In February 2023, fourteen cleantech businesses celebrated their graduation from the Climate Innovation Platform’s ‘Low Carbon Energy Solutions, Innovator Challenge’.

Supported by HSBC UK and the European Development Fund, the Climate Innovation Platform (CIP) offers SMEs at various stages of development tailored packages of support to drive the commercialisation of innovative energy technologies and services that will help tackle the climate crisis.

Over the course of 5 months, 14 innovative businesses have gained access to several linked opportunities: Delivered by the University of Birmingham in partnership with the Energy Systems Catapult, this support included:

• Business engagement support through BEI’s ATETA programme. Designed to help SMEs improve efficiency and test new ideas, it offers access to research expertise and facilities as well as research and technical support from Knowledge Exchange Fellows.
• Incubation space at either the University of Birmingham or Tyseley Energy Park, along with Incubator Project Management.
• Access to a range of business development support, including financial planning, start-up mentoring, market research expertise, IP protection expertise, advice on regulation and standards, grant writing and bid development, and investor access support.
• An opportunity to pitch their innovations to representatives from HSBC UK.

Guy Newey, CEO at Energy Systems Catapult, said: “The UK’s path to Net Zero is being delivered by a host of pioneering SMEs who are innovating towards a greener future. Many of these SMEs lack access to the support and financing needed to scale-up their businesses to unleash their full potential. The Climate Innovation Platform is changing the game by helping accelerate the climate innovators’ commercialisation journey to realise their business vision.

“It has been a delight to be part of the CIP collaboration enabling the businesses within Cohort Two, to flourish. I will be watching with a keen eye, those we have supported through this programme, to see what comes next for them and how their talents help the UK unlock Net Zero.”

The graduation ceremony took place at the University of Birmingham’s Exchange building and saw each SME pitch their business to a panel of investors. The second cohort were joined by alumni from cohort one and each SME was presented with a graduation certificate to commemorate their completion of the programme.

CIP will support 100 businesses over the course of four years (2021-2024), with participants ranging from entrepreneurs with an idea that they want to develop, through to established businesses developing cleantech.