The Earthshot Prize launches new climate innovation network with Imperial

The global network of accelerators for early-stage climate entrepreneurs aims to speed 10,000 eco-innovations to scale this decade.

The Earthshot Prize has announced a new global network, with 17 initial members, to foster collaboration between accelerators, incubators and other organisations supporting climate innovation around the world, aiming to help a wide range of climate startups tackle the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. 

The new programme aims to speedily scale up 10,000 eco-innovations this decade. It has been formed in collaboration with Undaunted@Imperial - a partnership between Imperial College London and The Royal Institution, and home to the UK’s longest-running specialist climate accelerator.  

Global support ecosystem 

Aimed at young game-changers, innovators and entrepreneurs, the network provides startups with an end-to-end global support ecosystem, helping them access the expert advice, technical resources, investment, customers and new markets they need to scale and grow. 

At Imperial, we know that innovation is needed to achieve a sustainable, zero pollution future. Professor Hugh Brady, President of Imperial College London

Despite the growing number of accelerators worldwide, support for innovators is fragmented and varies significantly by market. The Global Innovation Network is a solution to this, connecting accelerators to share capabilities, and help funders, philanthropists and corporates to find the right corporate partners.  

A network improves the likelihood of innovators scaling at speed by expanding their access to a larger pool of experts, technological infrastructure, customers, funders and markets.  

Achieving a sustainable future 

Professor Hugh Brady, President of Imperial College London, said: “At Imperial, we know that innovation is needed to achieve a sustainable, zero pollution future. We need scientists, entrepreneurs, businesses, policymakers and the public to come together to make a difference on a global scale – an ambition set out in our Science for Humanity strategy. We’re excited that Undaunted@Imperial is partnering with The Earthshot Prize to support the most promising cleantech businesses, including our own Notpla who were the first UK winners of The Earthshot Prize in 2022.” 

Alyssa Gilbert, Director of Innovation at Imperial Grantham Institute and Director of Undaunted@Imperial, said: “It’s brilliant to see that the number organisations dedicated to supporting green innovators globally is flourishing – we are seeing the emergence of a thriving world-wide web of action to create a sustainable and just future. This kind of tailor-made support for green founders is vital in our efforts to tackle the world’s climate and environmental challenges in intelligent ways, at pace, at scale, and taking all of the world’s citizens with us on this journey.  

“What’s missing is a way to harness the power of these hubs across countries and continents. We need to work together to more equitably distribute opportunities and resources and to channel the vital expertise and infrastructure, funders and markets that these accelerators offer towards the right founders at the right time, to maximise our collective impact. The new network brings together world-leaders in climate innovation support to make this happen. Join us!” 

Undaunted@Imperial is the hub for the UK’s climate innovation community, supporting over 190 startups on their accelerator programme to date, who have raised a total of over $1billion of funding since 2012.  

One of the key initiatives in Imperial’s ambitious new strategy, Science for Humanity, is Sustainable Imperial - an institution-wide strategy addressing the challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. We will nurture graduates who understand and advocate for climate science, support our researchers to investigate this global crisis, and lead by example on our campuses.  

Professor Mary Ryan, Vice-Provost (Research and Enterprise) said: “Collaboration and partnerships are at the heart of what we do at Imperial; critical to making new discoveries and seeking innovations that drive the transition to net zero.    

“Environmental challenges need to be tackled on a global scale, and we look forward to working with The Earthshot Prize and organisations across the world to make the ideas of the world’s most promising climate innovators a reality.”   

Turbocharge solutions 

Hannah Jones, CEO of The Earthshot Prize said: “By connecting these organisations across the globe, we can create an ecosystem that catalyses groundbreaking climate innovations and helps us turbocharge the solutions we need to save the planet. The Network will also provide a lasting legacy to cities hosting The Earthshot Prize.”  

The 17 initial members operate on five continents, including in all four Earthshot Prize host cities to date – London, Boston, Singapore and Cape Town. The 17 members are ASBhive at the Asia School of Business, Breakthrough Energy, Canopy at the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, Climate Collective, Climate Ventures, Hatch Blue, Impact Hub Accra, Kinjani, Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator, Leading Cities, The Mills Fabrica, Ninety One, Sustainable Ventures, Tech Nation, Third Derivative, TUM Venture Labs and Undaunted.