If one has a business idea about sustainability and has what it takes to become an entrepreneur, then ClimateLaunchpad, Europe’s largest cleantech business idea competition, could be the ticket to European and global funding. Cleantech, or clean technology, has emerged as an umbrella term encompassing the investment asset class, technology, and business sectors which include clean energy, environmental, and sustainable or green, products and services. A cleantech idea can be applied in an immense spectrum of activities ranging from plain urban mobility to sustainable transition in the food chain or ways to tackle climate change.

ClimateLaunchpad kicks off with a two - day business Boot Camp in June, followed by a period of intensive coaching, leading to the National Final in July, where candidates pitch in front of a National Jury. The top three of each country enter the European Final, which will take place in the Netherlands, in September. The competition is open to participants based in 28 countries, including Greece and country submission deadline for Greece is May 22.

Last year, the Greek company NECOVA energy solution was one of the ten new start-ups selected for the first stage of Climate-KIC Accelerator, Europe’s largest public-private innovation partnership, addressing the challenge of climate change. NECOVA developed a patent that enables photovoltaic (PV) panels to produce free hot water and more electricity for rooftop PV owners, without needing extra roof area at low capital costs.