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Climate Solutions Prize Unveils 2026 Top 10 Finalists Ahead of Largest Festival Yet in Montréal, June 8-9

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The festival will feature leading voices in climate capital, policy, and innovation — seven thematic tracks and over $1.5 million in prizes

MONTREAL, May. 21, 2026 /CNW/ – At a moment when scaling proven climate technologies has become the central challenge of the transition the Climate Solutions Prize (CSP) Festival has announced the 10 finalists for the 2026 Climate Tech Trailblazer Prize, selected from the strongest applicant pool in the Prize’s history. The finalists will pitch live to a jury of investors and industry leaders in a Dragons’ Den-style event on the final day of the Festival, with the winner revealed at the closing ceremony. The 2026 edition of the Festival will take place at Marché Bonsecours in Montréal on June 8–9. With seven thematic tracks — three of which are new — more than $1.5 million in prizes, and 2,000 expected participants, the 2026 edition will be the largest to date.

Confirmed speakers include David Suzuki, renowned Canadian scientist, broadcaster and founder of the David Suzuki Foundation; Jean Charest, former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada and former Premier of Québec; Henry Stern, California State Senator, former environmental attorney and longtime clean energy advocate; Sage Lenier, climate educator, founder of Sustainable & Just Future and a 2023 TIME Next Generation Leader; and Bruce Friedrich, founder and CEO of the Good Food Institute and a TED Fellow. They will take the stage alongside entrepreneurs, researchers, innovators and public sector actors from 20+ countries and 5 continents.

“The research and solutions exist, and there is a growing base of climate-focused investors and the talent to lead. The challenge is building the connective infrastructure: the mechanisms and platforms that help innovations survive the journey from lab to market. That is what the CSP is designed to provide,” says Galith Levy, CEO and co-founder of the Climate Solutions Prize.

2026 Climate Tech Trailblazer Prize: The Top 10 Finalists

The 2026 Climate Tech Trailblazer Prize finalists represent BC, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Quebec and span sectors including Built Environment, AgTech, Water, Resource Technology (green chemistry, critical minerals, industrial decarbonization), Energy and Power, Nature and Biodiversity (restoration), and Changemaker — each recognized for the strength and impact of their climate solutions.

Local Energy (Daniel Bastien) — Helps factories, industrial parks and cities reduce emissions by capturing and redistributing excess energy that would otherwise be wasted.Tydra Biomaterial Labs Ltd (Jaiya Varshney) — Transforms food waste into chitin through microbial recycling, creating a powerful material for water remediation, wound healing and soil health.Cellulotech Inc (Romain Metivet) — A fast, low-cost green chemistry process that makes paper water- and grease-resistant while keeping it recyclable, offering a plastic-free packaging alternative.Cardinal Volta (Nan Ge) — Captures wasted industrial heat and converts it into reusable energy, helping factories reduce costs and emissions.Planetary (Michael Kelland) — Removes carbon by safely restoring ocean alkalinity, enabling seawater to absorb and permanently store more CO₂ while reducing ocean acidification.Alter Biota Inc (Mark Masotti) — Uses biochar from wood waste and computer vision aggregate analysis to help concrete producers make stronger, lower-carbon concrete.TerraFixing (Samantha Usas) — Stores low-cost renewable electricity as high-temperature heat, replacing fossil fuels in heat-intensive industrial production.Tersa Earth Innovations Inc (Earl Oliver) — Uses microbe-powered water treatment to clean mine-impacted water, neutralize acidity and recover valuable metals.Tree Track Intelligence (Amir Soleimani) — Combines engineered Seedpods and precision UAV deployment to restore wildfire-damaged landscapes with stronger seedling survival rates.Neptune Nanotechnologies (Aaron Guan) — Turns discarded crab and lobster shells into a bio-based fire-safety additive for plastics, reducing reliance on toxic chemicals.

Three more prizes recognizing climate leadership

In addition to the Climate Tech Trailblazer Prize, the Festival will present three additional awards recognizing innovations with strong environmental and economic impact:

The 2026 Breakthrough Research Prize, recognizing leading climate research from Canadian universities and non-profit institutions, with awards directed to the host institution to support continued innovation.The 2026 Climate Startup Equity Prize Powered by Cycle Momentum, recognizing early-stage Quebec-based climate startups with strong commercial and environmental impact.The 2026 Student Entrepreneur Innovation Prize, recognizing the next generation of climate solution builders.

The 2026 edition drew a record level of interest, with a 30% increase in applications over the previous year. The full list of finalists for all prizes is available in the attached fact sheet and at www.climatesolutionsprize.com.

Bridging the gap between climate innovation and deployment

Since its founding in 2020, the CSP has become an international platform that has supported more than 1,400 innovators across 20 countries, awarded over $12 million in prizes, and helped generate more than $111 million in follow-on funding. The 2026 edition marks a new phase of expansion. Three new thematic tracks — Nature & Biotechnologies, Resource Technologies and Energy & Power — join four returning tracks to bring the total to seven.

“I’ve been to hundreds of sustainability conferences over the course of my career, and most times cannot wait to get home. The Climate Solutions Prize Festival is different — one of the most incredible experiences of my entire career. Being surrounded by leaders from across sectors, all sharing ideas to reduce our carbon impact, made it one of the most inspiring and impactful few days I’ve ever had in sustainability.” — Rob Johnson, Senior Vice President, Sustainability, Seattle Kraken & Climate Pledge Arena

“Events like the Climate Solutions Prize Festival are wonderful opportunities to highlight concrete solutions and bring initiatives forward. In this province, there are extraordinary initiatives and extraordinary creativity to support. We are proud to be part of it.” — Grégoire Baillargeon, President, BMO Financial Group, Québec

Click here to discover the full program and register.

To register as media, please contact Emmy Vande Rosieren at emmyvdr@copticom.ca or (514) 603-3209.

About the Climate Solutions Prize

Founded in 2020, the Climate Solutions Prize acts as a catalyst for the ecological transition by accelerating innovation, investment and collaboration. Through its flagship annual event, the Climate Solutions Prize Festival, the initiative brings together researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, public sector actors and strategic partners to foster the emergence, funding and global reach of innovative environmental technologies.

FACT SHEET

2026 Climate Solutions Prize Festival : Full List of Finalists

The 2026 Climate Solutions Prize Festival will recognize finalists across four prize categories. Below are the complete lists of finalists.

2026 Breakthrough Research Prize: The Top 10 Finalists

The Breakthrough Research Prize recognizes leading climate research from Canadian universities and non-profit institutions, with awards directed to the host institution to support continued innovation.

University of British Columbia — Armand Bonakdarpour (Narval Energy): A safe, low-cost sodium and iron battery for long-duration energy storage that performs in extreme temperatures and can replace diesel power in remote communities.University of Toronto and Western University, in partnership with Xatoms Inc — Diana Virgovicova: AI-discovered, light-activated materials that break down industrial water pollution without chemical additives or secondary waste.National Research Council of Canada — Parisa Karimi (Hyperion): A circular carbon recycling system that captures CO₂ from cement production and converts it into useful low-carbon minerals.RXN Hub, in partnership with CERT Systems — Steacy Coombs: Uses clean electricity to convert CO₂ and water into ethylene, replacing fossil-based production for plastics, fuels and everyday materials.RXN Hub, in partnership with Secant Fuel — Sandra Walker [confirm name]: Turns CO₂ and water into clean syngas, creating a scalable pathway to lower-carbon fuels for shipping and aviation.Biopterre — Rodrigue Dasani [confirm spelling]: Transforms stored mine-site soils into biologically active carbon sinks, turning land restoration into a measurable climate solution.Université Laval — MicroMea — Juliette Gagnon: Converts businesses’ organic waste into onsite biogas through compact, bacteria-powered containers, reducing landfill use and emissions.University of Waterloo, in partnership with CarbonLume Inc — Abdelaziz Gouda: Uses modular, light-driven technology to convert methane into battery-grade carbon nanotubes and clean hydrogen.Simon Fraser University — Majid Bahrami [confirm spelling]: A waste-heat-to-cooling platform that uses heat from buildings and data centres to produce affordable, low-carbon cooling.Concordia University — Ashlee Howarth (Anodyne Chemistries): A reusable sorbent-based process that turns captured CO₂ into carbon-negative chemicals with lower energy and emissions.

2026 Climate Tech Trailblazer Prize: The Top 10 Finalists

The 2026 Climate Tech Trailblazer Prize saw a 30% increase in applications over last year. This year’s finalists represent [X] countries and span sectors from [X to Y]. The finalists will pitch live to a jury of investors and industry leaders in a Dragons’ Den-style event on June 9, with the winner revealed at the closing ceremony.

Local Energy (Daniel Bastien) — Helps factories, industrial parks and cities reduce emissions by capturing and redistributing excess energy that would otherwise be wasted.Tydra Biomaterial Labs Ltd (Jaiya Varshney) — Transforms food waste into chitin through microbial recycling, creating a powerful material for water remediation, wound healing and soil health.Cellulotech Inc (Romain Metivet) — A fast, low-cost green chemistry process that makes paper water- and grease-resistant while keeping it recyclable, offering a plastic-free packaging alternative.Cardinal Volta (Nan Ge) — Captures wasted industrial heat and converts it into reusable energy, helping factories reduce costs and emissions.Planetary (Michael Kelland) — Removes carbon by safely restoring ocean alkalinity, enabling seawater to absorb and permanently store more CO₂ while reducing ocean acidification.Alter Biota Inc (Mark Masotti) — Uses biochar from wood waste and computer vision aggregate analysis to help concrete producers make stronger, lower-carbon concrete.TerraFixing (Samantha Usas) — Stores low-cost renewable electricity as high-temperature heat, replacing fossil fuels in heat-intensive industrial production.Tersa Earth Innovations Inc (Earl Oliver) — Uses microbe-powered water treatment to clean mine-impacted water, neutralize acidity and recover valuable metals.Tree Track Intelligence (Amir Soleimani) — Combines engineered Seedpods and precision UAV deployment to restore wildfire-damaged landscapes with stronger seedling survival rates.Neptune Nanotechnologies (Aaron Guan) — Turns discarded crab and lobster shells into a bio-based fire-safety additive for plastics, reducing reliance on toxic chemicals.

2026 Climate Startup Equity Prize Powered by Cycle Momentum: The Top 10 Finalists

The Climate Startup Equity Prize recognizes early-stage Quebec-based climate startups with strong commercial and environmental impact.

AgFlo — Brings precision to feed inventory, reducing costs and emissions at scale.Partake (Partage Club Inc.) — Live more than you own.PakVille — Reinventing construction with high-performance building panels made from recycled materials.PlasmaGear — PFAS is being phased out, and PlasmaGear is ready to replace it.Local Energy — Uses AI to turn complex thermal and industrial energy systems into flexible energy assets.BeNat — Waste less. Build more.Carbon Saver — Embeds carbon intelligence directly into existing building design tools, making emissions reduction automatic, fast and cost-effective.Altiro — Patented iron fuel technology that stores clean power and delivers it anywhere in the world.Polaris Aerospace — Redefining access to space.Secant Fuel — Turns captured CO₂ and water into low-carbon syngas, creating a simpler, lower-cost pathway to cleaner fuels and chemicals.

For more information: www.climatesolutionsprize.com

SOURCE Climate Solutions Prize

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abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund Declares Distribution Dates and Amount

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PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund (NYSE: ASGI) (the “Fund”) announced today that it will pay the distribution indicated on a per-share basis on October 30, 2026, to all shareholders of record as of October 6, 2026 (ex-dividend date: October 6, 2026).

Ticker

Exchange

Fund

Amount

ASGI

NYSE

abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund

$ 0.2200

At the end of each calendar year, a Form 1099-DIV will be sent to shareholders, which will state the amount and composition of the Fund’s distributions and provide information with respect to their appropriate tax treatment for the prior calendar year. 

The Fund’s distribution policy is subject to modification by the Board of Directors/Trustees at any time, and there can be no guarantee that the policy will continue. You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund’s investment performance from the amount of the distributions.

MANAGED DISTRIBUTION POLICY FUND
ANNOUNCES DISTRIBUTION PAYMENT DETAILS

abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund (“ASGI”)

The abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund (“ASGI”) today announced that the Fund will pay the distribution noted in the chart above on October 30, 2026, to all shareholders of record as of October 6, 2026 (ex-dividend date: October 6, 2026).

The Fund has adopted a distribution policy to provide investors with a stable distribution out of current income, supplemented by realized capital gains and, to the extent necessary, paid-in capital in reliance on an exemptive order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Under applicable U.S. tax rules, the amount and character of distributable income for the Fund’s fiscal year can be finally determined only as of the end of the Fund’s fiscal year. However, under Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and related rules, the Fund may be required to indicate to shareholders the estimated source of certain distributions to shareholders.

The following tables set forth the estimated amounts of the sources of the distributions for purposes of Section 19 of the 1940 Act and the rules adopted thereunder. The tables have been computed based on generally accepted accounting principles. The tables include estimated amounts and percentages for the current distributions to be paid as well as for the cumulative distributions paid relating to fiscal year to date, from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short-term capital gains; net realized long-term capital gains; and return of capital. The estimated compositions of the distributions may vary because the estimated composition may be impacted by future income, expenses and realized gains and losses on securities and currencies.

The Fund’s estimated sources of the current distributions to be paid and for its current fiscal year to date are as follows:

Estimated Amounts of Current Distribution per Share

Fund

Distribution Amount

Net Investment Income

Net Realized Short-Term Gains*

Net Realized Long-Term Gains

Return of Capital

ASGI

$0.2200

–

–

–

–

$0.2200

100 %

–

–

Estimated Amounts of Fiscal Year to Date Cumulative Distributions per Share

Fund

Fiscal Year** to Date Distribution Amount

Net Investment Income

Net Realized Short-Term Gains*

Net Realized Long-Term Gains

Return of Capital

ASGI

$0.2200

–

–

–

–

$0.2200

100 %

–

–

* includes currency gains
** ASGI has a 9/30 fiscal year end.

The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The final determination of the source of all distributions for the current year will only be made after year-end. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund’s investment experience during the remainder of the fiscal year and may be subject to change based on tax regulations. After the end of each calendar year, a Form 1099-DIV will be sent to shareholders for the prior calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

The following table provides the Fund’s total return performance based on net asset value (NAV) over various time periods compared to the Fund’s annualized and cumulative distribution rates.

Fund Performance and Distribution Rate Information

Fund

Average Annual Total Return on NAV for the 5-Year Period Ending 8/31/2026¹

Current Fiscal Period’s Annualized Distribution Rate on NAV²

Cumulative Total Return on NAV¹

Cumulative Distribution Rate on NAV²

ASGI

8.89 %

12.13 %

15.08 %

11.12 %

1 Return data is net of all fund expenses and fees and assumes the reinvestment of all distributions at prices obtained under the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan.
2 Based on the Fund’s NAV as of August 31, 2026.

Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about a Fund’s investment performance from the amount of the Fund’s current distributions or from the terms of the distribution policy (the “Distribution Policy”).

The value at which a closed-end fund stock may trade on a public exchange is a function of external market factors that are not under the control of the Fund’s Board or Investment Adviser. Closed-end fund shares may therefore trade at a premium or a discount to net asset value at any given time. Shareholders should be aware that a fund’s premium to net asset value may not be sustainable and a fund’s discount to net asset value can widen as well as narrow. Shareholders of a fund trading at a premium who participate in that fund’s dividend reinvestment plan should note that the reinvestment of distributions may occur at a premium to net asset value.

While NAV performance may be indicative of the Fund’s investment performance, it does not measure the value of a shareholder’s investment in the Fund. The value of a shareholder’s investment in the Fund is determined by the Fund’s market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Fund’s shares in the open market.

Pursuant to an exemptive order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Fund may distribute any long-term capital gains more frequently than the limits provided in Section 19(b) under the 1940 Act and Rule 19b-1 thereunder. Therefore, distributions paid by the Fund during the year may include net income, short-term capital gains, long-term capital gains and/or a return of capital. Net income dividends and short-term capital gain dividends, while generally taxable at ordinary income rates, may be eligible, to the extent of qualified dividend income earned by the Fund, to be taxed at a lower rate not to exceed the maximum rate applicable to your long-term capital gains. Distributions made in any calendar year in excess of investment company taxable income and net capital gain are treated as taxable ordinary dividends to the extent of undistributed earnings and profits, and then as a return of capital that reduces the adjusted basis in the shares held. To the extent return of capital distributions exceed the adjusted basis in the shares held, capital gain is recognized with a holding period based on the period the shares have been held at the date such amount is received.

The payment of distributions in accordance with the Distribution Policy may result in a decrease in the Fund’s net assets. A decrease in the Fund’s net assets may cause an increase in the Fund’s annual operating expense ratio and a decrease in the Fund’s market price per share to the extent the market price correlates closely to the Fund’s net asset value per share. The Distribution Policy may also negatively affect the Fund’s investment activities to the extent that the Fund is required to hold larger cash positions than it typically would hold or to the extent that the Fund must liquidate securities that it would not have sold for the purpose of paying the distribution. The Fund’s Board has the right to amend, suspend or terminate the Distribution Policy at any time.

The amendment, suspension or termination of the Distribution Policy may affect the Fund’s market price per share. Investors should consult their tax advisor regarding federal, state, and local tax considerations that may be applicable in their particular circumstances.

Circular 230 disclosure: To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the U.S. Treasury, we inform you that any U.S. tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.

In the United States, Aberdeen Investments refers to the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: abrdn Inc., abrdn Investments Limited, and abrdn Asia Limited.

Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. A Fund’s investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the fund’s portfolio. There is no assurance that a Fund will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund | Aberdeen

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SOURCE abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund

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TruTrade Showcases the Next Generation of Automated Trading Technology for Retail Traders

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Sept. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — TruTrade, a software company specializing in automated trading technology, is showcasing the latest generation of its technology designed to bring sophisticated trading automation to retail traders.

TruTrade‘s automated trading platform is designed to simplify how traders interact with the financial markets. Rather than requiring users to spend hours monitoring charts, identifying setups and manually managing positions, TruTrade’s technology is designed to automate key components of the trading process, including trade execution and position management.

The company’s latest technology reflects a broader evolution in automated trading, with an emphasis on making advanced automation more accessible to everyday traders regardless of their previous trading experience or time availability.

“Technology has completely changed what is possible for the individual trader,” said Brian Nutt, Co-Founder of TruTrade. “Our focus has been on developing institutional-grade automated trading technology that simplifies the trading process while giving retail traders access to a level of automation that historically was not readily available to them.”

TruTrade offers automated trading solutions designed for a variety of trading environments, including personal brokerage accounts, retirement accounts and supported proprietary trading accounts. The company’s technology ecosystem includes solutions for multiple financial markets and gives users the ability to select an automated approach based on their individual trading objectives.

As part of its focus on transparency, TruTrade is also providing prospective clients with access to recorded trading sessions demonstrating its automated trading technology in real-world market conditions. New demonstrations provide an opportunity to see how the technology executes and manages trades before speaking directly with the company.

TruTrade continues to invest in making automated trading technology easier to access, understand and use as automation plays an increasingly important role in the retail trading landscape.

To learn more about TruTrade and its automated trading technology, visit TruTrade.io.

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SOURCE TruTrade

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Tau Highlights Electrification Leadership at Climate Week NYC 2026

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IEEE / Columbia University fireside chat and 19 technical papers from Tau and its research partners highlight progress in software-defined power and the technologies enabling electrification at scale.

NEW YORK and REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Sept. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Tau Motors, Inc., a pioneer in software-defined power conversion, highlighted the technical depth behind its approach to electrification during Climate Week NYC 2026. The 19 technical papers reflecting research by Tau and its partners at the Columbia Center of Advanced Electrification (CCAE) are featured in the 2026 IEEE/CCAE Symposium on Advanced Electrification Systems program. During a fireside chat at the Columbia University event, Tau Founder and CEO Wesley Pennington discussed how integrating power electronics, electric machines, and software can accelerate electrification.

The research, developed by Tau and its partners at CCAE and featured in the symposium program, covers power conversion and control, electric machine modeling, energy storage, and grid-connected systems. The work reflects Tau’s sustained investment in power conversion, controls, and electric machine engineering, disciplines central to its Ion™ and Gamma™ platforms. The papers also highlight the breadth of Tau’s work across sustainable energy systems.

Tau’s Ion™ platform combines modular power electronics with firmware and software libraries to support applications across mobility, industrial equipment, energy infrastructure, and data centers. Its Gamma™ electric machine platform integrates machine design, power electronics, and controls to enable rare-earth-free motion.

At the September 25 symposium, Wesley Pennington, Founder and CEO of Tau, joined Matthias Preindl, Associate Professor at Columbia University and Tau’s Chief Scientist, for a fireside chat exploring the “electro-industrial stack” and what becomes possible when power electronics, electric machines, and software are designed together. The conversation examined how programmable architectures can improve system performance, reduce material dependencies, and accelerate deployment across transportation, industry, and digital infrastructure.

“Accelerating electrification means making the systems that convert and control power more efficient, more affordable, and easier to deploy,” said Pennington. “When power electronics, electric machines, and software are designed together, we can optimize the entire system. Tau is building the software-defined power platform to give industry greater control over performance, costs, and supply chains—and accelerate deployment at scale.”

The symposium featured speakers from organizations including GM Energy, Siemens, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, alongside researchers and other industry participants.

Tau established CCAE alongside Columbia Engineering to connect advanced research with the practical requirements of industrial applications. The work addresses challenges that influence efficiency, reliability, and the ability to deploy electric systems across a wider range of uses.

About Tau
Tau Motors, Inc. is an advanced technology company accelerating electrification from electric vehicles to the grid and digital infrastructure. Its Ion™ and Gamma™ platforms combine power electronics, advanced controls, and hardware design to improve the performance, economics, and adaptability of electric systems. Drawing on deep expertise in systems engineering, Tau partners with industry leaders to rapidly develop and deploy products on its platforms across industries. For more information, visit taumotors.com.

Media Contact
Tau Media Office
media@taumotors.com 

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SOURCE Tau Motors, Inc.

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