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Today, Tech Nation launches applications for its first programme for sustainable tech companies, Net Zero<\/a> — and it couldn’t have come at a better time.<\/p>\n Lockdown in the UK has shown that it is possible to reduce our carbon emissions (by a huge 59% in London<\/a>). But coming out of lockdown threatens to undo any environmental gains, as car usage is expected to soar<\/a>.<\/p>\n Smart sustainable technology solutions are needed — and at scale — or there’s little hope that the UK will be able to reach its target of net zero greenhouse emissions by 2050<\/a>, as set out by the government last year.<\/p>\n “To build back better, the UK must harness low-carbon investment opportunities to reboot economies while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution that jeopardise lives,” says Zheela Qaiser, Net Zero’s programme lead. <\/p>\n “The year of climate action is now.”<\/p>\n A green recovery will require companies operating in a huge range of industries to step up to the challenge. <\/p>\n It’s not just carbon capture companies that have a role to play here, says Cansu Deniz Bayrak, head of fundraising at tech-for-good investor Bethnal Green Ventures and a Net Zero judge. “There’s an opportunity for a wide range of businesses to join the fight against the climate crisis — from deep tech innovation and green transportation, from sharing economy and conscious consumption to food security and biodiversity.” <\/p>\n The Net Zero programme is looking for scaleups creating electricity, energy, transport, mobility, agriculture, food systems, manufacturing and building technology. It’s also interested in applications from scaleups that have products or services that directly contribute to net zero, like emission-reducing and carbon capture technology — or those that contribute indirectly by changing consumer behaviour, for example.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n “Investing in new technologies is a crucial part of the fight against climate change — making alternative solutions cheaper and better than the incumbents will accelerate the zero carbon transition,” says Pippa Gawley, founder of greentech investor Zero Carbon Capital and a Net Zero judge. <\/p>\n Up to 30 scaleups will be selected to join the free six-month programme when it kicks off in October. Companies will need to show some traction or a customer base, be ready to deploy their product or service at scale and have either received some grant funding\/investment, or have annual revenue of less than £1.5m.<\/p>\n Applications will be judged on the following criteria: <\/p>\n This will be Tech Nation’s first sustainability programme — but it will draw on years of experience scaling and supporting startups. <\/p>\n Over six months, founders will participate in masterclasses and sessions with sustainable technology experts, academics, entrepreneurs and investors. They’ll also gain access to a huge network, including members of government, and receive coaching. <\/p>\n Tech Nation is also opening applications for two other scale-up programmes — for Fintech<\/a> and Applied AI<\/a> companies.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Tags:<\/b> Sifted<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Calling all green go-getters<\/h4>\n
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Greentech focus, same great team<\/h4>\n
See Campaign: <\/strong>https:\/\/technation.io\/applied-ai<\/a>
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The Net Zero programme plans to boost UK sustainability scaleups — and help the country reach its net zero carbon emissions goal by 2050. Today, Tech Nation launches applications for its first programme for sustainable tech companies, Net Zero — and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Lockdown in the UK has shown that it … Continue reading Tech Nation launches its first programme for sustainability scaleups<\/span><\/a> Continue Reading