Technology

CICE Invests in the Future of Ocean Carbon Dioxide Removal

Published

2 years ago

June 7, 2024

Coastal Carbon and Planetary Technologies to advance ocean-based solutions
with the potential for gigatonne-scale carbon dioxide removal

VANCOUVER, BC, June 7, 2024 /CNW/ – The B.C. Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE) is harnessing British Columbia’s vast coastline and ocean science expertise to invest in pilots and field trials aimed at removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through ocean-based methods. These projects, led by Planetary Technologies and Coastal Carbon, will evaluate the effectiveness of ocean carbon dioxide removal, and measure the impact on coastal communities and marine environments.

To meet 2050 net-zero targets, achieving breakthroughs in large-scale carbon removal is essential. Oceans, which have the capacity to store about 50 times more carbon dioxide than the atmosphere, are the world’s largest carbon dioxide sink. Ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) methods enhance the ocean’s natural ability to remove and store carbon dioxide (CO2). However, to scale these methods safely, further research, pilot projects, and innovation are necessary.

“Scientists estimate that we need to remove at least 10 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide annually by 2050, which is more than the annual production of oil and gas combined,” said Sarah Goodman, President and CEO of CICE. “Ocean-based carbon dioxide removal methods hold enormous potential, but their impact on coastal communities and marine ecosystems must be carefully studied. By investing in early-stage innovation and leveraging British Columbia’s leading research expertise, we aim to support the development of safe, effective, and responsible carbon removal methods.”

CICE’s investment into ocean-based CDR was underpinned by a techno-economic analysis completed for the “Catalyzing Carbon Dioxide Removal at Scale” report released in February 2024. The report identified that ocean alkalinity enhancement has 10 gigatonnes of global CDR absorption potential per year, more than any other existing CDR method. Based on the report findings, other focus areas for CICE include marine sensing technology, measurement, modeling, and data science.

Coastal Carbon has partnered with Coastal First Nations Great Bear Initiative and Ocean Wise to develop and pilot a remote seaweed biomass monitoring solution critical to the restoration and expansion of seaweed carbon sequestration projects along British Columbia’s 26,000 km of coastline. AI and remote satellite data will be used to scale a cost-effective model to measure where seaweed is and how much of it is there for better management and protection of these ecosystems, as well as carbon offset verification. CICE has allocated $856,000 in non-dilutive investment to this $3,006,930 project.

“This project is the first step in enabling Canada’s coastline, which happens to be the world’s largest, as a nature positive carbon sink – helping offset our emissions and restore our natural coastal ecosystems,” said Thomas Storwick, Co-founder and CEO of Coastal Carbon. “Effective, scalable, remote monitoring is key to enabling carbon financing for this restoration. CICE is helping us take the very first step in BC, enabling us to build and expand our technology in one of the most productive and diverse coastlines in Canada.”

“Satellite monitoring technology has the potential to revolutionize seaweed restoration projects by providing highly accurate measurements and comprehensive mapping of biomass and canopy coverage,” said Scott Bohachyk, Director of Seaforestation at Ocean Wise. “This advancement promises to significantly lower monitoring costs and enhance the precision of ecological assessments, facilitating more effective restoration efforts and improving ocean health.”

Planetary Technologies is combining expertise from Metro Vancouver, Ocean Networks Canada, the University of British Columbia, and other community stakeholders to develop a safe, small-scale ocean alkalinity enhancement field trial in Burrard Inlet. This project will measure the carbon removal and biological changes associated with a novel carbon dioxide removal system that employs ocean outfalls from Metro Vancouver’s Lions Gate Wastewater Treatment Plant to clean up acidic CO2 in the ocean, restoring its natural ability to draw carbon out of the air. Baseline data collection and consultations with British Columbia’s top ocean scientists, academia, the public, the government, and Indigenous rights holders is underway, with the small-scale field trial projected to start in Spring 2025. Data analysis will be published for access by all interested parties. CICE has allocated $1,901,060 in non-dilutive investment to this $3,896,572 project.

“To meet the world’s climate goals, on top of reducing emissions, we must remove massive quantities of carbon from the atmosphere,” said Mike Kelland, CEO at Planetary Technologies. “Our project aims to enhance the ocean’s ability to capture CO2. CICE has assembled a consortium of partners to further Canada’s leadership in safely developing the critically important practice of ocean carbon removal. If successful, we will restore our acidified ocean, draw down CO2 from the air, and create new jobs and opportunities in this emerging trillion-dollar industry.”

About CICE

The B.C. Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE) is an independent, not-for-profit corporation that provides early-stage investment to fast-track the commercialization of British Columbia’s most impactful clean energy solutions – from Canada to the world. We match the urgency and efficiency of the companies we fund, driving innovation like the planet depends on it. Because it does. Together with our climate-first community of innovators, industry leaders, academia, government, and Indigenous partners, we advance future pathways to net-zero – leveraging B.C.’s clean energy advantages to attract investment, create good jobs and build sustainable economic prosperity for decades to come. www.cice.ca

SOURCE B.C. Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy

Technology

139th Canton Fair Phase 3 Advances Toward a Better Life with New and Strengthened Product Zones

Published

49 minutes ago

May 3, 2026

GUANGZHOU, China, May 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The 139th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) has rolled out nine newly established product zones. Phase 3 features an expanded and upgraded Intelligent Healthcare zone and the inaugural presentation of a Functional & Technical Fabrics zone.

The upgraded Intelligent Healthcare zone brings together 50 companies presenting a full spectrum of intelligent medical solutions, spanning AI-powered diagnostics, surgical robotics, and next‑generation eldercare technologies. Exhibits highlight how medical devices are becoming smaller, more precise, and increasingly non‑invasive. Capsule endoscopy systems demonstrate how gastrointestinal screening can be completed without discomfort, while AI‑enabled traditional Chinese medicine analyzers compress the inspection and inquiry process into minutes. Wearable glucose monitors make chronic disease management easier and more convenient.

Robotic technologies play a prominent role as well. Endoscopic and orthopedic surgical robots showcase enhanced precision through integrated human‑machine coordination, while bionic prosthetic hands use non‑invasive myoelectric sensing to independently control each finger. Intelligent rehabilitation systems, including lower‑limb exoskeletons and hand‑training devices, provide consistent support for patients recovering mobility. Companion‑style eldercare robots, equipped with monitoring and telemedicine functions, signal the rise of integrated home‑based health services.

The debuting Functional & Technical Fabrics zone highlights how the traditional textile industry is moving toward higher-end and smarter products. Exhibitors present materials that combine multi‑layered performance with intelligent responsiveness. Textiles featuring temperature‑regulating fibers, phase‑change materials, and light‑ or heat‑sensitive color‑shifting effects illustrate how fabrics are evolving into adaptive platforms capable of responding to environmental conditions.

Sustainability emerges as a defining theme. Bio‑based fibers, degradable films, recycled polyester, and organic cotton reflect a shift from isolated eco‑products toward full‑chain green manufacturing. High‑performance outdoor and protective applications further shape the narrative. Materials engineered for waterproof breathability, UV resistance, flame retardancy, and long‑term durability address rising demand across sportswear, professional protection, and medical environments. Smart textiles with embedded health‑monitoring modules demonstrate how apparel is beginning to function as a continuous wellness interface.

Both technology‑driven healthcare and advanced textiles are converging around a shared pursuit of a better life. As these advancements continue to evolve, they reflect a manufacturing landscape increasingly shaped by innovation, resilience, and a commitment to improving everyday living.

For pre-registration, please click: https://buyer.cantonfair.org.cn/register/buyer/email?source_type=16

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/139th-canton-fair-phase-3-advances-toward-a-better-life-with-new-and-strengthened-product-zones-302760704.html

SOURCE Canton Fair

Technology

CupidFeel Insights Show How Shared Interests Affect Initial Connection Outcomes

Published

2 hours ago

May 3, 2026

New behavioral insights from CupidFeel offer a carefully considered look at how shared interests influence whether an initial connection on a dating platform is sustained or abandoned in those first critical exchanges.

GIBRALTAR, May 3, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — The findings by CupidFeel are not dramatic, but they are telling. People who referenced a shared interest — whether a genre of music, a type of cuisine, a sport, a creative practice, or even a shared discomfort with small talk — within the first few exchanges of a new conversation were found to be measurably more likely to continue that conversation beyond the initial contact window. The effect was not uniform across all interest categories; certain types of shared interest appeared to carry more relational weight than others.

It was also observed by CupidFeel that the timing of when shared interests entered a conversation mattered. Connections where common ground was discovered organically — through the natural flow of exchange rather than prompted by a profile field or a direct question — showed stronger indicators of sustained interest. The discovery, in other words, carried more meaning when it felt like something found rather than something declared.

Among the most quietly striking findings in the CupidFeel data was the role of specificity. Broad shared categories — “we both like travel,” “we both enjoy cooking” — were associated with polite, often brief exchanges that rarely extended past pleasantries. But when specificity entered the picture — when one person mentioned a particular documentary that had stayed with them, or a city they had visited and could not stop thinking about — the conversational energy shifted. Something opened up.

In a CupidFeel review of trends in profile engagements, those whose profiles reflected specific, idiosyncratic interests — rather than broadly appealing ones — also showed higher rates of receiving first messages, a finding that runs gently counter to the instinct many people have to present themselves in the most universally appealing terms possible.

What seemed to matter most was not the quantity of overlap but whether the overlap that existed was felt — whether it produced a sense of being seen in some particular, non-generic way. A CupidFeel review of early conversation patterns suggests that a single deeply resonant shared interest may be more generative for early connection than a long list of surface-level commonalities that, taken together, feel more like a demographic profile than a person.

About CupidFeel

CupidFeel is an online dating platform built around the belief that meaningful connections begin with emotional honesty and the willingness to let a conversation go somewhere real. It came into being for people who are less interested in the mechanics of dating and more drawn to the possibility of something that feels grounded — exchanges that move at their own pace, guided by genuine curiosity rather than performance.

A CupidFeel review of its own design principles returns consistently to the same question: what does it take for a first message to feel like it might be worth the journey? The platform makes room for the kind of interaction that doesn’t always have a clear destination but feels, from the first exchange, like something real. CupidFeel is a place where the unexpected is not something to be managed, but something to be welcomed.

Media Contact

Timothy Albers, CupidFeel, 1 14845691657, smm@cupidfeel.com, https://cupidfeel.com/

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/cupidfeel-insights-show-how-shared-interests-affect-initial-connection-outcomes-302759951.html

SOURCE CupidFeel

Technology

Las Vegas Review-Journal Launches VegasBusiness, a New Multiplatform Business Brand Serving Southern Nevada Leaders

Published

3 hours ago

May 3, 2026

LAS VEGAS, May 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ –The Las Vegas Review Journal today announced the launch of VegasBusiness, a new multiplatform brand designed to deliver authoritative reporting, analysis, and insight to Southern Nevada’s business leaders and decisionmakers.

VegasBusiness debuts with a biweekly print section distributed in the Sunday Las Vegas Review Journal, a new digital hub at VegasBusiness.com, a weekday business email newsletter, and a bi monthly podcast. Together, the platforms create the most comprehensive local business news and intelligence offerings in the Las Vegas market.

Vegas Business, powered by the state’s largest and most experienced business reporting team, focuses on the people, companies, and forces shaping Southern Nevada’s economy, including gaming and hospitality, real estate development, technology, finance, logistics, and small business.

“Las Vegas is one of the fastest evolving business markets in the country, and its leaders need timely, trustworthy intelligence to compete and grow,” Keith Moyer, publisher and editor of the Las Vegas Review Journal, said. “VegasBusiness expands our business journalism across platforms and delivers deeper insight, greater frequency, and broader reach for Southern Nevada’s decision makers.”

Expanded Business Coverage Across Platforms

VegasBusiness features business coverage designed for how executives consume news today—through print, digital, email, audio, video, and social channels.

Editorial franchises include CSuite Insider, featuring executive interviews; Building Las Vegas, with in depth reporting on major projects and deals; Innovation, spotlighting people and ideas driving change; Price Points, examining data and consumer trends; Small Business, highlighting enterprising local companies; and a curated Calendar of business events and conferences.

“We created this section to provide Las Vegas business leaders with practical, locally grounded intelligence so t hey can make faster, more informed decisions on growth, talent, and regulation,” Erin Edgemon, business editor of the Review Journal, said. “VegasBusiness is designed to help business leaders understand what’s happening in the economy, why it matters, and how it impacts their organizations and communities.”

A Premium Environment for Advertisers

In addition to expanded editorial coverage, VegasBusiness provides a new advertising and sponsorship platform for brands seeking to reach business decision makers in Southern Nevada. The brand offers integrated opportunities across print, digital, newsletters, podcasts, video, social media, and events, supported by advanced audience targeting and measurement.

“VegasBusiness gives advertisers access to the largest concentration of local business decision- makers in the market,” Michael LaBonia, senior vice president of sales for the Las Vegas Review Journal, said. “It’s a high impact, data driven platform that connects brands with influence, intent, and measurable results.”

Availability

VegasBusiness Magazine: Biweekly, Sundays in the Las Vegas Review JournalDigital: 24/7 at VegasBusiness.com**Newscast:** Weekday segment mornings on 7@7 a.m.**Newsletter:** Featured in the weekday Business Brief

Additional information is available at VegasBusiness.com.

Since 1909, the Las Vegas Review-Journal has been Nevada’s comprehensive media leader. Over the years, it has transformed from an award-winning newspaper that delivers local and community news and spans the globe with far-reaching topics and coverage. The Review-Journal has forged into multimedia and digital platforms through its website, Reviewjournal.com, which includes a network of niche publications, breaking news, e-newsletters, customized content, custom printing, a production studio, and more to meet the specific needs of readers and advertisers alike.

Media Contact

Wanda English Blair, Vice President of Marketing
(702) 383-0223
wblair@reviewjournal.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/las-vegas-review-journal-launches-vegasbusiness-a-new-multiplatform-business-brand-serving-southern-nevada-leaders-302760627.html

SOURCE Las Vegas Review-Journal