Apply for innovation funds
Frontier's goal is to get carbon removal on its best possible trajectory. Our Innovation track is designed to provide two types of funding to support this goal: prepurchases and R&D grants. Prepurchases help emerging projects get out of the lab and into the field to start delivering tons of carbon removal, while R&D grants provide funding to teams addressing critical field research gaps.
Frontier accepts Innovation track applications on a rolling basis and prioritizes projects that meet Frontier’s foundational purchase criteria and address our target innovation areas.
You can find examples of past applications, contracts, and templates here.
About the Innovation track
Before you apply, please review the table below to understand our program and identify whether prepurchase or R&D funding is most appropriate for your organization.
| Prepurchase | R&D | |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | Low-volume prepurchase agreements to support early-stage project teams building carbon dioxide removal (CDR) pilots. | R&D grants to support project teams advancing critical CDR research. |
| Applicant profile | A company intending to deploy early-stage CDR technology that has the potential to be low-cost and high-volume in the future. | An organization (e.g., company, academic research institution, non-profit) focused on advancing CDR research that is aligned with at least one of Frontier's target innovation areas. |
| Purchase amount | ~US$250K-1.5M | ~US$250K-750K |
| Agreement structure |
|
|
| Frontier expectations and risk tolerance | Thorough diligence, higher risk tolerance compared to offtakes | |
| Application cadence | Pre-applications accepted on a rolling basis, selections announced twice per year | |
| Application deadline | No deadline, but we encourage you to submit your pre-application as early as possible | |
Continue reading if you would like to apply to Frontier's Innovation track. If Frontier's offtake track is a better fit, please see our offtake track page.
Target innovation areas
Frontier continues to support a range of carbon removal projects. While there are many early and exciting projects with the potential to achieve meaningful climate impact, in 2026 we seek to fund teams that address specific innovation bottlenecks in the field and our portfolio. We are actively soliciting applications on:
Enhancing surficial mineralization
Surficial mineralization is a high-capacity carbon removal solution, but accelerating the reaction for abundant alkaline feedstocks typically requires energy or other inputs, creating a tradeoff between speed and cost. We are seeking approaches that balance CapEx and OpEx to maximize feedstock reactivity and overall reaction extents, either by accelerating passive mineralization at low-to-medium cost or achieving ultra-low cost over decades. Specifically, we are looking for innovations in unstructured rock pile architectures and contacting systems – including both direct gas-solid air contacting and decoupled ore-leaching processes – that significantly enhance reaction rates without introducing large pressure drops. We are also interested in advanced mechanical, chemical, or thermal feedstock preparation techniques, as well as disruptive sourcing innovations, such as utilizing advanced remote sensing or leveraging ocean, brine, and salt deposits to generate hydroxides for CO₂ mineralization.
You can learn more about our overall purchasing perspective on mineralization here.
Strategies to maximize alkalinity addition rates for Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE) and Inland Water Alkalinity Enhancement (IWAE)
The ocean represents a large potential carbon sink, with several promising alkalinity enhancement pathways – via oceans, rivers, and wastewater – under development. However, the risk of "secondary precipitation," where added alkalinity prematurely mineralizes at discharge, remains a barrier to more rapid scaling of these approaches. This effect strongly depends on the nature of the alkalinity feedstock and the method of addition (e.g., dissolved, slurry, pre-equilibrated), as well as on the chemistry of the receiving waters. We seek projects that better constrain uncertainty around secondary precipitation rates and identify the most effective methods of alkalinity addition by conducting empirical studies under field conditions. Specifically, we are looking for teams that can effectively characterize carbonate chemistry in the "near-field mixing zone," identify key precipitation drivers, and engineer effective strategies to maximize alkalinity dispersal while preventing precipitation.
You can learn more about our overall purchasing perspective on marine carbon removal here.
Improving the MRV toolkit for open-system pathways
Open-system pathways rely on robust measurement for CDR quantification and ecosystem monitoring. First deployments in pathways like Enhanced Weathering (EW) and OAE are currently being overmeasured in order to allow for better uncertainty quantification and methodology improvement. This is acceptable in the near term, but scale up is limited by labor-intensive manual sampling procedures; the use of expensive, fragile sensors with often non-optimal sensitivities designed for lab settings or other industries; and computationally expensive models. We seek projects that unlock step-change increases in quantification fidelity and enable a robust, model-centric future for open system pathway MRV. This can be through the development of better sensors and devices purpose-built for the unique demands of CDR, as well as through next-generation models that reduce computational costs and allow increased sensitivity screening. We are prioritizing innovations that enable streamlined modeling frameworks, and move beyond bespoke hardware towards mass-producible, low-unit-cost architectures capable of high-accuracy sensing in complex media - from soil pore water to near-field marine mixing zones. Applicants should detail the impact of a proposed project on a CDR pathway, including how it reduces uncertainty in net removal calculations, and how it makes MRV more operational while retaining or ideally improving accuracy.
You can learn more about our overall purchasing perspective on enhanced weathering here and marine CDR (mCDR) here.
Novel CDR approaches with breakthrough potential
Frontier has supported 50+ companies advancing a variety of effective carbon removal approaches. Going forward, we look to support novel projects that meet pathway-specific criteria for great projects and meaningfully beat the key performance metrics of Frontier's current portfolio companies. Applicants must provide a rigorous, evidence-based argument for why their approach can fundamentally outcompete existing technologies. We are not looking for incremental improvements, but for step-change innovations where the physics or chemistry offer a clear "unfair advantage" to highly scalable and low-cost CDR.
You can learn more about our purchasing perspectives across select CDR pathways here.
Current innovation funding
Below are areas where Frontier has made existing purchases and grants against targeted innovation and research gaps. As a result, we are not currently prioritizing new applications on these topics:
Increasing clarity on co-benefits for mCDR approaches
Real, measurable co-benefits are a critical accelerant to build project support and give back to communities hosting CDR deployments. Therefore, we are interested in mCDR approaches that offer clear economic and/or environmental co-benefits such as the restoration of polluted or degraded ecosystems or creating local pH refugia for critically impacted species. In order to get conviction about conditions under which a co-benefit is realized, it is particularly important to have a sound approach for measuring this co-benefit against a baseline scenario.
Projects we are supporting in this area: research by Professor George Waldbusser at Oregon State University to determine the potential co-benefits of OAE for shellfish aquaculture with direct field applications in oyster hatchery and farm settings
Understanding the maximum size of OAE deployments
OAE presents a promising pathway to large scale and cost-effective CDR, but the maximum size of individual deployments remains an open question. The carbonate chemistry thresholds in a given ocean area determine how much and how quickly alkalinity can be added, while upholding ecosystem safety and optimizing carbon removal efficacy. We are interested in projects that investigate the theoretical CDR capacity maximum for OAE deployments by considering the impact of the deployment approach as well as ocean mixing dynamics. We are particularly interested in methods that identify strategies for maximizing alkalinity addition and scalable deployment strategies.
Projects we are supporting in this area: research by Professor Katja Fennel at Dalhousie University on assessing maximum CDR capacity for continuous ocean alkalinity addition through coastal outfalls
Modular Biomass with Carbon Capture and Storage (BiCRS)
Because waste biomass tends to be distributed, we are interested in exploring modular approaches to BiCRS that can take advantage of small and diverse sources of biomass while remaining both economical and efficient. Solutions might include systems that can be transported from place to place for on-site processing of biomass, or low-CapEx systems that are fast and cheap to stand-up at new sites. Technologies that can handle agricultural residues are of particular interest since this feedstock is difficult to use economically with current BiCRS technologies because of low density and high transportation costs. The metrics we are looking for include very low cost (to allow for more budget for biomass transport), high CDR efficiency, and co-benefits beyond CDR.
Accelerating alternative CO₂ storage pathways beyond saline aquifers
The near-term capacity of geologic CO₂ storage has been a challenge for many CDR approaches given the limited availability of permitted Class VI wells. We're interested in novel in-situ and ex-situ mineralization approaches paired with carbon capture (e.g., Direct Air Capture (DAC) and BECCS) to diversify storage options and offer a hedge against near-term capacity constraints.
Synthetic alkalinity
Low-cost, carbon-free production methods of calcium oxide (CaO) and magnesium oxide (MgO) from limestone could enable outstanding improvements to the efficiency and scale of several CDR approaches such as mineral looping DAC, mineralization, and OAE. We're interested in approaches that generate CO₂-free calcium oxide (CaO) or magnesium oxide (MgO) at lower energy and cost than conventional methods, without using fossil fuels. This could include novel calciner and CO₂ capture designs or no-heat alternatives.
MRV uncertainty in enhanced weathering
MRV uncertainties remain a major barrier to the rapid expansion of EW, including reconciling solid and aqueous-phase measurements, better understanding of soil cation storage and secondary clay formation risks, better assessing the CDR implications of strong acid interactions, and transitioning toward more of a model-based evaluation framework over time as more data is collected and models are improved and validated.
Projects we are supporting in this area: Cascade's EW Field Data Partnership Grants and Data Quarry, as well as research projects with individual EW portfolio companies.
How we evaluate projects
We use four lenses to guide our prepurchase and R&D funding decisions:
| Prepurchase | R&D | |
|---|---|---|
Lens 1: Approach | Does the carbon removal approach meet Frontier's target criteria? Rigorous external scientific and governance assessment against Frontier's purchase criteria is the first and most critical qualifying step in Frontier's purchasing process. Visit our FAQ for a list of approaches that do not meet one or more of our purchase criteria and are not in focus for Frontier's prepurchase program at this time. Specific characteristics of great prepurchase projects worth highlighting: Technology readiness level: An existing proof of concept that the technology is far enough along to make the proposal realistic/plausible (i.e., all major elements of the solution are at least at TRL-3+). Cost projections: A techno-economic analysis (TEA) based on a process flow diagram and mass and energy balance, using realistic engineering values (or similar) for equipment pricing, first principles estimates of performance, and basic assumptions for utility costs (format provided). We also evaluate the "area under the curve": how high is the starting cost, and how quickly does it decline to enable competition with peer companies that may be further along today? Business strategy and financing: Key business case assumptions and risks, as well as a preliminary plan for next steps if the project is successful. Community engagement: Clear plans to collect input from stakeholders impacted by the project at early stages, and to improve deployment based on that input. Performance data: Lab-scale performance and preliminary stability data (preferably for days or more) as proof-of-concept that the company's approach removes CO₂ from the atmosphere. MRV feasibility: Clear MRV approach. Especially for CDR pathways with lower verification confidence levels (VCLs), risks are identified and a method presented for how new data will be generated to reduce quantification uncertainty. Data sharing: Agreement to data‑sharing principles co‑developed with Frontier. | Does this research proposal meaningfully advance knowledge on a critical bottleneck for a high-potential CDR pathway? Rigorous scientific validation, including external expert review of the hypothesis, is the first and most critical qualifying step in Frontier's R&D funding process. We prioritize research that advances the field by resolving fundamental uncertainties, rather than seeking marginal improvements. Specific characteristics of great R&D projects worth highlighting: Scientific grounding: Well-founded and testable hypothesis. The methodology must be robust enough to withstand rigorous peer scrutiny and provide a clear path to a conclusive result. Methodological feasibility: A research plan that directly translates to the stated objective. We look for experimental designs that represent the most efficient and credible path to achieving the intended research goal. "Step-change" impact: Definitive target outcomes that shift paradigms. Research proposals should aim to definitively prove or disprove a key technical hurdle or unlock a new capability. We prioritize research that provides a decisive knowledge "leap" - such as a fundamental change in cost, efficiency, or monitoring accuracy - rather than incremental gains. Cost projections: A high-level cost analysis of research implications, including a lifecycle assessment and sensitivity analysis on potential ROI if/when research is applied to end-to-end CDR processes. Performance data: A credible track record of past research results that demonstrate that the project team can effectively execute on the proposed research on the timeline outlined. MRV feasibility: Clear MRV approach for any lab or field studies, where relevant. Data sharing: Agreement to transparently share research outcomes and relevant data. |
Lens 2: Execution | Can this team deliver on the proposal, given where the technology is today? Frontier looks for evidence that the applying team will be able to execute their proposed plan rigorously, quickly, and responsibly. The specifics of what we look for will vary based on the stage of the project, but generally we are interested in: Team and operational capability: Does this team have demonstrated expertise and experience (e.g., scientific, technical, operational, manufacturing, commercial, or regulatory, depending on the solution) to deliver on initial technology development work? Can they outperform other teams working on similar ideas? Does the company have a hiring and/or partnering plan for scaling the project? Path to future demand: Does this project have a clear path to local, regional, and/or national government support? We're looking for projects that could eventually be sustained by funding beyond the voluntary carbon market through co-product sales or government compliance markets, procurement programs, or subsidies if costs get cheap enough. Delivery timing: When will this project deliver first tons? We prefer earlier delivery (i.e., within the next ~1-2 years), even if it means smaller volumes. Ambitious but plausible and responsible scaling plans: We are looking for teams that move urgently, but also responsibly and realistically. For most approaches, this likely means increasing scale by no more than 10x per deployment; for others, 100x might be acceptable if the applicant includes a justification for that magnitude. Past and expected learning rates: If this team has applied before, how much progress have they made since, and over what time period? Is this approach fundamentally compatible for fast iteration? How costly is each iteration? | Is the research plan feasible and is the team capable of delivering actionable insights in a reasonable time period? Frontier looks for evidence that the proposed research will be conducted rigorously, safely, and in a way that generates clear, usable data. The specifics of what we look for will vary based on the nature of the proposed research, but generally we are interested in: Team and operational capability: Does this team have the technical expertise to execute the intended research? Does this team have confirmed, immediate access to the necessary laboratory equipment, test sites, or specialized datasets to efficiently carry out the proposed work? Scientific design: Is the proposed methodology sound? Does the proposed research isolate the correct variables to yield a clear and definitive "yes/no" or "high/low" confidence outcome? Output utility: How will this research help the field advance? We are looking for projects that produce data, models, or prototypes that help lower costs or increase measurement certainty for the broader CDR ecosystem. Timeline and milestones: When will this project deliver meaningful research results? We prefer short-term, focused projects with clear, tangible readouts within ~18 months. |
Lens 3: Portfolio | Does this purchase help Frontier build a diverse, risk-adjusted portfolio of carbon removal approaches? Frontier believes it will take a portfolio of CDR solutions and companies to achieve the gigatons of removal required each year. Frontier's goal is to build a risk-adjusted portfolio that maximizes the likelihood of that happening. Even if a company meets our purchase criteria, we may not make a purchase if, for example, we're over-indexed on that type of solution. | Does this research help de-risk or otherwise advance Frontier's portfolio of carbon removal approaches? Frontier's goal is to ensure we have a robust, risk-adjusted pipeline of technologies capable of reaching gigaton scale. An R&D project is more compelling if its findings have "spillover" benefits, meaning the research helps resolve uncertainties that affect more than one CDR pathway in our portfolio. |
Lens 4: Acceleration | Will a Frontier purchase now be catalytic to both the company and broader field? Frontier assesses whether a prepurchase would accelerate a company's trajectory and the CDR pathway overall: Does a Frontier prepurchase clearly help a company get started or reach a critical milestone needed to scale? Does a Frontier prepurchase advance the field with respect to, e.g., technology, research, measurement techniques, business strategies etc.? | Will a Frontier R&D grant now be catalytic to both the project team and broader field? Frontier assesses the value-add of our R&D funding and the extent to which it will unlock and enable critical research that wouldn't otherwise happen. |
| For more detail on how Frontier has applied these lenses in the past, take a look at prepurchases Frontier announced in January 2026, July 2025, September 2024, and September 2023. | ||
Review process
If you are a CDR company or expert group pursuing work in at least one of our priority target innovation areas and you meet Frontier’s Innovation track evaluation criteria, you can submit a pre-application any time. Frontier will batch our reviews and, depending on when you submit your pre-application, we expect the time between pre-application submission and announcement to take roughly 3-4 months:
- Organizations submit a pre-application. This is a short form to help Frontier understand whether your approach or technology is likely to be a fit for our Innovation track.
- Frontier screens submissions and invites a subset to submit full applications to minimize application time from projects that don't meet Frontier's criteria in full.
- Applicants will have ~3 weeks to submit a full application. You can view our most recent application template here.
- Frontier reviews applications for completeness and basic scientific validity with respect to our evaluation criteria. Qualified applications are sent to external experts for scientific, commercial, and governance evaluation.
- Frontier sends anonymized reviewer comments to applicants, who then have the option to submit a short response to Frontier within ~3 days.
- Frontier may request a video meeting with applicants to further discuss their application.
- Frontier notifies applicants of funding decision.
- Frontier and selectees jointly build application-specific contract terms (e.g., research and performance milestones).
- Frontier announces selectees.
Frontier accepts Innovation track pre-applications on a rolling basis. We encourage you to submit your pre-application as early as possible
Submit pre-application
Other considerations
Transparency and confidentiality
If you are invited to submit an application and do so, please be aware that a portion of your application, including project description, high-level cost summary, and measurement approach, will be made public at the conclusion of Frontier's purchase cycle. We do this because commercial-scale permanent CDR is developing, and we are trying to advance transparency and knowledge-sharing across the ecosystem as it does. Hopefully this will enable impact beyond the dollar amount of any particular purchase we may make.
Examples of what select information will be published can be found on our GitHub repository. This is in contrast to our 2022 prepurchase cycles when we published each prepurchase application in full.
The application template clearly specifies which sections Frontier will publish. The rest of the application information will remain confidential among Frontier staff and our expert review team, who have non-disclosure agreements in place with Frontier. This includes a techno-economic spreadsheet that we will ask all applicants to fill out.
Communication
All communication related to Frontier's Innovation track should be sent to prepurchase@frontierclimate.com.