Climate-KIC launches Europe’s largest cleantech competition

Climate-KIC, the EU’s main climate innovation initiative, has launched Europe’s largest business idea competition, CleanLaunchpad, with the opportunity to receive funding of up to €95,000.

CleanLaunchpad is open to anyone with ideas that can help tackle climate change, even if the idea is still in the initial stages. The competition is open to participants based in Hungary, Germany, Spain, the UK, Italy, Poland, Cyprus, Greece, Denmark, and the Netherlands.

Hero Prins, director of entrepreneurship at Climate-KIC, commented: “Climate-KIC helps Europe lead the world in the commercialisation of climate change mitigation and adaptation technologies. We’re keen to find new, innovative ideas to address climate change and shape the world’s next economy. The CleanLaunchpad competition is part of our strategy to unlock Europe’s full potential and to increase our competitiveness on the world stage.”

After a first selection round, finalists will attend a series of ‘cleantech boot camps’ learning how to turn their ideas into viable business plans before pitching to a jury of national experts. The European final of CleanLaunchpad will take place in the week of 29 October in Valencia, Spain. Three cleantech pitches per country will be judged based on their impact to reduce climate change, encourage new job creation, develop economic growth opportunities, and encourage contestants’ motivation.

The three winners will enter the Climate-KIC Accelerator to develop their businesses and commercialise their ideas with the support of Climate-KIC’s cleantech experts; they will receive funding of up to €95,000. The overall winner of the European final also receives a cash prize of €10,000, the runner up is awarded with €5,000, and the third place winner receives €2,500.