11/20/2024
The Future of Food Traceability: Cleantech Innovations
The food industry is under immense pressure to balance consumer demand for transparency, regulatory compliance, and the fight against food f...
By Sunena Gupta
Looking to scale your innovation? Need ideas, resources and advice to take your start-up or scale-up to the next level? From agriculture to transport, recycling, chemicals, clean energy and the latest in AI, you can search for and find opportunities to work with corporates, investors, accelerators and programs dedicated to helping us create a cleaner, cooler future.
Cleantech Group is an active partner on these challenges:
You can search and filter through challenges by typing in the search field or by using the dropdowns below.
Click here to view the current challenges.
Global call for innovative start-ups working towards carbon utilization through industrial carbon capture and utilization technologies. Winners will benefit from targeted support, exclusive networks, and the chance to share part of the CHF 300,000 prize.
RECYC-QUÉBEC and Cycle Momentum are joining forces up to mobilize Quebec’s industrial ecosystem addressing both the challenges and opportunities of efficiently managing materials from the energy transition, all through the lens of a circular economy.
Looking for innovators to create solutions that increase the use of existing low and zero-carbon transport modes in the city of Venice.
The deadline for entries is 12:00 UTC on Monday 30 September 2024.
Clean Colour Ltd has developed a biodegradable sequin which is attractive to the market and now needs to ensure its solution can run at the speeds currently required by industry for scaled fabric manufacture. They are looking to find a solution provider that can solve the challenge of machining sequins onto substrate fabrics at speeds on par with fossil based current sequin solutions.
Pilkington’s concept is to modernise sag-bending by incorporating smart manufacturing techniques. They would like to measure the convex surface of glass at multiple locations in-situ within the furnace, creating live information for a digital twin that allows real-time optimisation of furnace conditions.
The challenge being set by Catnic is to conduct a feasibility study to support the development of a reduced carbon, fully recyclable, cost-competitive, plaster-compatible new insulation material for lintel products that at least matches the performance characteristics of the existing fossil-fuel based foam system.
BAE Systems is a leading defence contractor with a presence in multiple countries worldwide. The company manufactures and maintains defence platforms for its UK and global customers. BAE Systems is aiming to improve platform safety, availability, capability, and reduce material waste, cost and schedule with the use of advanced functionally graded materials.
Product innovation showcase and competition that connects clean technology solutions to the oil and natural gas industry.
UK-based SMEs active in battery technologies for transport and energy storage, working across the battery value chain. We are particularly interested in SMEs in the electric vehicle battery sector at a demonstrator stage of development.
HAESL is seeking solutions to capture, treat, and reuse wastewater from the cooling tower of a building chiller system.
Swire Properties is seeking solutions to reduce the energy intensity of cooling existing commercial buildings across Hong Kong and mainland China using phase change materials (PCMs).
Taikoo Motors Group (TMG) is seeking solutions to reduce the water intensity of hand washing vehicles, includes cars, buses, and trucks.
Swire Coca-Cola (SCC) is seeking solutions to treat wastewater for onsite reuse at manufacturing plants in China.
Innovate UK Business Connect is supporting FIS360 in the promotion of the Game Changers innovation programme, which finds solutions for complex nuclear industry challenges. Apply now to this Sellafield Ltd challenge which focusses on exploring options for effective, strong and durable fixatives that would provide containment of alpha contaminated material within gloveboxes.
This Challenge is looking for scalable technology companies that significantly decarbonise the Built Environment, helping them expand to Asia through real business opportunities.
The Post Harvest Loss Innovation Prize led by Factor E Ventures, together with Shell Foundation, FCDO, ISF Advisors, MicroSave Consulting (MSC), and AndMore Associates is dedicated to uncovering the next big breakthrough in technology to reduce post-harvest losses for smallholder farmers. Apply by July 31st. Your solution could win $50,000 and gain recognition from industry leaders.
For its fourth accelerator cohort, the C2V Initiative and its Carbontech Leadership Council (CLC) are welcoming applications from startups at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4-7 that are developing carbontech solutions.
The Innovate UK Innovation Exchange programme is supporting Rolls-Royce SMR to monitor the condition of components within power station modules throughout their journey from factory to storage and installation.
Climate Impact Innovations Challenge (CIIC) is Indonesia’s largest climate innovations tech competition. Debuted in 2023, CIIC provides a platform for tech innovators to showcase their sustainable innovations in addressing ecological challenges and mitigating the impacts of climate change.
CIIC 2024 provides the platform for teams to compete in three tracks for a total prize pool of Rp 10 billion to pilot their solutions within Indonesia.
Only teams that have created a prototype or a minimum viable product with the intention of commercialization are eligible to apply.
There are less than two weeks left to apply for our latest investment cycle. Elemental is investing up to $3M per company and looking to support 15-20 companies across two investment tracks. If you are interested in joining the Elemental portfolio, apply now to receive preferential review for GGRF investments made this year. Further details and expanded investment opportunities will be announced in the upcoming months.
All European starters with a project or concept that focuses on sustainability can register for VITO4STARTERS. Do you have an idea to make materials or processes more circular? Have you developed a process that reduces CO2 emissions or uses less water? Or have you developed an intelligent or efficient energy system? If so, VITO4STARTERS is the ideal programme for letting these ideas grow
The SolarX Startup Challenge 2024 aims to promote innovations that are implementable, cost-effective, and scalable solutions to some of the persistent challenges in the solar sector. Aimed at enhancing the startup ecosystem in APAC, it presents a threefold opportunity by building the local startup ecosystem, thinning the gap in the energy crisis, and promoting investments in the solar energy sector to develop innovative solutions.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) issued a notice of intent (NOI) to launch a Voluntary Carbon Dioxide Removal Purchasing Challenge (“Challenge”). The Challenge will call on external organizations to join DOE in purchasing high-quality carbon dioxide removal credits, following the Department’s recent commitment to procure $35M through the Carbon Dioxide Removal Purchase Pilot Prize.
The Net Zero Catalyst is supporting Pulpex to find a provider to analyse recycled paper fibre and alternative biomass sources for a fibre bottle moulding process.
The Net Zero Catalyst Fund seeks a solution provider to design, manufacture, and deploy a pilot-scale hydrogel reactor system.
Seeking innovators who can provide a solution to reclaim and recycle silicone from used HealthTech and medical devices in an efficient and effective manner.
Carbonbit seeks to identify process, mechanical and electrical engineering modifications to scale-up a small-scale DAC system to industrial scale.
Seeking innovators who can formulate, pelletise, trial and validate a sustainable and cost-effective poultry feed using Yeast Protein Concentrate (YPC).
The challenge holder, an agile start-up organisation, is looking for a solution provider to identify the best material and application process for manufacturing and applying a sub-gasket to a novel hydrocarbon polymer membrane, without fundamentally changing the molecular structure of the membrane. The proposed solution should include provision for mechanical and chemical simulation, and the production of a manufacturing specification document. Production of a sample item would be beneficial but not necessary at this stage.
The Urban Future Lab is pleased to announce, for the eighth consecutive year, the Urban Future Prize Competition, which seeks to find the brightest climatetech startups and, through the generous support of The New York Community Trust, MUFG Bank, and NYU Tandon School of Engineering, award two winners with $50,000 cash prizes.
The Urban Future Lab is pleased to announce, for the eighth consecutive year, the Urban Future Prize Competition, which seeks to find the brightest climatetech startups and, through the generous support of The New York Community Trust, MUFG Bank, and NYU Tandon School of Engineering, award two winners with $50,000 cash prizes.
SolarX Startup Challenge aims to crowdsource implementable, cost-effective, scalable, and innovative solutions to some of the persistent challenges faced by the solar energy sector of the member countries. The first edition was focused on the African region. The second edition will focus on the APAC region, aiming to promote innovation and discover local solutions, with the over-arching objective of capacity building.
Local innovation with a big impact: funding to support sustainability in horticultural and plant-based businesses.
Apply for a grant worth between £10,000 and £50,000.
If you’re a climate innovator with an idea that has the potential for significant climate impact and commercial growth apply now for The Greenhouse.
The Innovandi Open Challenge is a global progr...
The Innovandi Open Challenge is a global programme which brings together tech start-ups and world-leading cement and concrete companies to help accelerate the next wave of innovations to achieve our net zero mission. For this challenge, we are seeking innovations related to our Net Zero Roadmap main decarbonisation lever with an impact at scale to tackle climate change.
The Open Challenge is seeking applications from start-ups interested in working on the development of carbon capture use and storage, for low carbon cement and concrete. Innovative technologies are sought, which include process integrated and end-of-pipe CO2 capture and use, and which help prevent the carbon being emitted into the atmosphere.
EIT Food is looking for fast-moving, mature companies with an existing business case that has high potential to generate B2B/B2C sales for new or improved food innovation products or services. Through the Fast Track To Market funding programme, you can boost your market readiness to bring your service to new or expanded markets.
Whether expanding to new markets, or growing new products in existing markets, the support of EIT Food can help your company speed up your marketability and potential commercial success.
SolarX Startup Challenge aims to discover implementable, cost-effective, scalable, and innovative solutions to some of the most persistent challenges faced by the solar energy sector. The second edition (2024) is focused on the Asia and the Pacific region (APAC), aiming to promote innovation and discover local solutions, with the over-arching objective of capacity building.
To improve water efficiency in both our own operations and those of our manufacturing suppliers, we’re looking for solutions that will bring step change improvements in water efficiency across our own and our manufacturers’ water use. To help us reduce our water use by an average of 30% by 2030, we are looking for solutions that will bring improvements in water efficiency across our brewing, distilling, malting, and packaging processes, including wastewater treatment and water recycling.
Potential solutions could include but are not limited to:
What is not included:
Wastewater upcycling (this is covered in the wastewater to value challenge); On-farm water solutions
To maximise the value of Diageo’s waste streams, we’re looking for solutions that can be applied to Diageo’s distillation and brewing operations to upcycle wastewater into value-add products or services. This could benefit Diageo’s supply chain, other industries, local communities, or nature. We’re particularly interested in solutions, including modular solutions that can be adapted to differing concentrations of compounds, those that can be applied to industrial processes to increase concentration for easier and more efficient extraction of value-add components, and those that are applicable to different geographies, including remote locations.
Potential Solutions could include but are not limited to:
What is not included:
We are not looking for regenerative agriculture solutions as part of this challenge, although we do recognise the interdependencies.
To minimise the climate and water risks of the ingredients we source and use, we are looking for new and complementary blue-sky technology solutions to support our growth ambition while preserving existing agricultural supply chains. The aim is to find additional sources of ingredients with reduced water usage and water quality effects. Ingredients of interest are rice (India), aniseed and grapes (Turkey), agave (Mexico), wheat (UK), maize (USA), barley (Scotland/Ireland), sugarcane (India and Africa), sorghum (Kenya & Nigeria) and neutral spirit geographies: USA, India.
Potential Solutions could include but are not limited to:
What is not included:
We are not looking for regenerative agriculture solutions as part of this challenge, although we do recognise the interdependencies.
To improve water efficiency in agricultural operations, we are looking for solutions that will help us reduce our water impact and make our existing agricultural processes more efficient. We will also consider solutions that indirectly target water usage by reducing the need for water at any step of the crop’s lifecycle. Where we irrigate, we are looking for solutions to improve water efficiency.
Potential Solutions could include but are not limited to:
What is not included:
Solutions that are not geared towards agriculture (may be applicable to Water Efficiency challenge instead).
To improve the water use across the hospitality sector, we are looking for creative solutions in pubs, restaurants, bars and hotels to reduce water use while preserving or enhancing the customer experience. This includes shaking cocktails, serving drinks, glassware and ice to chill before filling, etc. These may be technology-based, innovation or other solutions – surprise us!
What is not included:
Offtrade solutions (Retail sales. May be applicable in other Water challenges).
The seventh Innovate UK Showcase Events for Climate Tech Investing will be held on 2nd May 2024 at the British Antarctic Survey headquarters in Cambridge. The theme for the event is “Concrete & Building Materials”, and will feature innovators whose solutions seek to abate emissions associated with cement and concrete, and other innovative building materials that will contribute to decarbonisation of the built environment.
Cambridge Cleantech is delighted to be one of the partners to organise the UK Showcase Events for Climate Tech Investing.
If you have a technology related to:
New cements/binders, innovative chemical additives for cement and concrete (like self-healing concrete gels, e.g.), digital solutions, circular solutions (like concrete recycling innovations, e.g.), alternative non-concrete building materials, and innovative methods of producing cement or other building materials, then apply to pitch.
Come to pitch in front of investors!
UKRI’s Faraday Battery Challenge, delivered by Innovate UK, will support UK registered small and medium-sized enterprises (SME). The funding competition will enable you to apply for a share of up to £1.5m to increase and facilitate your engagement with the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC).
The aim of the competition is to support SME’s Research and Development for the scale-up of battery technologies within the UK as well as their access and engagement with UKBIC.
Safran is seeking to expand the available testing for hybrid aircraft propulsion technologies in the UK by identifying the test means and facilities as well as organisations that have the skills and experience to support testing and development. This Innovation Exchange Challenge is looking for test houses, universities or companies that have test means for flight-relevant electric machines (including motors) so that partnerships can be established.
The Liveability Challenge is back and on the hunt for ground-breaking innovations across the world that enables large-scale decarbonisation, climate adaptation and resilience, as well as efficient and circular food systems.
Win more than S$2 million in funding from Asia’s largest sustainability solutions platform.
Chrysalix Venture Capital will award up to $250K USD for the winning solution.
The prize money:
Successful, start-up worthy solutions that achieve the 6-12 month project milestones will have the opportunity for additional follow-on equity funding of $1M+ from the Chrysalix Carbon Neutrality Fund.
innovative ways to transform poultry manure into energy sources and other valuable outputs. They are seeking suitable technology to convert this waste into other formats such as renewable energy, chemical extraction, specialised compost, etc in a safe and sustainable way. A modular, scalable solution would be preferred, located on-site to minimise transport costs, and to benefit business operations directly.
The fourth edition of The Clean Fight will be focused on food warehousing, distribution and retail solutions with high GHG impact, cost efficiency, and a clear path to scalability, that can help the tight-margined food service industry transition effectively into the clean economy.
Our non-residential program will run from May-October 2024.
This Open Innovation Challenge, delivered by the Global Alliance Africa project, is supporting Unilever Kenya who are searching for innovative solutions to produce millet food products with consumer appeal and zero waste, using circular economy principles.
This Open Innovation challenge, delivered by the Global Alliance Africa project, is supporting Unilever Kenya to find innovative ways to process millet (and other grains) to produce convenient, fortified consumer products. Due to this nutritious grains’ physical variability, processing can be inefficient, and there are challenges in producing preferable formats. Unilever Kenya is seeking innovative solutions beyond commonly used/existing technologies to produce millet food products with consumer appeal and zero waste, using circular economy principles. They are also open to wider use cases involving other grains.
Do you have a potential solution to valorise aged paints, and paint fractions and components. Pitch your potential solution to Berger Paints with up to £25k seed funding available to develop the solution.
This £15 million programme will support the development of resilient UK based supply chains for rare earth elements. With a focus on primary (mine to magnet) and secondary (End of Life to magnet) supply chains.
Applications are currently open at Imperial Enterprise Lab, who are on the look out for exciting projects that would benefit from mentoring, masterclasses and a 1:1 support to launch into high-flying ventures.
Built by Nature, a network and grant-making fund, has announced a global prize totalling €500,000 to recognise innovation and stimulate scalability in the use of biobased materials such as timber, bamboo, hemp, straw, algae, and fungi in construction.
Mkango Resources are looking for ways to remove Fe(II) and Fe(III) from either mixed metal powder, a slurry of mixed metal powder, or a dissolved acidic solution.
EMR are looking for time and cost effective ways to automate motor disassembly, and efficiently separate permanent magnets and copper coil from rotor housing.
Hirst Magnetics seeks developers of magnetic models to explore how eddy current correction and hysteresis loss in a dynamic motor can be simulated.
Ionic Technologies seeks solutions for demagnetisation and pre-processing of end-of-life high performance magnets.
The Inclusive Smart Solutions programme is now open for applications. Funded by the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and delivered by Energy Systems Catapult and the Carbon Trust; the Inclusive Smart Solutions programme aims to create a better understanding of the opportunities and barriers faced by low income and vulnerable consumers in the transition to a smart and flexible energy system.
ACCEL is an accelerator from Greentown Labs an...
ACCEL is an accelerator from Greentown Labs and Browning the Green Space (BGS) designed to bolster BIPOC-led climatetech startups by offering access to funding, networking connections, resources, and opportunities that structural inequities put out of reach. Seeking applications from startups at TRL 1-4 that are developing climate solutions for the electricity, transportation, buildings, manufacturing, agriculture, and resiliency + adaptation sectors.
The Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Challenge (SSPP) is contributing to the UK’s drive for clean growth and industrial decarbonisation by funding ground-breaking research and innovation to make plastic packaging fit for a sustainable future.
The main focus of the Nordic Cleantech Open competition is to identify, support and promote the 25 best cleantech start-ups and the 10 best scale-ups in the Nordic and Baltic regions.
Innovate UK Global Alliance Africa in partnership with Unilever Kenya invites you to attend an online launch of our Open Innovation Challenge to find innovative solutions for processing millet (and other high fibre grains).
Accessing packaging can be challenging, complex and expensive. This launchpad helps mission-driven brands succeed, with a free three-month programme that will give food and drink challenger brands access to world-class digital packaging solutions and experienced mentors, with support worth over £10,000.
Innovate UK seeks innovative agri-tech companies for two market visits to Canada in March and June 2024
Innovate UK has launched a pioneering initiative to build on Eastern England’s strengths in agri-tech and food technology, offering businesses and researchers grants ranging from £25,000 to £300,000 to drive innovation in food production and sustainability.
Are you a Climate Tech innovator looking to commercialize your hardware product? Apply to the 2023-2024 Scale For ClimateTech (S4C) program. Through the S4C program, supported by NYSERDA, and administered by SecondMuse and NextCorps, innovators receive dedicated support throughout their manufacturing process in order to gain confidence in their path to market and scale up production to meet demand.
The goal of this challenge is to globally crowdsource best in class Industrial decarbonization technologies and connect them with our industrial corporate sponsors to accelerate their emission reduction goals and industrial decarbonization programs. Michigan Executive Directive 2020-10 charged EGLE with developing a Michigan Healthy Climate plan and achieving economy-wide carbon neutrality by 2050. Up to $250,000 will be made available to demonstrate and test best-in-class industrial decarbonization technologies in a real world setting.
UKRI’s Faraday ...
UKRI’s Faraday Battery Challenge, delivered by Innovate UK will invest up to £1.5m in innovation scale up projects in January 2024 to fund UKBIC SME credit Round 2.
The Breakthrough Energy Fellows program suppor...
The Breakthrough Energy Fellows program supports the best and brightest innovators working to develop, scale, and commercialize technologies that have the potential to reduce carbon emissions by at least 500 million tons per year by 2050.
The International Gas Union (IGU) and IGRC2024 are pleased to collaborate with NGIF Industry Grants to announce the Global Cleantech Challenge.
The Challenge is a funding call to energy small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and startups from around the world with clean technology solutions to access grant funding, demonstration host partners, technology validation for product market fit and future energy customers in Canada.
Greenshot is a 14-week accelerator that runs f...
Greenshot is a 14-week accelerator that runs from mid/late-January to April 2024. It culminates in a Demo Day in early May in front of top climate investors and venture capitalists in New York City. Participants will have a chance to compete for up to $75,000 in non-dilutive cash and prizes, selected by Greenshot’s expert Advisory Council. Partnering with Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business and CleanTech Open, Greenshot customizes program curriculum for climate solutions-focused entrepreneurs.
N0C is seeking impactful innovations to accelerate the pathway towards net zero emissions. Solutions should have developed a minimal viable prototype, is scalable, and is suited for the Vietnam context.
TechX Clean Energy Accelerator is an intensive 15-week programme for 12 innovative clean energy start-ups with clear potential to accelerate the transition to an affordable net zero energy industry.
Startup Wise Guys SaaS acceleration Africa program will provide an optimized approach that delivers tailored guidance and support from world class mentors and experts. This accelerator program will help you navigate the bumps in the company building road, revolutionize your go-to-market strategy and encourage you to bring your A game.
Go Build 2023 with Saint-Gobain is accelerating the commercialization of technologies to decarbonize the built environment, from conception to breaking ground, retrofitting, demolition, and recycling.
EIT InnoEnergy’s European Green Hydrogen Accel...
EIT InnoEnergy’s European Green Hydrogen Acceleration Center (EGHAC) have recently announced that we renewed their partnership with the European Commission to accelerate green hydrogen initiatives. You can find more details here.
We are aiming to reach relevant green hydrogen projects and technologies to apply for this call, which will consist in a due diligence process resulting in the opportunity for the selected initiatives being eligible for equity investment and accessing key investment players in Europe. Interested projects and technology ventures can fill in a high-level questionnaire by the 15th of July 2023. Finalists will participate in the Green H2 Investment Day at the end of the year in Brussels with 20+ investors present.
You can find the recording of the webinar which explains the process and all relevant information like selection criteria here and in the presentation attached.
Please reach out to info-eghac@innoenergy.com for specific questions.
The Decarbonization Technology Challenge invites innovators from across the globe to enter for a chance to win up to $1 million in piloting opportunities with ADNOC, to demonstrate greenhouse gas reducing potential.
Ten finalists will be selected to present their technology to a panel of judges in the UAE in December 2023.
Octopus Springboard is a 3-month part-time programme that is free of charge, hands-on, and will help successful applicants:
The programme will likely lead to investments of £500k-£1m by Octopus Ventures in some of the companies completing the programme, subject to Investment Committee approval and standard Octopus processes.
As the global leader in light and sustainable construction, Saint-Gobain is committed to building a more sustainable future with clean and green building technology. From 3D printing and energy-efficient materials to immersive technologies and enhanced delivery optimization, Saint-Gobain are looking to collaborate with startups in APAC region that are committed to leveraging technology and innovation to build a better world.
Selected startups will get to be fast-tracked toSLINGSHOT’s Top 50 startups. They will also receive funding opportunities, mentorship, and access to invaluable resources to turn their ideas into reality. Apply today and help build a more sustainable world!
Go Make 2023 aims to enable a circular, net-zero economy by advancing solutions for carbon utilization, storage, and traceability. Greentown Labs and Shell are looking for startups at TRL 2-7 with innovations for carbon utilization and management across a variety of applications.
Funded Pilot Opportunity: HK Express (HKE) seeks a solution to reduce in-flight single-use plastics (SUP) and promote circularity through waste-to-energy/materials in Hong Kong from its inflight disposable waste.
Funded Pilot Opportunity: Cathay Pacific is looking for solutions reduce waste production and increase recycling rates in its Hong Kong office.
Funded Pilot Opportunity: Cathay Pacific seeks a data and software solution to understand the sustainability impact of various materials to make more sustainable procurement decisions.
Funded Pilot Opportunity: Cathay Pacific seeks solutions to reduce volume of single-use plastic in-flight, especially plastic bags for headphones and blankets.
Funded Pilot Opportunity: HAECO Cabin Solutions seeks solutions to reduce the energy and water consumption of its current water chiller system in its U.S. manufacturing facilities.
Funded Pilot Opportunity: Swire Resources is looking for solutions to measure and reduce Municipal Solid Waste from its shops and warehouses.
Swire Properties seeks solutions to reduce water use in freshwater cooling tower through capturing water vapour from evaporation for reuse.
Funded Pilot Opportunity: Swire Properties seeks to reduce the overall carbon footprint associated with HVAC systems in existing commercial buildings within dense urban environments.
Funded Pilot Opportunity: Swire Properties is looking for solutions to monitor waste generation and recycling performance for retail portfolio and facilitate higher recycling rates among commercial tenants.
Swire Properties seeks to reduce the overall carbon footprint and energy consumption associated with heating systems in retail buildings within Chinese Mainland.
Funded Pilot Opportunity: HAECO Hong Kong seeks a solution to increase the capacity of its existing chiller system.
Funded Pilot Opportunity: HAECO Hong Kong seeks to recycle wood waste from boxes used for shipments.
Funded Pilot Opportunity: HAECO Hong Kong seeks a solution to enhance the efficiency of water scrubbers or directly upgrade or replace them.
DCLM (operated by Veolia) would like to find more environmentally friendly and economically viable ways to solidify the concentrate of their effluent treatment plant. They are seeking solutions utilising innovative solidification agents that can deal with large and increasing volumes of concentrate.
DCLM (operated by Veolia) would like to find economically viable ways to valorise waste produced from the pulp and paper industry. In their aim to be more sustainable and contribute to a circular economy strategy, DCLM is looking at reducing waste to landfill by seeking solutions utilising innovative methods to valorise dregs (mixture of black and green liquor) and effluent fibre that are produced in large quantities from the pulp and paper production processes.
Jump start for start-ups:
To provide a platform for young companies in the realm of established players and pave the way for creative AM ideas to enter the market, Formnext organizes the Start-up Challenge annually.
The LACI Incubation program offers hands-on incubation services for Cleantech startups to grow in Los Angeles. The first four months of the program are dedicated to intensive curriculum workshops, one-on-one coaching sessions, and roundtables on go-to-market, investor readiness, and pilots. After the initial curriculum, the program is focused on achieving objectives outlined in a custom business roadmap of fundraising, product development, market access, team growth, pilot deployment, and partnerships.
Innovators is a core LACI accelerator program serving early-stage cleantech startups in Southern California. The one-year program is funded by the California Energy Commission’s Regional Energy Innovation Cluster (REIC) and aims to support early stage entrepreneurs launching their venture in California’s growing cleantech innovation ecosystem.
Are you an entrepreneur looking to scale a transformative climate technology? Are you invested in scaling a solution that brings both climate and social impact? Elemental are committed to bringing more funding, more projects, more solutions and more impact into the climate sector to deploy technologies in more communities in an equitable way.
Thorlabs Canada currently uses cardboard trays as part of their optical component packaging. Thorlabs Canada is seeking a replacement for the current system and is particularly interested in using ecofriendly (i.e., made from nature-based materials + biodegradable) materials in an injection molding system to generate the trays. Thorlabs Canada would purchase the trays from a supplier and pay for the specific tooling to be developed.
Thorlabs Canada is seeking an eco-friendly material replacement for its’ fibre optic components. Currently a thermoset powder coating is used to coat the medical grade stainless steel capillary tube (see red tube in picture). The specific properties of this thermoset powder can be viewed in detail here.
TELUS is committed to circular economy principles and responsible resource use. As TELUS works to expand its PureFibre Network, fibre optic cables represent a growing waste stream that is currently going to landfill. As a result, TELUS is looking for sustainable solutions for recycling or upcycling fibre optic cables.
Start-ups are invited by Innovandi Open Challenge, an exciting international partnership programme, run by the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) to work on the development of new materials and ingredients for low carbon concrete – a major step towards the ultimate goal of net zero concrete.
Applications open: 14 March 2023
Deadline: 30 May 2023
Malawians’ livelihood and safety are at risk with a changing climate. The UN Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) is inviting its Network members to assist Malawi. Interested Network members are invited to submit a form, ‘Expression of Interest(EoI)’.
The Circular Innovation Fund Acceleration Program aims to nurture selected pre-seed and seed-stage companies within the circular economy to bolster investment in an underserved sector, de-risk future CIF investments, and support the build-out of a broader collaborative ecosystem of circular companies at all stages of commercialization.
Applications closed.
Urban Future Prize Competition seeks to award the world’s most revolutionary climatetech innovations by bringing the brightest entrepreneurs together to compete for two cash prizes of $50K.
If you are a UK-based SME, active in battery technologies for transport and energy storage, from anywhere within the battery supply chain (including materials and components, cells, modules and packs, recycling & enabling technologies) and are looking to raise investment, apply by 17:00 on 2nd May 2023 to be part of the Faraday Battery Challenge Investment Readiness Programme 2023 co-led by Innovate UK KTN.
Suzano wants to help develop the bio-economy along with great entrepreneurs with a structure of acceleration programs to leverage solutions that are in the laboratory phase or seeking commercial validation. The main target are deep tech startups with opportunity to create shared value, providing financial and strategic support to enterprises and, using Suzano’s wider network and resources, help to accelerate technologies to enable new bioproducts based on Suzano ́s eucalyptus forest as well increase digitalization and competitiveness of the forests.
This program offers unparalleled opportunities for emerging businesses to lead the way in biomass and sustainable packaging.
Pre-selections confirmed by 2 May.
Bp have launched three separate campaigns searching for innovators in the offshore wind sector, seeking collaborators from individuals to large-scale organizations who have new and exciting ideas – at any level of maturity – about how to implement on three campaign areas – circularity, system integration and ecology.
Climate Change
The Liveability Challenge is looking for disruptive innovations that can capture and utilise carbon to create scalable products for global markets, as well as solutions that can capture and store carbon at scale. TLC seek solutions that create value from the conservation or restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems in Southeast Asia.
Food & Nutrition
Aims to establish a circular urban agriculture or aquaculture system, or alternative protein system. TLC are seeking innovative and breakthrough technological solutions to maximise production efficiency and minimise resource requirements.
Applications closed.
C2V is now open for Cohort 3 , and they are seeking groundbreaking carbontech start-ups between TRL 4 and TRL 7 that are developing differentiated and scalable solutions that capture carbon and/or incorporate captured carbon as a major input for valorization.
Applications closed.
Bell is looking for strategies for deploying and integrating new technologies and combining reliability and efficiency in the area of Fuel cells.
Bell is seeking for technological solutions for renewable energy power generation, in order to reduce Bell’s carbon footprint.
Paper Excellence is seeking for a syngas with an energy density that is similar to natural gas derived from available hog fuel.
Paper Excellence is looking for alternative packaging materials derived from lignin.
Paper Excellence is seeking an economical way to dewater/dry the biomass prior to its combustion.
Bell is seeking for technological solutions for renewable energy power generation, in order to reduce Bell’s carbon footprint.
Bell is looking for strategies for deploying and integrating new technologies and combining reliability and efficiency in the area of Fuel cells.
Bell seeks innovation solutions and technologies in alternative energy storage with aim to reduce utility consumption during peak hours.
Bell seeks adapted technological solutions in waste heat recovery. Challenge: where electricity is produced from waste heat, how to use the electricity produced to power telecom / IT equipment or other building loads.
Bell seeks adapted technological solutions Energy monitoring and management solutions, to improve energy management in its facilities.
COSIA’s members are seeking a ‘plug and play’ inline multiphase measurement technology suitable for detecting solvent and other additives in produced bitumen-water emulsion. Industry is seeking a solution to well measurement that is cost effective and reliable, with reasonable accuracy and fit for solvent recovery processes surveillance.
Startups addressing key challenges to US offshore wind development.
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £20m across three strands, for the development of innovative solutions to address significant nutrition challenges. Your project must have the potential to impact the nutritional quality of food and drink products consumed by the UK population:
Applications closed.
Singapore’s National Water Agency is scaling digital and smart solutions by providing funding, resources, and pilot opportunities with the utility.
Pilot program for start-ups in water, waste, agriculture and food which can green Diageo’s business and wider.
Current open program in agriculture to build resilience in Diageo’s smallholder farmer communities.
Kraft Heinz are searching for innovative solutions from start-ups to unleash the power of tomatoes, delivering on taste, sustainability, nutrition, convenience and/or affordability.
Applications closed.
Accelerator program for innovators within the fashion supply chain. No equity 9-month accelerator programme.
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How much information should you share? What's essential? Optional? Part One of our Fast Guide to Successful Innovation zeroes in on what you need to do to connect with the decision makers in all the right ways.
Selling your idea or product to new audience can be as daunting as it is exciting. Our checklist takes you through a plan for getting the the best possible outcome.
Understanding your potential new partner's requirements, and even their language, will help you benefit from the process, manage your feedback and respond with useful information.
The food industry is under immense pressure to balance consumer demand for transparency, regulatory compliance, and the fight against food f...
By Sunena Gupta
At Cleantech Group, we provide research, consulting and events to catalyze opportunities for sustainable growth powered by innovation. We bring clients access to the trends, companies and people shaping the future and the customized advice and support businesses need to engage external innovation.
Industries are undergoing definitive transitions toward a more digitized, de-carbonized and resource-efficient industrial future. At every stage from initial strategy to final deals, our services bring corporate change makers, investors, governments and stakeholders from across the ecosystem, the support they need to thrive in this fast-arriving and uncertain future.
The company was established in 2002 and is headquartered in San Francisco with with offices in Asia, Europe and North America.
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