Grants and Contributions:

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Title:

Youth - Modular Recycling Model Development

Agreement Number:

1040588

Agreement Value:

$30,000.00

Agreement Date:

Apr 1, 2026 - Jan 31, 2027

Description:

Waste Parrot, a Canadian company, won Phase 1 of NASA’s Lunar Recycling Challenge, beating 1,200 teams from 86 countries. Its modular autonomous system uses AI material characterization to turn plastics and other non-metabolic waste into reusable resources for long missions. Unlike U.S. winners, international teams received no cash award, leaving Waste Parrot without funds to advance to Phase 2 underway. Support would keep Wasteparrot represented and move space-proven recycling into remote terrestrial use. Phase 2 targets a deployable prototype in 8 months that sorts with AI vision and robotics and 3D-prints tools, insulation, and structural parts. Partners include: EWMC, BioEnergy Solutions Inc. and REAC-Indigenous community pilots.

Organization:

National Research Council Canada

Expected Results:

The purpose of IRAP’s Youth Employment Program is to assist in increasing the supply of highly qualified people, promoting the benefits of advanced studies, demonstrating federal leadership by investing in the skills required to meet the needs of the knowledge economy and facilitating the transition of highly skilled young people to a rapidly changing labour market.

Location:

Edmonton, Alberta, CA T6W 1Y6

Reference Number:

172-2025-2026-Q4-1040588

Agreement Type:

Contribution

Report Type:

Grants and Contributions

Recipient Business Number:

798235768

Recipient Type:

For-profit organization

Recipient's Legal Name:

WASTE PARROT TECHNOLOGIES INC.

Federal Riding Name:

Edmonton--Wetaskiwin

Federal Riding Number:

48021

Program:

Industrial Research Assistance Program – Youth Employment Program

Program Purpose:

Coverage:

IRAP Youth Employment Program projects stimulate wealth creation for Canada through technological innovation.

NAICS Code:

33461