Due: April 18, 2025

A global resource extraction company seeks professionals with significant knowledge and experience in subterranean corrosion. Consultative engagement and other collaboration opportunities possible for respondents with expertise in corrosion chemistry, mechanics or simulation.

OPPORTUNITY

TechConnect’s client, a leading resource extraction company, utilizes various steel components such as hollow and solid tendons, cables, wire mesh, and straps to maintain employee safety at its sites. Due to various geochemical, hydrogeological, environmental and physical conditions present at those sites, the steel components are subject to degradation and potential failure due to corrosion.

To maintain the safety of its employees and improve its ability to plan for and respond to corrosion, the client seeks experts in the science of subterranean corrosion of steel products.

All aspects of subterranean corrosion are of interest, including but not limited to:

• Parameters impacting corrosion such as:
  • Atmospheric composition
  • Geochemical rock mass interaction
  • Hydrodynamic forces and composition
  • Microbial presence
  • Physical stressors
  • Steel grade and element composition
• Failure mechanics of steel products
• Modeling of corrosion: physical or computer
• Prevention, detection, remediation and mitigation approaches

We encourage subject matter experts (SMEs) with experience in any aspect of subterranean corrosion to respond, in particular those specializing in subterranean corrosion in North American geology. Corrosion experts from all industries are, likewise, of interest.

Responses should focus on the background and expertise of the respondent or their team. Technologies for simulating or responding to corrosion are potentially of interest but the primary goal of this project is the identification of corrosion SMEs. Approaches focused on replacing the steel products currently utilized are out of scope.

The goal of this sprint is to facilitate contact and interactions between the sprint sponsor and commercial entities (including startups), technology developers or research organization/university in this space. TechConnect will include all complete and eligible entries in an exclusive innovation opportunity report for the client. Solvers with well-matched capabilities may be contacted directly by either TechConnect or the client to discuss potential partnership opportunities, including – but not limited to – demonstrations, consulting, contract research, licensing, and more. TechConnect may also invite select respondents to register or participate in future TechConnect events or pitch programs.

TIMELINE

We encourage interested individuals and organizations to submit a non-confidential response detailing their background, expertise and capabilities by the submission deadline.

TechConnect will invite select respondents to a virtual meeting with the client, tentatively planned for May. Respondents and the client team will have the opportunity to jointly discuss the project at a non-confidential level.

Following the virtual meetings, TechConnect will make official introductions between the client and select respondents. Once formal introductions are made, client and respondent can then establish confidentiality agreements and discuss various aspects of the collaboration such as IP, compensation, and duration. At that time, technical details about the materials used and site conditions can also be shared.

PARTICIPATION

The client encourages respondents to highlight their knowledge and expertise by including information such as:

• Overview of corrosion expertise including any specializations
• Experience with subterranean conditions in North America
• Prior collaborations with industry, if any
• Examples of relevant publications, if any
• Examples of applied remediation/mitigation measures in corrosive environments, if any
• Ability to conduct research:
  • In the lab
  • At the client’s sites