The Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation (ECCI) has announced that it is bringing Europe’s largest climate entrepreneurship programme Climate-KIC to Scotland for the first time.

In a move that will further boost Scotland’s thriving low carbon business sector – worth almost £11 billion – ECCI will offer entrepreneurs in Edinburgh and across Scotland the opportunity to bid for thousands of euros and dedicated support to help them take their target markets by storm.

Between now and 2019 ECCI, which is part of the University of Edinburgh, will deliver:
– Accelerator: A three-stage accelerator process to get low carbon start-ups investment-ready. The first stage, Accelerator stage 1, gives fledgling companies access to €10,000 and a programme of expert support and events to help them translate inventions into business plans. Applications are now open and the deadline for submissions is Thursday 13 April 2017.
– ClimateLaunchpad: The world’s largest cleantech business idea competition, with cash prizes of up to €10,000. Every year a certain number of start-ups win a slot to enter the Accelerator. Applications are now open and the deadline for submissions is Sunday 28 May 2017.
– Greenhouse: Tailored support programme and funding of €5,000 for budding entrepreneurs who have a climate change-related idea but are not yet fully ready to make it happen. To be launched later in 2017 – keep an eye on www.edinburghcentre.org for updates.

The boost for Scotland’s low carbon business sector comes hot on the heels of Scottish Government plans for delivering its ambitious climate change targets and a draft energy strategy that would see the country transform its production and use of energy.

ECCI, with an award-winning hub in central Edinburgh and a base in Hong Kong, brings together people from business, research, communities and governments to turn good low carbon ideas into reality. It supports a thriving community of low carbon enterprises and provides policy insight and evidence to inform government decisions.

The centre will be at the heart of one of four climate-focussed innovation ‘clusters’ in the UK and Ireland supported through Climate-KIC’s programme of start-up support and innovation programmes. The Edinburgh cluster will focus on emerging strengths in data innovation as well as the twin themes of rural and water innovation – although ECCI welcomes applications for the above programmes from entrepreneurs with low carbon ideas on any theme.

Dr Andy Kerr, ECCI Director, said: “ECCI brings people together to turn good low carbon ideas into reality – so it’s hugely exciting for us to be bringing Europe’s leading climate innovation programme to Scotland.

“Scotland has a world-leading approach to tackling climate change, and we’re looking forward to being able to offer our home-grown climate innovators the money and expertise to take on growing global markets.

“The Climate-KIC Accelerator programme is open for applications now – so if you have a low carbon business idea and the ambition to make it happen, we’d love to hear from you.”

Find out more and apply online at: www.edinburghcentre.org/climate-kic.html.