Applications are now open for ClimateLaunchpad, the world’s biggest clean-tech and green business idea competition.

Aimed at researchers, students and new start-ups and anyone else with an innovative business idea, ClimateLaunchpad was established to help aspiring entrepreneurs grow their ideas into global businesses.

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 see ClimateLaunchpad as a key component of our portfolio,” said Chris Lee, CEO of Climate-KIC Australia.

“An entrepreneurship ecosystem that puts climate at the centre of economic activity is the real opportunity space for the transformative change that we need to address climate change.”

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,” he said.

Structured as a series of pitch competitions, the program also provides intensive training and coaching led by trainers with broad international real-world experience.

After four years of running the program, last year was Australia’s most successful ClimateLaunchpad to date, with three Australian finalists making it through the South-East Asian Finals to the Global Grand Final, and two teams named in the top-16 global prize winners. Victorian team Elevenstore also came home with the Theme Prize for Mobility and €5,000.

For the 2021 program, ClimateLaunchpad is partnering once again with the Future Battery Industries CRC (FBICRC), with five dedicated placements in the program being reserved to help commercialise breakthrough battery technology ideas.

“Building on the success of the FBICRC sponsored teams from 2020, we are pleased to be sponsoring five battery technology places this year,” said Stedman Ellis, CEO of the FBRCIC.

“ClimateLaunchpad is a natural fit for us, as it helps build capability and nurture the commercialisation of early-stage battery innovations, enabling the growth of battery industries to power Australia.”

Five placements will also be reserved for clean energy ideas, thanks to a new sponsorship from the Reliable Affordable Clean Energy CRC (RACE for 2030).

“We’re excited to partner with ClimateLaunchpad because we are committed to catalyse innovation to achieve reliable affordable clean energy and support Australian start-ups in this space to flourish,” said Jon Jutsen, CEO of RACE for 2030.

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

Frans Nauta, ClimateLaunchpad founder, further commented: “A business school in disguise, that is how former participants refer to our competition. We transform people with green tech ideas into successful entrepreneurs. Climate change is solvable. Not with a single cure, we need – and there will be – thousands of big and small cures. Green start-ups lead the charge in fixing this.”

Applications are open until 22 April. The application form can be found here.