The Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC) is a social impact organization operating in the climate space, committed to supporting micro and small enterprises and driven by innovation. KCIC provides incubation, capacity-building services, and financing to Kenyan entrepreneurs and new ventures that are developing innovative solutions in renewable energy and energy efficiency, water management, agribusiness, waste management, and commercial forestry in a bid to address climate change challenges.
Please visit here for more information about Kenya Climate Innovation Center.
KCIC has opened the 2024 country-wide Call for Applications for the Cleantech Innovation Competition, is an initiative launched by the Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC) in collaboration with the Embassy of Switzerland in Kenya, SICPA, and Strathmore University. The competition aims to support early-stage businesses in the cleantech sector that focus on solving pressing environmental challenges. Specifically targeting higher education students (both male and female) in Kenya, this competition serves as a platform to showcase innovative cleantech ideas and technologies that directly address local environmental issues. The competition is also in line with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), concentrating on thematic areas in the realms of renewable energy solutions, waste management and recycling, sustainable agriculture, water purification and conservation, green transportation, eco-friendly construction practices, and nature-based solutions.
Fostering innovation in the cleantech sector is essential for driving sustainable development. The competition seeks to empower the youth by providing knowledge, the necessary tools and skills for the next generation of environmental leaders to create impactful solutions that can be scaled to address broader environmental challenges.
Eligibility for the competition is limited to university students in Kenya who are in the ideation stage of developing a cleantech solution that clearly addresses an environmental problem. The top 3 winners will receive grant award to further enhance their idea concepts. The ultimate winner will receive a grant worth KSH.1 million, while the second and third place will receive KSH. 500,000 and KSH.300,000 respectively. Successful participants will also have the opportunity to participate in boot camp sessions at regional level, investor readiness workshops. Additionally, the evaluation of eligible applications will be based on several key criteria, including scalability, climate impact, job creation, progress to date, and innovation.
The application process is online and should be made in English via the KCIC Website portal. The deadline for receiving all applications is extended to Friday, 6 September 2024, at 11:59PM East African Time (EAT).
Please, obtain detailed information about this competition at the following links:
For further inquiry, contact us on email: communication@kenyacic.org
