UPTEC and LIPOR promote international competition for cleantech ideas

Submissions are invited for the biggest cleantech competition in the world, where finalists will be awarded a prize Money of 17 thousand euros.

UPTEC - Science and Technology Park in Porto and LIPOR - Inter-municipal Waste Management Service of Greater Porto, jointly promote this initiative to come up with ideas on how to reduce the negative impact of waste in the environment and thus contribute to human welfare.

The ClimateLaunchpad is open to the cleantech business, regarding renewable energies, energy efficiency, agriculture, water, transports, industrial technology and much more.

Over 2500 ideas have already been submitted to ClimateLaunchpad, and 111 startups have been granted external investment that has surpassed the amount of 15 million euros.

In 2018, more than 1000 teams from 49 countries have entered the competition and the Portuguese project eCO2blocks was the winner of the ClimateLaunchpad international final.

eCO2blocks presented a solution that is based on creating building blocks out of industrial waste, carbon dioxide, and non-potable water. This idea was granted the "Sustainable Production Systems" award, which is worth five million euros as well as a direct entry for the accelerated programme "Climate KIC" and a prize money of 10 thousand euros.

The selected programmes will be granted support for management and business idea validation, pitch preparation to access the ClimateLaunchpad international network.

Participation also ensures the opportunity to take part in a two-day bootcamp, with a certified trainer, mentoring sessions, and the business presentation to a panel of both national and international experts.

The winner of the competition will receive 10 thousand euros.

Applications for Portuguese ideas are open till 26 May, at www.climatelaunchpad.org/application-form.