The Climate Innovation Platform (CIP) has launched the application round for the second Low Carbon Energy Solutions Innovator Challenge, a programme designed to accelerate SME innovators who are developing low carbon energy solutions.

Delivered by the University of Birmingham (UoB) in partnership with Energy Systems Catapult (ESC), the CIP Low Carbon Energy Solutions Innovator Challenge offers successful applicants tailored packages of support to drive the commercialisation of innovative energy products and services.

Supported by HSBC UK and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), applications are welcomed from businesses registered in the UK, and particularly those who can take advantage of the Climate Innovation Incubator based at Tyseley Energy Park (TEP), in Birmingham.

Those selected for the second CIP Low Carbon Energy Solutions Innovator Challenge will have access to several linked opportunities:

• Business engagement support through Birmingham Energy Institute ATETA programme and ESC’s Energy Launchpad Incubation Programme.
• Incubator project management and incubation space at Tyseley Energy Park, home to the Birmingham Energy Innovation Centre and Energy Transition Centre and the UK’s first low and zero carbon refuelling station, as well as the UK’s largest green hydrogen refuelling facility.
• Access to a range of commercialisation support activities, including financial planning, start-up mentoring, access to supply chain partner networks, market research, IP strategy, collaboration events, advice on regulation and standards, grant writing and bid development, and investor readiness and introductions.
• The opportunity to apply into WWF/WRI and HSBC’s Climate Solutions Partnership, the challenge for this year’s global programme being to facilitate systemic change, across the textile sector, working with the Apparel Institute to decarbonise the industry, providing companies with the ability to shift their supply chains increasing the uptake of natural solutions and alternative fuel sources.

The Climate Solutions Partnership (CSP) is an initiative to make climate solutions a commercial reality, the CSP is a partnership led by HSBC, World Resources Institute (WRI) and WWF. SMEs successful in their CSP applications will go on to receive mentorship and connections with universities, research institutes, incubators, and accelerators to help further scale their innovations.

Professor Martin Freer, director of the Birmingham Energy Institute and Energy Research Accelerator said: “We are delighted to begin recruitment for our second cohort of the Climate Innovation Platform. We are already working with 13 great businesses from cohort one and it will be a pleasure to bring more SMEs onto the programme and support them as they research, test, and grow their innovations.”

Paul Jordan, Energy Launchpad business lead at Energy Systems Catapult, said: “One of the biggest challenges to achieving the UK’s climate change goals is creating integrated energy systems, delivering low carbon places and supply chains in which people can live and work. This year’s programme will build upon the inaugural year’s progress to help realise Net Zero decarbonisation objectives across a range of transiting markets.”