Get set for ClimateLaunchpad 2018 Scotland final

Innovators behind everything from alternatives to plastic packaging to a 'sofa for life' are gearing up for the Scotland final of the biggest green ideas competition in the world, hosted at ECCI next week.

ClimateLaunchpad, run by ECCI as part of our partnership with EU innovation agency Climate-KIC, offers climate entrepreneurs the chance to launch a business idea and win up to €10,000.

Scotland's national competition, which is open to the public, will take place at ECCI on Wednesday 29 August 2018, with a keynote address from the Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands, Paul Wheelhouse.

The 12 competitors will pitch for a place in the global Grand Final, being hosted by ECCI at the University of Edinburgh's McEwan Hall in Edinburgh in November 2018 - the first time this high profile international event has come to Scotland.

They will present their ideas to a panel of judges including Iain Gulland, Chief Executive of Zero Waste Scotland, Michael Ellis of Ellis IP and Denny Schenk, ECCI's Entrepreneur-in-Residence and Co-founder of Retromixer.

Those that make it through will go head-to-head with the world's best for the chance to win up to €10,000 and a place on the Climate-KIC Accelerator, also hosted at ECCI.

ClimateLaunchpad is this year running in 45 countries around the world including Scotland.

Chair of the judging panel and ECCI Deputy Director Ed Craig said:

"ECCI is the perfect place for the Scotland final of ClimateLaunchpad - the competition that gives green entrepreneurs with great ideas the opportunity and support they need to turn their ideas into game-changing enterprises.

"I'm looking forward to seeing all 12 pitches and helping the judges decide who will win a place on the Climate-KIC Accelerator here at ECCI.

"Good luck to everyone - the stakes are high!’

Find out more about the 12 hopeful climate entrepreneurs, including Altitude Thinking, Beech Product Solutions, Crover, EcoShift, Let Us Dare, Peapod, Planet Heat, Sofa for Life, ELESIS, TrailBlazAR, Undisturbed and VineSpy.

The ClimateLaunchpad 2018 Scotland final is a free event, open to the public, which kicks off at ECCI at 9.30am on Wednesday 29 August.