innovators with capital and corporate adopters, though commercial/advisory rather than grant-funded.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments23 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Clean Resource Innovation Network