Global Incubator Programme: New York - Clean Growth
Innovate UK seeks up to 8 innovative companies in the Clean Growth sector to join a Global Incubator Programme in New York.
Opportunity Details
When
Registration Opens
17/04/2024
Registration Closes
07/06/2024
Award
Innovate UK will fund and organise flights, accommodation, in-market transfers for successful applicants for two group market visits. One representative from each company will be funded per visit. Also includes training, support, mentoring, pitching opportunities, networking opportunities and more.
Organisation
Innovate UK
Innovate UK’s Global Incubator Programme is an acceleration programme for innovative companies to work with world-leading incubators abroad.
We are currently accepting applications for up to 8 innovative companies in the Clean Growth sector to join our programme delivered in partnership with Greentown Labs and Urban Future Lab, two leading US climatetech incubators. We would welcome applications from innovative companies who could be developing technologies across a broad range of clean growth sectors including (but not limited to):
- Smart City (resource-productive and equitable solutions for urban development)
- Smart Grid (utility solutions for digital, de-carbonised grid)
- Renewable Energy (geothermal, offshore wind, hydrogen, solar)
- Clean Transportation (electric and low emission vehicles, EV charging)
- Advanced Buildings (energy efficiency, smart controls)
- Waste Management (circular economy, organic waste solutions)
- Agritech (crop analytics, urban sustainable farming)
- Carbon Capture and Utilisation (net-zero and carbon negative products, chemicals and materials)
- Climate Finance (climatetech enabling finance solutions, insurance innovation, carbon pricing and carbon markets solutions)
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To apply for this programme you must:
- Be a UK based company
- Be a clean growth business with fewer than 250 employees
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The three stages of the programme are as follows:
Prepare
A two-day preparation workshop delivered to the entire cohort in the UK. You will be allocated an Innovate UK innovation and growth specialist to work with in the UK who will work with you on your strategic action plan for the programme. You will receive an overview of the innovation and sector landscape of the country’s market, a full briefing on the programme and working with the incubator, and support to better present your business and the value proposition.
Pursue
This 4-6 months stage of the programme is about working with the incubator. A typical programme will see a visit to the market at the beginning, providing the opportunity to consider technology and market fit, preliminary customer validation and an introduction to ecosystem players. This will be followed by regular (weekly or fortnightly) virtual sessions with the incubator team, mentors, and experts, to do a deep dive into understanding what it takes to be successful in accessing the market. The final part is a second visit to the market, including a demo day to showcase the achievements of the cohort, continuing to raise the profile and make connections for the businesses involved.
Exploit
Work with your innovation & growth specialist to continue to exploit the programme, building on all the connections, knowledge, and expertise gained. You should now be in a much better position with the necessary understanding and networks to accelerate your global growth and scaling journey.
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- Getting ready for the market: Work with an Innovate UK Innovation & Growth Specialist to develop
a Strategic Development Plan for the Programme. - A focus on customers discovery: To understand customers’ situations, needs and pain points so
that you can start to build your entry plan for the US market. - Desk space: Establish a presence in New York with desk space and back-office services available
throughout the 6-month incubation period. - Masterclasses, workshops and panel speakers: Online group learning insight sessions to assist in
all aspects of US business formation and scaleup. - Connections: Gain access and introductions to US-based customers and partners.
- Mentoring: Receive country-specific mentoring from trusted experts in the clean growth sector.
- Innovation community: Participate in a vibrant community of cleantech entrepreneurs and industry
professionals. - Pitching opportunities: Access to investor, corporate and strategic partner networks in the US
during the Programme and at a Final Showcase event in New York in June 2024. - Market visits: Two intensive market visits to New York are planned as part of this initiative in
September 2024 and March 2025. - Maximising the opportunity: Work with your Innovate UK Innovation & Growth Specialist to agree
further support required to help you exploit the opportunity.
- Getting ready for the market: Work with an Innovate UK Innovation & Growth Specialist to develop
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The US Government has pledged to cut US greenhouse emissions in half by 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2050. Most recently, the US passed the historic Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in August 2022, which commits over $400 billion to climate and energy-related provisions over the next ten years.
New York has ambitious goals to address challenges in energy, water, waste, infrastructure, transportation, and resiliency, including a goal of 100% zero-emission electricity by 2040. To meet such goals of 100% zero-emission electricity by 2040, the state is targeting offshore wind, increased energy storage, and greater energy efficiency. This supplements New York’s ongoing efforts to develop and deploy solar, wind, geothermal, and other renewable products and systems via established university-industry collaborations and state initiatives supported by the state’s Clean Energy Fund and Green Bank
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Register for the applicant briefing event on 7th May 2024 here.
Applications close: 7th June 2024
Shortlist Interviews: w/c 15th July 2024
Cohort confirmed: 23rd July 2024
Programme commences: September 2024