Discover how Latin America is positioning itself to shape the future of sustainability with 25 companies driving transformative innovation in clean technology
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — December 4, 2024 – Cleantech Group, a leading global authority in cleantech innovation, is excited to unveil its inaugural 2024 LATAM Cleantech 25. This first-ever list showcases private companies at the forefront of sustainable innovation, each recognized for their potential to significantly impact the Latin American region and beyond, within the next five to ten years.
The 2024 LATAM Cleantech 25 comes with the support of the Breakthrough Energy Fellows program. Part of Breakthrough Energy, this initiative accelerates early-stage climate technologies by equipping innovators with grant funding, mentorship, and essential resources to scale solutions for a clean energy future.
Latin America’s Role in Climate and Cleantech Innovation
Latin America accounts for 5.5% of global industry value added and 6.3% of global GDP, despite contributing only 3.5% of global CO2 emissions. However, the region faces increasing challenges, including a warming trend of 0.2°C per decade and the rising economic costs of intensified storms.
Latin American entrepreneurs are stepping up to address these challenges. A quarter of the companies on the LATAM Cleantech 25 list focus on innovations for resilience, targeting solutions for coastal sea rise, natural disasters, and shifting agricultural threats.
“The urgency faced and answered by Latin America’s cleantech innovators is a lesson for the world in the attitude that will be necessary to meet the next phases of the climate change fight,” said Anthony DeOrsey, Research Manager at Cleantech Group. “I predict that, when looking back on this inaugural list in the 2030s, we will be struck by the foresight displayed by these innovators in 2024.”
Featured in the LATAM Cleantech 25
The 25 companies span six key industry groups, demonstrating diverse approaches to sustainable solutions. Examples from each industry group include:
- Agriculture & Food
- Infira: Perennial varieties of major crops that reduce input costs for farmers.
- Infira: Perennial varieties of major crops that reduce input costs for farmers.
- Energy & Power
- Splight: AI platform that provides grid management, energy efficiency, and performance solutions for energy sources.
- Splight: AI platform that provides grid management, energy efficiency, and performance solutions for energy sources.
- Materials & Chemicals
- Ceibo: Copper extraction techniques that allow mining industries to access reserves of low ore concentration.
- Ceibo: Copper extraction techniques that allow mining industries to access reserves of low ore concentration.
- Resources & Environmental Management
- Coral Vita: Coral farms to breed endangered coral and restore degraded reefs.
- Coral Vita: Coral farms to breed endangered coral and restore degraded reefs.
- Transportation & Logistics
- Reborn: Electric buses and shuttles intended to transform heavy-duty machinery into electric automotive.
- Reborn: Electric buses and shuttles intended to transform heavy-duty machinery into electric automotive.
- Waste & Recycling
- Ainwater: AI-assisted software that monitors and optimizes wastewater treatment operations to increase energy efficiency.
Select Insights from the LATAM Cleantech 25
- Biotechnology and Horticulture: Regional capabilities are beginning to transfer into the cleantech innovation ecosystems of South and Central America and the Caribbean. This shift is becoming increasingly critical in the face of compounding climate adaptation needs.
- Chile and Brazil as Investment Leaders: These countries dominate venture and growth investments in Latin America with export strengths in agriculture, lithium, copper, and steel that link them to global demand markets and embed themselves in the DNA of innovators launching ventures.
- Niche Advantages for Agriculture & Food: While Latin America averages only 1% of global cleantech investments, its Agriculture & Food innovators stand out globally. Since 2020, agriculture, forestry, and fishing have contributed 6% or more to the region’s GDP.
These featured companies will be recognized at the upcoming Cleantech Forum North America on January 27-29 in San Diego, CA.
Download the LATAM Cleantech 25 to discover Cleantech Group’s insights on an emerging region, poised to play an important role in shaping the future of sustainable industries.
About Cleantech Group
Cleantech® Group is a research-driven company that helps corporates, public sector, investors and others, identify, assess, and engage with the innovative solutions and opportunities that are related to the world’s massive, and growing, environmental and climate challenges. Our insights and expertise are delivered to clients all over the world through our Research, Consulting, and Events. We have been the leading authority on global cleantech innovation since 2002.