ClimateLaunchpad is looking for clean technology researchers with innovative ideas to translate their research into climate-focused businesses.

25 February 2022, Sydney – Applications are now open for ClimateLaunchpad, the world’s biggest cleantech and green business ideas competition.

Aimed at researchers, innovators and new startups and anyone else with an innovative green business idea, ClimateLaunchpad is set up to help aspiring entrepreneurs grow their ideas into global businesses.

For the third year running, organisers have partnered with leading Cooperative Research Centres to attract breakthrough Australian clean technology research into the program. “Australia has a rapidly expanding number of dynamic start-up companies in clean energy technology, and we are pleased to partner with Climate-KIC Australia to support their development,” said Jon Jutsen, CEO of the RACE for 2030 Cooperative Research Centre, a partner returning to support ClimateLaunchpad again this year. ”We want these innovators to get the commercialisation support they need to succeed, and ClimateLaunchpad is an excellent vehicle for that.”

“There has never been a more exciting time for energy storage innovators to take ideas to market,” said Shannon O’Rourke, CEO of the Future Batteries Industries Cooperative Research Centre, which is  sponsoring the  ClimateLaunchpad program for the third successive  year.

“The commercialisation of research outcomes related to batteries and battery materials is critical if Australia is to realise its share of this significant economic opportunity. I believe the ClimateLaunchpad offers a fantastic opportunity for our researchers to hone their entrepreneurial skills and we are pleased to continue our support of the program,” said O’Rourke.

Run in over 50 countries worldwide, ClimateLaunchpad is responsible for more than 6,700 ideas that have resulted in the creation of more than 8,000 jobs within 1,900 new companies.

In Australia, the competition is run by Climate-KIC Australia, a knowledge and innovation community that aims to catalyse systemic climate action through innovation.

“We love working with researchers in ClimateLaunchpad,” said Chris Lee, CEO of Climate-KIC Australia. “We know they’ve got a firm grasp on the opportunities of the technology, and once we guide them with some fundamentals on the business side, we see them applying both sides of the equation in really innovative ways to create enormous impact.”

The program isn’t only for researchers, he hastens to add. Lee encourages anybody with a green business idea to apply. “Even if your idea is still on the back of an envelope, you’ll get all the skills you need to turn it into a fully-fledged start-up through ClimateLaunchpad.”

Structured as a series of pitch competitions, the program also provides intensive training and coaching led by trainers with broad international real-world experience. The short program and competition is unique in the space, as it is completely free of charge and doesn’t take any equity or intellectual property from participants.

Applications for the ClimateLaunchpad program will be accepted from February 25 until April 22.

Heading into its fifth year in Australia, organisers plan to run the program in both in-person and hybrid settings, so participants are encouraged to apply no matter where they are based.

ClimateLaunchpad is partially funded by a grant from the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources AusIndustry Entrepreneurs’ Programme.

The competition is an initiative of EIT Climate-KIC, Europe’s climate innovation initiative and Climate-KIC Australia’s European partner organisation.

In the five previous editions held in Australia, nearly 200 start-ups have been able to grow their business ideas and develop an investor-ready pitch deck after passing through ClimateLaunchpad. Some of the alumni of the program are now at the forefront of climate-forward enterprises in Australia, including Capricorn Power, Sunovate, Economical Energy, Coreo and Emmi.

Information about ClimateLaunchpad, how to enter the competition and updates are available through Climate-KIC’s ClimateLaunchpad 2022 portal.

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Media contacts:
Climate-KIC Australia – Jessica Hyne | jessica.hyne@climate-kic.org.au | 0487 152 057

Notes:

About ClimateLaunchpad
ClimateLaunchpad is the world’s largest and most successful cleantech and green business ideas competition. Running in over 50 countries, its mission is to unlock the global potential for cleantech to address climate change, and helps to fast-track ideas into businesses. Climate-KIC Australia runs the program in Australia to provide an opportunity for entrepreneurs, students and researchers to connect to a global network of investors, accelerators and market opportunities.

The program is run in collaboration with EIT Climate-KIC, the EU’s major climate innovation initiative.

About Climate-KIC Australia
Climate-KIC Australia is a knowledge and innovation community that aims to inspire and enable climate action by being a catalyst for systemic change, through innovation. Born out of a collaboration with EIT Climate-KIC, Europe’s largest public-private partnership focused on climate change, Climate-KIC Australia specialises in supporting on-the-ground innovation to catalyse system change. We establish links between research, business, entrepreneurs, investors and government to drive transformational projects that unlock change at the speed and scale the climate challenge needs.