Climate-KIC

📅 Save the date! Check out our upcoming online and in-person events and register today! 📍 Deep Dive into the LAC Climate Innovation Ecosystem Report, 17:00 CEST, August 27, 2024; Zoom Register: https://bit.ly/3X0YzoK 📍 EIT Alumni CONNECT 2024, 4 October 2024; Alicante, Spain Register: https://bit.ly/3M06Umo 📍 CREDIBLE 2025 Annual Meeting, 4 March 2025; Dublin, Ireland Register: https://bit.ly/4fGnqp6 Check out more events on our website 👉 https://bit.ly/4dvBKzY

The construction sector accounts for the largest share of Europe’s material footprint and over 35% of its total waste. But it doesn’t have to be this way. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation's new Building Prosperity report identifies six #circulareconomy strategies to unlock the potential in Europe’s built environment — delivering widespread benefits to nature, society, and business. And we can start implementing them now. Together, we can unlock the potential of a nature-positive, circular economy for Europe. Find out how — read the report here: https://lnkd.in/e-3UK6xH #BuildingProsperity

🌍 Traditional development funding and power dynamics need to shift for the communities that need it most. Our Head of Philanthropy Melody Song explores and emphasizes the need for rethinking development funding, advocating for more collaboration and inclusivity, and push for a shift in power dynamics that prioritises local leadership and innovation. Embracing discomfort and rethinking our roles in the development sector are essential steps toward creating lasting, equitable change. Melody looks at Sida, which, rather than acting as a traditional funder, has started to explore experimental funding practices, for example through intermediary or grassroots organisations co-deciding on funding allocation. Read more ➡️ https://bit.ly/3ytGCWx #DevelopmentFunding #SILP #SystemsChangeNow

Are you experienced in scaling #startups? 🚀 We're looking for Entrepreneurship Support Organisations to run our ClimAccelerator programme across Europe and Asia, maximising our collective hashtag#climate impact! #ClimAccelerator is a global programme for start-ups to innovate, catalyse and scale the potential of their climate solutions. Our proven methodology shaped by over 10 years of experience has empowered hundreds of Organisers around the world deliver our climate-focused accelerator – and now you can too! If you are interested in collaborating with us, please apply ➡️ https://bit.ly/3xkNm8z

📣 Attention women in deep tech The Women TechEU call continues! Apply now for the chance to receive a €75,000 grant (equity-free funding) and additional business support services. This 2-year EU-funded project fosters collaboration between the European Commission and pan-European deep tech start-ups led by women. 160 start-ups from all over the EU and Horizon Europe associated countries will receive direct support over the next 2 years through 4 calls for applications. As a leading partner, EIT Climate-KIC will guide participants through a Climate Impact Assessment where they will learn how to self-assess their business’ climate impact, and develop strategies to improve their environmental footprint. Together, we're creating a future where women-led innovation thrives, the benefits of diversity are acknowledged, and entrepreneurship knows no gender bounds. Apply for the second cohort 👉https://womentecheurope.eu #WomenTechEU #WomenInTech #WomenEntrepreneurs #WomenInBusiness #DeepTech

💡 What does a climate-neutral agri-food system look like, and what can we do to make it happen 𝐧𝐨𝐰? Climate change is profoundly impacting agri-food systems everywhere, as this key sector is faced with balancing an ever-increasing demand with the need to dramatically cut emissions. To tackle this challenge, Ireland - one of the countries at the forefront of agricultural innovation - is embracing systemic innovation and climate-smart agriculture principles that go beyond technological improvements, in partnership with EIT Climate-KIC. How are we doing this? In partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, we explored the potential for innovation currently untapped, and we mapped 275 practical, high-potential project ideas grouped under seven flagship areas, from carbon farming and biodiversity on farms, to circular bioeconomy to sustainable dairy production. By piloting and scaling connected initiatives under these frameworks, we are creating a robust innovation ecosystem across the country, where lessons are shared and impacts are accelerated. Learn more in our latest article: https://bit.ly/3SzVlpH

💡 Time to draw the lessons from our Circular Economy Journey in Bengaluru! Together with SecondMuse, the Climate-KIC team just concluded the first Circular Economy Journey in India. This transformative two-week residential event in the city of Bengaluru brought together participants from diverse backgrounds to explore solutions and develop business ideas for circular upstream innovations. A circular business model shifts from the 'take-make-dispose' approach to one that keeps products and materials in use for as long as possible. By focusing on upstream innovation, we can prevent waste before it starts rather than figuring out how to manage it later. The winning team Bloop proposed a circular inhaler, preventing medical waste and demand for virgin raw materials. Here are our top three learnings from this experience: ♻️ Focusing on waste prevention: Upstream innovations focusing on the design, material selection, business models and intended use of products or services are essential for a real circular transformation, as downstream efforts (collection, sorting and recycling) often fail to solve the waste problem effectively. 🤝 Cultivating talent for circularity: There is a need for early-stage circular business ideas in the ecosystem. The Journey programme excels at developing talent for circularity, creating social entrepreneurs and change-makers. 🌱 Instilling a mindset shift towards sustainability in the next generation is vital: The participant’s appreciation for circular economy and sustainability issues is promising for the future as they emerge as leaders in their fields. A big thank you to all participants, coaches Manvel Alur and Ramanathan V, and organisers for their enormous effort and collaborative spirit. 🏁 Our journey is not over! We will be back in Nairobi in November, where GrowthAfrica and Climate-KIC will be running the Journey programme. 👉 Follow us for updates and news. The Journey is a part of the Circular Economy Innovation Cluster in Bengaluru, supported by the IKEA Foundation, pioneering entrepreneurship that drives innovation and social change in the circular economy. #CircularEconomy #InnovationCluster #ClimateEntrepreneurship #Leadership #FutureLeaders #Innovation 

💡Apply to the 2025 European Prize for Women Innovators! 🏆 This European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) and EIT - European Institute of Innovation and Technology initiative celebrates the outstanding achievements of women entrepreneurs driving positive change for people and the planet. 🗓️ Deadline: 25 September 2024, 17:00 CET. Find your Prize category: 👩💻EIC Women Innovators category: Open to women founders and co-founders from the EU and Associated Countries. Three prizes of EUR 100 000, EUR 70 000 and EUR 50 000 are awarded to the three highest-ranked applications. 👧EIC Rising Innovators category: Targeting promising innovators under the age of 35. Three prizes of EUR 50 000, EUR 30 000 and EUR 20 000 are awarded to the three highest-ranked applications. 🙋♀️EIT Women Leadership category: Focused on women with a direct link to the EIT Community. Three prizes of EUR 50 000, EUR 30 000 and EUR 20 000 are awarded to the three highest-ranked applications. More info and how to apply 👉https://lnkd.in/d3-JqvGy #WomenInnovators #EIT #EIC #Innovation #WiPrizeEU

🚀Are you leading innovative procurements in Europe? Take part to the 2024 edition of the European Innovation Procurement Awards! 🏆 The prize contest is open to applicants from EU Member States and countries associated to the Horizon Europe programme. 🗓️ Deadline: 26 September 2024, 17:00 CET. 💡The prize categories are open to projects that took place in any sector and applications are open to all different types of innovation procurement initiatives. Additionally, public and private procurers are eligible to apply. More info 👉https://lnkd.in/d98bApBb

🎙️The final episode from the latest How Could We? podcast series is out now! 💬In this episode, we talk to Marion Iceduna from Join For Water, who is doing inspiring work to strengthen the capacity of women in knowledge development and conservation planning. 🌊Based in Uganda, Marion is an Advisor for Protection and Conservation of Water Resources - in our interview, she talks about how funding from the SILP experiment fund allowed her team to experiment with establishing WORIAs groups (for WOmen River Ambassadors) and identify the conditions under which they can operate. 🗣️"When we talk about river management, in most cases, we've talked about the main river and forget about the small streams that feed into it. One of our findings, and something that was really very interesting for us - that we carry as a story - is around how we visualize the main river as the heart. And the small streams are the small veins that feed the big heart. So the spatial distribution of the women brought an understanding that if we manage these small streams at the level of the Women River Ambassadors, then at the end of the day, it's going to cause a greater impact in the health of the main river that fits the entire landscape," says Marion Iceduna. 💬 This episode underscores the importance of rethinking traditional funding mechanisms to foster inclusive, innovative, and adaptive development projects. It highlights the significant impact that even small, flexible grants can have on empowering marginalised communities and driving systemic change. 🍎 Listen now on Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/dRNumiep 🟢 Listen now on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/dB5nzFa6 🎧Thanks to all our listeners, see you soon for another series of the How Could We? podcast! This episode was hosted by Anne-Sophie Clulow-Garrigou & Solla Zophoniasdottir and produced by Bárbara Mendes-Jorge. https://lnkd.in/dwRbe2xs #LearningForClimate #EITCommunity #HowCouldWe #ClimateAction #DevelopmentFunding #ClimateResilience