Magna International Facility Emissions Challenge
Magna International seeks innovative, reliable solutions to reduce Scope 1 facility emissions. Solutions should have minimal impact on existing infrastructure and demonstrate a reasonable return on investment in the short-medium term.
Challenge Launch: February 2025
Driving Down Emissions for Year-Round Facility Comfort
Magna International seeks innovative, reliable solutions to reduce Scope 1 facility emissions. Solutions should have minimal impact on existing infrastructure and demonstrate a reasonable return on investment in the short-medium term.
Magna International is committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, and innovative solutions are key to that goal. Scalable, cost-effective technologies are needed to significantly reduce Scope 1 emissions while enhancing operational efficiency without disrupting existing infrastructure.
Challenge Statement
Magna International seeks to implement innovative technologies that minimize facility Scope 1 emissions while maintaining operational reliability and comfort.
Solutions may include energy recovery systems, alternative fuels, efficient ventilation designs, or heat pumps. These technologies should align with Magna’s operational and budgetary constraints and have the potential for scalability across its global facilities.
Challenge Opportunity
This Challenge offers innovators a unique opportunity to collaborate with Magna International, a leading global automotive components manufacturer. Successful finalists will have the chance to pitch their solutions directly to the Magna team, gaining valuable exposure and insights.
The winning applicant will have the opportunity to pilot their technologies within Magna’s facility, and successful pilots may lead to scaling solutions and connections across Magna’s global network.
This Challenge provides a pathway to build long-term relationships with an industry leader and to contribute meaningfully to advancing sustainability in manufacturing.
Challenge Background
Magna International aims to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. A significant portion of Scope 1 emissions arises from make-up air units required to compensate for ventilation losses in manufacturing facilities. These systems currently exhaust conditioned air, resulting in substantial energy loss and increased emissions. Magna seeks innovative solutions to reduce Scope 1 emissions that work with minimal impact to existing processes.
Potential approaches may include energy recovery systems, alternate fuels, efficient ventilation, heat pumps, or other solutions that address these challenges with minimal capital investment.
A successful solution will:
- Be an innovative yet proven and reliable solution that is ready for piloting or adoption to meet Scope 1 emission reduction targets.
- Have clear alignment with budget availability and timelines.
- Be scalable across Magna facilities if initial pilots are successful.
- Require minimal maintenance and demonstrate long-term reliability.
- Include access to support and troubleshooting for the Magna team related to ongoing maintenance and post-pilot/adoption.
Any proven solution that works in Canada can be considered for global operations.
Considerations & Barriers to Adoption
Innovators should be aware of several considerations and barriers to adoption that could impact the implementation of proposed solutions. Solutions should address these factors while aligning Magna’s emission reduction target to increase the likelihood of success.
Below are the key barriers that need to be addressed for the solution to be successfully adopted:
- Financial
- Upfront capital costs must be minimal, with a strong business case for a short-medium-length ROI.
- Regulation
- The solution must comply with all regulatory and safety standards specific to manufacturing facilities in Southern Ontario.
- The solution must maintain workplace conditions, including a consistent interior temperature of 18°C.
- Operational Capacity
- Integration with existing systems should be well thought out to avoid operational disruptions.
- Technologies should require minimal maintenance to ensure long-term reliability and feasibility.
- Scalability
- Solutions must demonstrate scalability for potential implementation across Magna’s global network of facilities.
Evaluation & Eligibility Criteria
The Challenge is open to Canadian and global innovators. Applicants must be able to operate within Magna’s facilities and meet all necessary safety, compliance, and operational requirements. Solutions should also be commercially deployable and compatible with the regulations and standards of the target pilot facility (Southern Ontario).
Evaluation categories:
- Cost-Effectiveness: Strong business case with a short-to-medium-term return on investment.
- Emission Reduction Impact : Demonstrated capability to reduce Scope 1 emissions effectively.
- Reliability: Proven performance with minimal maintenance requirements.
- Scalability : Potential for implementation across multiple Magna facilities globally.
- Innovation: A unique but not first-of-a-kind demonstration is encouraged.
Key eligibility criteria include:
- Solutions must be at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 7+
- Open to Canadian and global innovators.
- Applicants must meet Magna’s safety, compliance, and operational standards.
- Solutions should be commercially deployable and adhere to facility-specific regulations in Southern Ontario.
The Partner
Magna International is one of the world’s largest auto suppliers and is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, with science-based targets verified to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42% and Scope 3 emissions by 25% by 2030.
The company is driving decarbonization through energy optimization initiatives, transitioning to 100% renewable electricity globally by 2030, and integrating sustainable practices into its manufacturing operations. Magna also collaborates with over 10,000 suppliers, customers, and startups to promote sustainability across the automotive supply chain.
Learn more about Magna’s commitment to sustainability and innovation.
Challenge Updates
February 12, 2025: Applications open
March 4, 2025: Informational webinar (register)
March 26, 2025: Applications close
June, 2025: Winners announced
Our Partners
The Magna International Facility Emissions Challenge is run in partnerhip with Magna International.
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