Global green business ideas competition takes off from ECCI

ECCI is opening the ClimateLaunchpad green business competition – with cash prizes of up to €10,000 – for applications today.

To enter the competition, budding inventors and entrepreneurs simply have to submit an idea or innovation that could have a positive environmental impact.

Those selected to join ClimateLaunchpad, which is running in more than 42 countries around the world as well as Scotland, will get dedicated support to fast track their idea into a business and bypass pitfalls along the way. They’ll also learn how to get their idea funded and launched.

After taking part in a Boot Camp and coaching sessions to develop their idea into a rock-solid plan, participants will get the chance to pitch this idea during the Scotland Final later this year.

The top three winners of each national competition will go on to compete in the worldwide Grand Final in November 2018. The event will be hosted by ECCI in Edinburgh – the first time this high profile event has come to Scotland.

There is prize money of up to €10,000 for the Grand Final winners. On top of that the top ten winners move on to the renowned Climate-KIC Accelerator programme to help low carbon start-ups get investment-ready.

ECCI’s Deputy Director and National Climate-KIC lead for Scotland Ed Craig said:

“Ideas and innovators like the ones this competition generates are key to Scotland’s thriving low carbon industry.

“ECCI and the ClimateLaunchpad team will give our Scottish entrants everything we’ve got to help them reach the world final.

“Whether your idea is scribbled on the back of a napkin or you’ve been dreaming of making it happen for years, if you have a green business idea then we want to hear from you.”

ClimateLaunchpad is one of the programmes delivered by ECCI on behalf of Climate-KIC - Europe’s largest climate entrepreneurship programme. ECCI is the official Scottish partner of Climate-KIC, Europe’s largest climate innovation initiative.

ECCI is now a full partner of Climate-KIC, with 22 start-ups being helped through the Accelerator and Greenhouse programmes in Edinburgh. In 2017, ECCI supported 11 Scottish companies through the Climate-KIC Accelerator programme. Between them, they’ve already scooped more than £500,000 worth of investment, bagged 14 awards and created 17 new jobs.

Apply now

If you’ve got an idea with positive climate impacts and the potential to go global, submit your idea by Wednesday 30 May 2018.