Carbon removal developer CO280 took home the Gamechanger – Climate Leadership award at BC Tech’s 2026 Technology Impact Awards, leading a group of winners working across critical minerals, wildfire detection, and sustainable materials.
Held October 29 at Parq Vancouver, the annual awards recognized 11 companies for achievements spanning business growth, innovation, and industry impact.
Vancouver-based CO280 develops projects that capture and permanently store biogenic carbon dioxide from pulp and paper mills. Its approach integrates carbon capture into existing industrial facilities, creating a pathway to carbon removal while bringing new investment to the forestry sector.
The company’s Climate Leadership win was complemented by recognition for three other businesses with technologies relevant to the clean economy.
Ideon Technologies earned the Gamechanger – Industry Innovation award. The company uses naturally occurring subatomic particles called muons to produce three-dimensional maps of underground geology. By helping mining companies better identify and characterize mineral deposits, its technology supports more precise exploration and the development of critical minerals needed for clean energy technologies.
SenseNet won Company of the Year – Growth. Its wildfire detection platform combines sensors, cameras, satellite imagery, weather data, and artificial intelligence to help communities and infrastructure operators identify threats and respond earlier. The company’s work addresses the growing need for climate resilience alongside emissions reduction.
Lite-1 received Company of the Year – Startup. The biotechnology company grows colourants using microorganisms, developing alternatives to conventional synthetic dyes. Its work targets the environmental footprint of colour production, with potential applications across textiles and other manufactured products.
Together, the four winners highlight the range of approaches emerging from British Columbia’s cleantech sector—from managing industrial carbon emissions and locating critical minerals to protecting communities and changing how materials are produced.