15 startups specialized in climate action technology, operating in 46 countries around the world, will present their projects on Youth Day at COP27.
The solutions provided by the finalists reduce emissions by a total of about 400,000 tons of carbon dioxide.
Representatives from The African continent account for more than half of the startups that qualified for the finals.
There is great diversity among the sectors being supported by the startups, in line with the transition to a green economy and the move from pledges to implementation.
A high-level jury will evaluate the final submissions of startups on COP27’s Youth Day.
The Ministry of International Cooperation announced the shortlist of the startups that qualified for the finals in the ClimaTech Run 2022 competition, which will be participating in COP27’s Youth Day, held in Sharm El-Sheikh.
The shortlist of finalists includes 15 startups, including 8 from the African continent, that work in a variety of sectors aimed at combating climate change, reducing harmful emissions and expanding clean energy practices for the green transition, and using technology, such as AI, big data and analysis for innovative solutions.
The startups that qualified as finalists were characterized by the expansion of their work to include about 46 countries worldwide in Europe, Asia, Africa and the United States, reflecting the global nature of competition and its keenness in encouraging the role of startups in innovative solutions to advance climate action.
Interestingly, the 15 finalist startups, together, reduce emissions by a total of about 400,000 tons of carbon dioxide, through the solutions they provide.
The Minister of International Cooperation H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat said, “The short list of startups eligible to participate in COP27 reflects the success of the ClimaTech Run competition in achieving its goal of stimulating the participation of startups to confront climate change. It also confirms the vital role of these companies in combating climate change with innovative and effective solutions, especially in the context of promoting joint action among relevant entities from governments, the private sector, and international institutions in advancing the climate agenda.”
Al-Mashat added that the ideas implemented by the startups reflects the importance of innovative solutions, explaining that their presence at COP27 will give them the opportunity to exchange experiences and expertises, and present ideas in order to support expansion into different countries, thus playing a role in supporting the environment through entrepreneurship. The Minister explained that this also comes in line with the Government of Egypt’s presidency of COP27 to expand adaptation projects.
This list of companies includes BeeSage which uses data analysis and technology to enhance and sustain the productivity of beehives, operating in Latvia, the Netherlands, Portugal, Bulgaria, Denmark; BleagLee which is a waste management and recycling company in Cameroon; Earthly which operates in the food security and agriculture sector in 20 countries: Botswana, Cambodia, Canada, Czech Republic, DR Congo, Ethiopia, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Peru, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom, and United States. A startup called HelioRec operating in the energy sector in France, Belgium, Spain, Greece and Cyprus, as well as Infinite Cercle Private that works in waste management in India are also finalists.
Moreover, the finalists also include Koltiva, based in Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Ivory Coast, Ecuador, Mexico, and Colombia, for work in the food security and agriculture sector; Koolboks from Nigeria and Kenya operating in the energy sector; LiquidGold from South Africa and Kenya which work on water management; Mozare3 which operates in Egypt and Sudan in the food security and agriculture sector; Nadeera from the UAE, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia that works in waste management; Ng’wala from Tanzania and Rwanda that operate in solar energy; Ryp Labs from the USA and Belgium that work in food security and agriculture; as well as Seppure that work in industry 4.0 in Singapore and Canada.
Lastly, Skenariolabs from the UK, Germany, Canada and Finland that work in climate action resilience, and ThinkBikes from Nigeria that work in urban sustainability, mobility and transportation are also finalists.
The finalists will be evaluated by a high-level jury on Youth Day at COP27, which includes the Director of Strategy and Innovation from Afreximbank Emeka Uzoigwe; UNIDO’s Director of Division of Climate and Technology Partnerships Tareq Emtairah; the WFP’s Head of Innovation Accelerator Bernhard; USAID’s Mission Director Leslie Reed; the UNDP’s Team Leader at the UNDP Accelerator Labs Network Gina Lucarelli; Google’s Director of Public Policy & Government Relations MENA Martin Roeske; Microsoft’s Chief Sustainability Officer Sherif Tawfik; and the United Nations Director of Policy, Strategy and Governance Division, UN Office of Information and Communication Technology Salem Avan.
The ClimaTech Run competition was launched in August by the Ministry of International Cooperation, the Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and is in partnership with the USAID, Afreximbank, World Food Programme, Google, the United Nations Population Fund, and the United Nations Development Program. The event is also in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the United Nations Development Programme Accelerator Labs (UNDP), Microsoft, AfriLabs, the Youth Entrepreneurs Network, the International Association for the Advancement of Innovative Approaches to Global Challenges, and Falak Startups.
The Ministry of International Cooperation announced that over 422 startups across 77 countries from Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas and Australia, reflecting the international nature of the competition and its commitment to bringing innovative ideas from youth around the world in addressing climate change. Moreover, in the DigitalArt4Climate Track, over 166 artists from 55 countries applied, including 16 from Africa.
The winning teams, which will be honored at the COP27, will have a chance to win a number of prizes, including a grand prize of up to $100,000, a second prize of $50,000, and a third prize of $25,000. Moreover, the ClimaTech Run will award 2 startups from Africa, with the first prive receiving $50,000, and the second-place startup receiving a prize of $25,000. In the digital art track, the first place prize is $5000, the second place prize is $3000, and third place is $2000.