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What are the top clean tech accelerators and incubators globally?
Hello! Thank you for your Wonder request on the top clean tech accelerators and incubators in the world. 10 leading cleantech accelerators and incubators are Israel Cleantech Ventures, EcoMachines Incubator (UK), LACI (US), Nordic Innovation Accelerator (Sweden), Business Ventures Partners (Ireland), Climate-KIC Accelerator (Germany), Bluelion (Switzerland), the Sustainable Energy Association Of Singapore, Venture Nursery (India) And the US-China Cleantech Centre. Below, you will find a deep dive into my findings.
METHODOLOGY
There is no pre-complied list of the top global cleantech accelerators and incubators. I searched for countries that are at the forefront of the cleantech industry, relying on data from Ritchie Capital Management and Energy Digital. I then found the most well-known accelerator and/or incubator in their respective countries to create the list below. Some of these innovation hubs are government-partnered and do not have founder information.
Israel has the high number of cleantech startup companies per capita. Founded in 2006, Israel Cleantech Ventures is the leading Venture Capital fund in Israel for sustainable business innovation, providing growth to Israel’s energy, water and environment sectors. Currently, the firm manages over $150m in 2 funds.
The UK has strong access to cleantech financing and a high innovation input, making it a strong contender in the green tech innovation field. EcoMachines Incubator is the UK’s first seed funding Incubator, with a primary market focus energy, transport, circular economy, smart city and industrial high-tech sectors.
California - has been called the epi-center of the US cleantech market, ranking number one in the country. Implementation of green technology has been made effective by Silicon Valley and necessary due to the region’s ongoing drought. LACI has both accelerator and incubator programs, and is located in the heart of the city’s “Cleantech Corridor”.
Sweden is a known for its eco-friendliness as a country, ranking highly in renewable energy reliance, organic food consumption and recycling. Launched in 2013, Nordic Innovation Accelerator is an international cleantech business network, focusing on growing clean tech startups. It is also the founding member of the Global Cleantech Cluster Association.
Ireland has placed much emphasis on sustainable, renewable energy which includes tidal, wave and wind energy. Business Ventures Partners manages funds specializing in cleantech and renewable energy projects. Founded in 2004, the team works with startups in business development, fund generation and long-term sustainability.
Germany, besides its political leadership, is also in the forefront in the renewable energy market and operates a third of the world’s solar capacity. Climate-KIC Accelerator focuses on climate impact by cleantech commercialization. It conducts 3-stage, 18-month accelerator programs where startups have access to European climate innovation network of leading corporations, universities, and research institutions.
Switzerland’s strong cleantech industry is driven by the nation’s high output of environmental patents and supportive governmental policies. Blue Lion is a non-profit organization founded in 2012. The Foundation was launched to support the early stage ICT and Clean Tech projects. The coaching program is based on agile methods, fully embracing the Lean Startup approach, to ensure high-quality outcome and accelerate the growth of startups.
SEAS, Singapore’s first Cleantech Accelerator, aims to provide local and foreign innovative Cleantech companies with a one-stop business support solution in Singapore as a bridge to Asia. The Cleantech Accelerator is located at JTC’s CleanTech One. It provides a common platform for companies in Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Financial Institutions. Partners include KPMG, Accenture, Opower.
Venture Nursery is an accelerator backed by angel investors, focusing on startups in the cleantech industry. With various acceleration program tracks, the accelerator aims to improve the business models, connections and series A funding for these tech-friendly startups.
The US-China Cleantech Centre leads China’s startup innovation for cleantech. The innovation hub spearheads China’s cleantech developments, and is a bridge for cleantech advances between China and the US, bringing together US cleantech companies and Chinese investors.
CONCLUSION
Though these accelerators and incubators operate as separate entities, they tend to have ties through dual partnerships or global associations. Collaboration is necessary to ensure individual and collective sustainability, and the propensity to address challenges and developments in the global cleantech ecosystem.
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