Funding Opportunities for Innovation
Funding is crucial for innovation. This section outlines funding mechanisms that can support innovation activities relating to technology development, service provision, industry engagement, and capacity-building. It can enable research infrastructures to turn ideas into solutions, foster partnerships that bridge the gap between science, industry, and society, and help ensure the sustainability and growth of initiatives at every stage, from initial feasibility studies to large-scale implementation.
This guide offers a curated overview of key funding opportunities relevant to environmental research infrastructures, with an emphasis on advancing innovation. This includes programmes that can boost technology development, services provision, industry engagement, capacity building and commercialisation support.
Explore funding opportunities
Horizon Europe Funding Opportunities relevant to ENVRIs
Other EU Funding Opportunities
Other Programmes for Commercialisation Suppport
Additional Information
- For more information on all upcoming EU Funding opportunities, go to the EU Funding and Tenders Portal.
- National Funding Opportunities. For more information on national funding opportunities you may contact your National Contact Points (NCPs). NCPs are the primary source of guidance and support for Horizon Europe applicants in their respective countries. To find the NCP for your country, visit the website of the European Commission's NCP Directory and more details can be found on the website of Horizon Europe NCP Portal .
- TRL Scale: resources on this page often refer to The Technology Readiness Level (TRL) scale, as it is tool for EU and international funding programs, as well as in industry, to evaluate the development stages of new technologies. More information on the TRL scale and assessment tools can be found here.
Horizon Europe Funding opportunities
Horizon Europe (HE) is the EU’s flagship funding program for research and innovation (2021-2027). It offers extensive support for developing and sustaining research infrastructures and their stakeholders. Below you will find a list with HE funding programmes that are most relevant to environmental infrastructures to support innovation.
For more detailed information on the HE and application guidance, follow the links below.
Horizon Europe work programmes - European Commission
Horizon Europe strategic plan 2021-2024 - Publications Office of the EU
HE-Research Infrastructures
About
Calls from this Programme have been crucial for the development of single environmental research infrastructures and the community in its whole.
The 2023-2025 work programme featured 27 topics across 7 calls with €654M in funding, emphasizing mid-range TRL levels to develop and enhance RI services with the following destinations:
INFRADEV: Developing, consolidating and optimising European RIs landscape, maintaining global leadership
INFRASERV: RI services to support health research, accelerate the green and digital transformation, and advance frontier knowledge
INFRATECH: Next generation of scientific instrumentation, tools and methods and advanced digital solutions.
INFRAEOSC: Enabling an operational, open and FAIR EOSC ecosystem.
INFRANET: Network connectivity in research and education enabling collaboration without boundaries
The new programme will be announced as soon as available.
How the “INFRA calls” support Innovation in ENVRIs?
- Technology Development:
INFRATECH calls support the development of new instrumentation, technologies and digital solutions to enhance RI capacities in order to address research challenges and EU policy priorities for the environment.
INFRADEV calls supports the creation of long-term strategies for the -development of new technologies and services in the pan-European landscape, supporting the overall RI sustainability and upgrade.
- Service Provision:
INFRASERV calls fund the transnational access to existing RI services, the overall activities to further improve, customise and harmonise existing services but also activities to develop new cross-RI services.
INFRADEV calls support the by RI landscape analysis of technology needs and service gaps, the creation of comprehensive catalogues of services available and long-term strategies for the creation of new services
INFRATECH calls support the advancement of technologies towards their integration into new services
INFRAEOSC calls support the provision of depositing services for digital research objects that are FAIR-enabling and compliant with Horizon Europe requirements.
- Industry Engagement:
INFRATECH calls support the co-development of advanced technologies between RIs and industries, increasing the technological level of industries, creating new potential markets
INFRADEV calls support activities for the creation of long-term strategies for RIs technology and services development and RIs capacity building that enhances awareness and uptake of co-solutions with industrial stakeholders.
INFRASERV calls supports the industrial access to state-of-the art RI tools for advancing technology and transition to the market.
INFRAEOSC calls promotes cross-sector collaboration on open data
- Innovation Capacity Building:
INFRASERV funds projects that include training programs and knowledge-sharing activities, which help RI staff develop new skills, explore commercialisation pathways and adopt best practices.
INFRADEV funds projects that strengthen strategic planning and governance, ensuring RIs can develop robust innovation frameworks.
INFRAEOSC promotes open data practices and digital skills, enabling RIs to adopt and integrate new technologies effectively.
INFRANET improves digital connectivity and networking, facilitating knowledge sharing and collaboration among RIs.
Relevant resources:
More: Horizon Europe: Research infrastructures - European Commission
Access here the work programme of 2023-2024 .
Recent news articles relevant to Research Infrastructures:
- Supporting the Transformative Impact of Research Infrastructures on European Research, June 2024
- Launch of Roadmap update for Research Infrastructures: environmental considerations now an additional key requirement
HE-Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions (MSCA)
About
The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions are the EU flagship programme for doctoral and postdoctoral training, equipping researchers with new knowledge and skills through mobility across borders and exposure to different sectors and disciplines. Although MSCA primarily funds early-stage research, training, and collaboration, can contribute indirectly to the scope of ENVRI Innovation by building foundational knowledge, training researchers in new technologies, and facilitating collaboration with industrial partners who might later scale-up the research to higher TRL levels. Industrial and Join Doctorates may be of particular important to the ENVRI Innovation scope to enhance interdisciplinary links and improve engagement with industry.
How MCSA programmes support innovation in ENVRIs?
- Technology Development: MSCA Doctoral & Postdoctoral Fellowships fund early-stage research, training in emerging environmental technologies.
- Service Provision: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship supports researcher mobility to strengthen expertise in RI services
- Industry Engagement: MSCA Industrial & Joint Doctorate promotes industry-academia partnerships through Industrial Doctorates
- Innovation Capacity Building: MSCA Staff Exchanges & COFUND build interdisciplinary skills & cross-sector knowledge transfer.
Relevant resources:
Find more on the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions website and the Horizon Europe Work programme (2023-24) -Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
HE-EU Missions
About
Each mission addresses a major societal challenge and is implemented through a portfolio of activities that include research and innovation, but also policy-making, regulation, and citizen engagement. These missions aim to deliver concrete, measurable results by 2030 and contribute to the overarching goals of Horizon Europe. ENVRIs, due to their capacity to provide the data, tools, and knowledge necessary to tackle environmental and societal challenges can play a pivotal role to the following four EU missions: Adaptation to Climate Change, Restore our Ocean and Waters, Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities and Soil Deal for Europe:
EU Missions often target ambitious, large-scale goals and can involve projects at all TRL levels, from basic research (TRL 1) to fully operational systems (TRL 9), depending on the mission’s scope
How EU missions support Innovation in ENVRIs?
- Technology Development: Funds climate resilience technologies, innovation solutions in urban sustainability, early warning systems, and the development of environmental monitoring tools in atmosphere, marine, soil and land management domains.
- Service Provision: Enhances the development of RI services for climate adaptation strategies, smart environmental services, data-driven urban policy tools, water quality assessment & pollution mitigation, soil health & assessing climate change monitoring.
- Industry & Community Engagement: Facilitates partnerships between academia, industry & municipalities for developing environmental sustainability and climate adaptation solutions.
- Innovation Capacity Building: Supports training & capacity-building for climate risk assessment and mitigation and sustainable urban planning.
Relevant resources:
Find more on the Horizon Europe Work programme (2023-24) - EU Missions
HE Pillar II- Climate, Energy and Mobility (Cluster 5)
About
Within Pillar II, Cluster 5 focuses on achieving a just transition towards a climate-neutral and resource-efficient economy. It is structured around three key research areas: climate, energy, and mobility, with cross-cutting objectives of resource efficiency and mitigation and adaptation to climate change. Cluster 5 initiatives provide a platform for environmental research infrastructures to collaborate with industry, academia, and governmental bodies to tackle climate adaptation and mitigation challenges.
Requirements for Technology Readiness Level (TRL) range from initial testing of solutions and technologies (TRL 3-4) to demonstration in real-world environments (TRL 7-8). This area strongly focuses on applied research and innovation actions to support the green transition.
Key areas relevant to the ENVRI community are:
- climate science and solutions
- communities and cities
Relevant resources:
For more details, visit the links to European Commission website:
Cluster 5: Climate, Energy and Mobility - European Commission
Horizon Europe Work programme (2023-24) - Cluster 5
HE Pillar II- Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment (Cluster 6)
About
This cluster aims at reducing environmental degradation, halting and reversing the decline of biodiversity on land, inland waters and sea and better managing natural resources through transformative changes of the economy and society in both urban and rural areas.
Research and innovation activities under cluster 6 will contribute to the objectives of the European Green Deal related to the Biodiversity Strategy to 2030, the Farm to Fork strategy, the European Climate Pact and initiatives under sustainable industry and eliminating pollution, as well as the long-term vision for rural areas, and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Key areas relevant to the ENVRI community are:
- environmental observation
- biodiversity and natural resources
- agriculture
- forestry and rural areas
- seas, oceans and inland waters
TRL requirements Include a broad range of research actions, from foundational research (TRL 1-2) to testing new sustainable agricultural practices, bio-based innovations, and natural resource management solutions in real-world settings (TRL 6-7).
Relevant resources:
For more details, visit the links to European Commission website:
Cluster 6: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment - European Commission
Horizon Europe Work programme (2023-24) - Cluster 6
How Cluster 5 & 6 programmes can support Innovation in ENVRIs?
- Technology Development: It Funds projects for the development of instrumentation, tools and methods for to address climate challenges from prototype to real world conditions.
- Service Provision: By supporting the advancement of innovative technologies, Cluster 5 enables research infrastructures to expand and enhance their service catalogues, ensuring they are user-centric and directly applicable to real-world challenges.
- Industry Engagement: funds large scale environmental monitoring campaigns and pilot demonstration projects that require the collaboration with the regional industries and communities.
HE Pillar III- European Innovation Council (EIC) Instruments
About
The EIC provides funding for high-risk, high-impact innovations at different TRL stages, supporting emerging technologies, commercialization pathways, and spin-offs. The EIC Work Programme 2025 is built around three main funding schemes:
- EIC Pathfinder: funds early-stage research from TRL 1-2 to reach TRL 3-4.
- EIC Transition: Bridges the gap between research and commercialization, funding projects that start at TRL 3-4 and aim to reach TRL 5-6
- EIC Accelerator: Funds start-ups and SME companies looking to develop, commercialise or scale-up innovative products or technologies from TRL 5 to market-ready TRL 9.
How EIC schemes can support Innovation in ENVRIs?
EIC Pathfinder: It can support RIs for:
- Technology Development: developing ideas and emerging technologies that could create new markets.
EIC Transition: This scheme would be particularly useful to RIs for:
- Technology Development: scaling up prototypes and validating research results for commercial applications Service Provision: Supports scaling-up prototypes and validating research results for their integration into real word applications, opening up commercialisation opportunities.
- Industry Engagement: Encourages partnerships with private companies for co-development and scale -up of innovative solutions.
EIC Accelerator: The EIC Accelerator supports the commercialisation pathways of RIs by:
- Commercialisation Support:
- Providing financial support for RI-based start-ups and spin-offs
- Enables market entry by connecting RIs with third-party stakeholders and investors.
- EIC STEP Scale-Up scheme: This scheme is part of the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), offering equity funding to start-ups, SMEs, and small mid-caps to help them secure larger private co-investment for further scaling their businesses.
- Industry Engagement & Commercialisation Support:
This scheme encourages the public private partnerships in RIs and it can support the spin-off company creation and growth in RIs.
Relevant Resources:
Learn More for the EIC schemes and work programmes: European Innovation Council official website.
Learn more for the STEP platform here: Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform
Pillar III-European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)
About
The European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) fosters long-term pan-European partnerships that bring together research, business, and education to tackle global challenges. Through its Knowledge and Innovation Communities (EIT KICs), it can support: entrepreneurship capacity building, development of innovative products and services, support for business creation.
How it can support ENVRIs:
- Industry Engagement & Multi-Stakeholder Engagement:
In particular to the ENVRI community framework, the EIT Climate-KIC provides funding, training, and industry connections that can help research infrastructures, scientists, and entrepreneurs drive climate innovation. Through its programs, ENVRI stakeholders can develop solutions, build expertise, and collaborate with businesses and policymakers to tackle climate challenges.
- Technology Development & Commercialisation Support:
The EIT Climate-KIC, in order to tackle climate change challenges and built resilience can support technology development, business acceleration, and commercialization across different TRLs, but main focus is typically on mid-to-late-stage innovations (TRL 4-9). RIs and stakeholders can utilise these schemes to validate new climate-tech solutions, developing large scale demonstration projects & testing innovations in real-world conditions.
Relevant Resources
Find more on the Climate-KIC | Leading climate innovation agency and community and the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) | EIT
Pillar III-European Innovation Ecosystems
About
The European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE) initiative is a key opportunity for the ENVRI community to enhance collaboration and innovation in environmental research. By working in synergy with EU bodies like the EIC, the EIT and various Horizon Europe projects, EIE is designed to create a more integrated and dynamic innovation environment across Europe.
This program fosters collaboration among innovators, researchers, businesses, and public authorities across Europe. It aims to build interconnected ecosystems that encourage knowledge sharing, innovation, and cross-border cooperation. The focus is on creating synergies between local, national, and European innovation ecosystems, strengthening regional innovation hubs, and boosting innovation capacity across Europe.
TRL requirements focus on fostering innovation through collaboration among various stakeholders, supporting the development and scaling of innovations across industries. Typically addresses mid-to-late TRL stages (TRL 4-9).
Relevant Resources
Find more on the website of the European Innovation Ecosystems
More details for the respective available 2023-2035 work programmes here: 2023-2035 work programmes .
Horizon Europe-Widening Participation and Spreading Excellence, Reforming and Enhancing the European R&I System (WIDERA)
About
The WIDERA part of the Horizon Europe is designed to build research capacity, foster excellence, and promote inclusivity across Europe, with a particular focus on Widening Countries—those EU and associated countries with lower R&I performance.
Work Programme 2023–2025 addresses two key areas:
- Widening Participation and Spreading Excellence: Focused on addressing disparities in research and innovation performance by providing targeted support to eligible countries, fostering international collaboration, and strengthening regional ecosystems.
- Strengthening the ERA: Aims to improve the overall framework for R&I in Europe, ensuring a cohesive and robust system capable of addressing future challenges.
Excellence Hubs: A Key Initiative
Excellence Hubs connect academia, industry, public authorities, and civil society to co-create solutions for societal and regional challenges. These hubs are particularly valuable for fostering partnerships and developing innovation ecosystems at the local and regional levels.
Excellence Hubs specifically target Widening Countries within the EU and associated countries, including:
- Central and Eastern Europe: Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia.
- Southern Europe: Greece, Cyprus, Portugal.
- Baltic States: Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia.
- Balkans: Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, and others.
How it can support Innovation in ENVRIs:
- Technology Development Towards Excellence: WIDERA actions do not focus on specific TRL requirements. Instead, they emphasize building research capacity and fostering excellence across Europe. TRL levels may vary depending on individual projects, with a broader goal of inclusivity and impact from proof-of-concept to real-world deployment
- Multi-stakeholder Engagement & Cross-Border Partnerships: EIE promotes collaboration among environmental research infrastructures, academic institutions, industry, and public authorities, enabling ENVRI partners to share expertise, data, and best practices on environmental monitoring, climate change, and ecosystem management.
- Regional Innovation Hubs: The initiative supports the development of local and regional innovation hubs, allowing ENVRI nodes to drive scalable regional solutions for broader European challenges.
Relevant Resources
Find more for the work programme here: Horizon Europe Work programme (2023-24) - Widening participation and strengthening the European .
Other EU Funding opportunities
LIFE Programme
About
The LIFE Programme is dedicated to environmental protection, climate change mitigation, and nature conservation. It funds projects with significant environmental or climate impact.
How LIFE can support Innovation for ENVRIs:
- Technology Development: LIFE is highly focused on implementing practical solutions and demonstrating innovative technologies that address environmental and climate challenges. The TRL range for projects under the LIFE program generally focuses on mid-level to higher TRLs.
- Service Provision: The programme can help enhance research services by funding the deployment of tools and platforms for real-time monitoring, risk assessment, and other environmental services that benefit policymakers, businesses, and communities.
- Multi-Stakeholder Engagement: LIFE projects typically involve collaboration among public authorities, industry, academia, and civil society. This multi-stakeholder approach provides ENVRIS with opportunities to engage a broad range of partners, ensuring that innovations are both relevant and impactful.
- Commercialisation & Spin-off Creation Support: The LIFE programme assists companies in bringing their green products, technologies, services, and processes to market through the LIFE close-to-market projects(C2M). These C2M projects launch innovative, demonstrative solutions that deliver clear environmental and climate benefits. Areas of focus include waste management, the circular economy, resource efficiency, water and air quality, and climate change mitigation.
Relevant Resources
Learn More about the Life Programme here.
Interreg
About
Interreg is a series of EU funding programmes, designed to foster cross-border, transnational, and interregional cooperation across Europe, towards tackling common challenges in different areas, including the protection of the environment and the promotion of sustainable development.
For more details, and to find all available programmes, visit the official website: here.
Interreg Europe
Interreg Europe fosters cooperation between regional and local governments across Europe. Its goal is to improve policies in key areas such as research and innovation, environmental protection, and sustainable resource use.
How Interreg Europe can support ENVRIs:
Interreg Europe offers opportunities for environmental RIs to collaborate across borders and sectors, driving sustainability and innovation through regional development. RIs can benefit from:
- Collaborative projects with other regions to share knowledge and best practices.
- Environmental research projects focusing on issues such as climate change adaptation, resource efficiency, and biodiversity conservation.
- Cross-sector partnerships for developing new technologies and solutions to environmental challenges.
- Interreg Europe does not specifically follow the TRL scale, as its primary focus is on policy learning and regional cooperation. However, it does support projects that involve the development and application of innovative solutions, particularly those that address environmental challenges and promote regional innovation.
For more details, visit the Interreg official website here.
Innovation Fund
About
Innovation Fund projects cover a wide range of innovative technologies in areas such as energy- intensive industries, renewables, energy storage, net-zero mobility and buildings, hydrogen, and carbon capture, use and storage.
How it can support innovation in ENVRIs:
The fund aligns with the needs of research infrastructures to implement groundbreaking technologies, enhance sustainability efforts, and support industrial collaborations.
Relevant Resources
Discover the programme and open calls in the Innovation Fund website here.
European Investment Bank (EIB) Loans
About
The EIB provides loans and financial instruments to support large-scale research infrastructure projects, including upgrading facilities and enabling technology transfer.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) provides loans, financial instruments, and advisory services to support large-scale research infrastructure (RI) projects by:
- EIB can fund construction, expansion, and modernization of research infrastructures, such as: new laboratories and facilities, upgraded research equipment, digital and IT infrastructure for data management
- Technology Transfer & Commercialization Support: financing spin-offs and start-ups, supporting IP management and licensing agreements, enabling industry partnerships for joint R&D projects
- Blended Finance & Guarantees:
- InnovFin – EU Finance for Innovators: A joint initiative with the European Commission that provides:
- EFSI (European Fund for Strategic Investments): Helps RIs access private sector investments
- Direct loans for innovation projects
- Risk-sharing instruments for research-intensive enterprises
How Can RIs Access EIB Funding?
- Apply through national development banks or the EIB’s direct lending programs.
- Seek co-financing with EU grants (Horizon Europe, ESIF, InvestEU, etc.).
- Engage with EIB’s advisory services to structure projects for funding.
Relevant Resources
For more details, visit the European Investment Bank website here.
COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology)
About
COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) funds networking activities for researchers and scientists across different sectors. It does not provide direct research funding but supports collaborative networks through COST Actions, that can act as pre-portals to other funding instruments.
How COST can support innovation for ENVRIs ?
Funding for Networking
RIs can join or propose COST Actions to engage with a wide network of experts in their fields. It helps RIs connect and collaborate internationally, building partnerships and sharing knowledge.
COST Actions provides financial support for:
- Meetings, workshops, and conferences (travel, accommodation, meals, venue rental)
- Short-Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) (research visits to other institutions)
- Training schools (for early-career researchers)
- Dissemination and communication activities (publications, outreach)
Relevant Resources
For more details, visit COST website here.
PRIMA: Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean
About
PRIMA (Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area) is a joint initiative focused on developing innovative solutions for sustainable water management and agro-food systems in the Mediterranean region. PRIMA involves 19 countries, including EU member states but also non-EU Mediterranean countries. PRIMA is co-funded by the EU through Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe, alongside contributions from participating countries. While aligned with Horizon Europe, it operates as an independent Article 185 Initiative—a long-term partnership between the EU and member states to tackle societal challenges.
How PRIMA can support innovation for ENVRIs
RIs can collaborate with stakeholders from academia, industry, and public authorities across the Mediterranean.
- Technology Development: RIs can collaborate on projects to develop innovative technologies for water management, climate monitoring, and sustainable agriculture
- Service Provision: supports the creation of services like real-time environmental data or decision-support tools for policymakers in the Mediterranean region.
- Industry Engagement: RIs can partner with industries to pilot and commercialize new technologies in water and agro-food sectors.
Relevant Resources
For more details, visit website PRIMA: Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean .
EEA Grants
The EEA and Norway Grants are funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The EEA Grants provide funding to reduce economic and social disparities in Europe, emphasizing environmental projects, renewable energy, and sustainable development. The program fosters cooperation between EEA and other EU countries. EEA Grants promote collaboration between European research infrastructures and stakeholders in addressing critical environmental and societal challenges through innovative projects.
For more information, visit the official website here: EEA and Norway Grants
National Funding Opportunities for EU members
Many European countries have their own national funding bodies and programs to support RIs. While national funding agencies primarily provide financial support to domestic institutions, they actively encourage and facilitate international collaborations.
To explore national funding opportunities that support international collaborations, organizations should contact their National Contact Points (NCPs) or relevant funding agencies in their respective countries. NCPs provide guidance on eligibility, application procedures, and potential collaboration opportunities with institutions in other EU member states.
For more information, visit the official websites of your national funding agencies or to find the NCP for your country, visit the European Commission's NCP Directory . Find more on the Horizon Europe NCP Portal .
Other Funding Programmes for Commercialisation Support
Eureka
Eureka is an intergovernmental network that promotes market-driven research and development (R&D) across Europe and beyond. By bringing together businesses, research organizations, and governmental agencies, Eureka facilitates international cooperation to develop advanced technologies and innovative solutions that meet real market needs. The network supports various collaborative initiatives—including flagship programs like Eureka Eurostars and Eureka Clusters—that provide funding, expertise, and networking opportunities for multinational R&D projects.
For more details, visit the website here: Eureka.
Eureka-Eurostars
About
Eurostars is the largest international funding program for SMEs, aimed at fostering collaboration on R&D projects that lead to innovative products, processes, or services for commercialization. As part of the European Partnership on Innovative SMEs and co-funded by the European Union through Horizon Europe, it requires that the lead participant in any project consortium is an innovative SME. The program is open to partnerships with SMEs, universities, and research centres from any of the 37 participating countries, and even organizations from non-participating countries are welcome to join a Eurostars consortium.
Why it matters for the ENVRI community:
- Industry Engagement & Commercialisation Support:
This program can support research initiatives within research infrastructures, enabling partnerships with SMEs for co-developing market-ready environmental technologies and services.
For more details, visit the website Eureka-Eurostars.
Techstars Sustainability Accelerator
About
The Techstars Sustainability Accelerator, in partnership with the Nature Conservancy, supports innovative startups addressing climate and sustainability challenges. It offers funding, mentorship, and access to a global network of partners focused on environmental impact.
The Techstars Sustainability Accelerator is an innovative program, developed in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, that supports early-stage startups dedicated to creating technology solutions for pressing environmental challenges. Through intensive mentorship, seed funding, and access to a vast network of industry experts and investors, the accelerator helps these start-ups refine their business models, accelerate product development, and scale their solutions.
Why it matters for the ENVRI community
This program provides an opportunity for research infrastructures to collaborate with startups tackling pressing environmental challenges, fostering innovative solutions and partnerships in sustainability.
Techstars Sustanability Accelerator can support Innovation in ENVRIs by:
- Industrial Collaborative Research & Technology Development: Joint Projects. ENVRIs can partner with accelerator startups and other research entities to co-develop technologies, leveraging their advanced facilities and scientific expertise. They can offer state-of-the-art laboratories and experimental facilities that are ideal for refining and validating the innovative solutions developed within the accelerator.
- Services Provision: Specialized Expertise. ENVRIs can act as external service providers, offering high-quality technical services such as advanced measurements, data analysis, and specialized consulting, enhancing the overall development process for accelerator participants. Moreover, they can provide services like quality assurance and certification, which are crucial for scaling sustainable technologies.
- Commercialisation & Spin-off Support: Bridging Research to Market. RIS can facilitate the transition of innovative research into viable commercial ventures by providing the necessary infrastructure and technical support.
For more details, visit the website: Techstars Sustainability Accelerator
Breakthrough Energy Catalyst
About
Breakthrough Energy is a coalition dedicated to accelerating the global transition to a low-carbon, sustainable energy future. The organization brings together private investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, and policymakers to drive the development and scaling of transformative clean energy technologies. Through various initiatives, such as investment funds and collaborative projects, Breakthrough Energy seeks to overcome the technical and financial challenges that have traditionally hindered breakthroughs in the energy sector.
Why it matters for the ENVRI community:
Breakthrough Energy primarily focuses on funding companies—especially startups and ventures with a clear path to commercialization of disruptive clean energy technologies. However, since Ris are are still an important part of the innovation ecosystem, they can be benefit by:
- Industrial Engagement & Collaborative Opportunities: Research organizations can partner with companies that receive Breakthrough Energy funding. Such collaborations allow the research expertise and facilities of these organizations to be leveraged in the development, testing, and validation of breakthrough technologies.
- Transitioning Research to Commercialization-Spin off creation: If a research organization has developed a technology with strong commercial potential, one common pathway is to form a company or joint venture. This newly structured entity could then be a candidate for Breakthrough Energy’s investment programs.
For more details, visit the website: Breakthrough Energy