Innovate UK and the Guangdong Department of Science and Technology seek to support innovative urban solutions in Guangdong province, China. The themes include smart platforms for sustainable urban environments, as well as others. Total project costs can range from £350 thousand to £500 thousand for projects of up to two years. UK business need to partner with at least one Chinese business. Registration closes on 27 September 2017. Learn more
pollution
United Nations Environment Program — Fighting Plastic in the Oceans
UN Environment and Think Beyond Plastic are sponsoring a worldwide innovation challenge for university students to fight the increasing problem of plastic in oceans. The winners in each of four categories of the competition will attend the Sixth International Marine Debris Conference in California (March 2018), and will receive free mentorship to help them develop their ideas. The competition is open to university students worldwide. The deadline for entries is 06 October 2017. Learn about the challenge
ASEAN Impact Challenge — Accelerating the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals
This regional programme is designed to discover innovators and strengthen new innovations from Southeast Asia. Categories are early-stage innovations (proposals, ideas, concepts and prototypes) and scale-stage innovation (proven social innovations with the potential and capacity to increase impact). Initiatives by participant teams have ranged from waste management, agriculture, and environment — among others. Finalists will showcase their innovations to investors and other corporate organisations. The deadline for entries is 09 September 2017. More about the ASEAN Impact Challenge
Innovate UK — UK-Malaysia Urban Innovation Challenge 2017
Innovate UK is investing in projects that use cutting-edge solutions to improve cities in Malaysia. UK businesses can apply to work with Malaysian partners on collaborative technological solutions that address urban mobility, urban waste, and urban water management. Funding is up to £500 thousand per project. Registration closes on 30 August 2017. Link
Smogathon — Technology to Fight Air Pollution
Smogathon aims to fight air pollution through technology. Start-ups will compete for $25 thousand in cash and $75 thousand as a contract to implement their innovation in Krakow, Poland. Smogathon welcomes participation from any group worldwide that works as a registered company, start-up, foundation, or research group with a legal entity. The best submissions will compete in regional semi-final competitions in Berkeley, London, Warsaw, Bangalore, and Hong Kong. The finalists will compete in Krakow during the Global Clean Air Summit in November 2017. The deadline for applications is 15 August 2017. Link
Research Councils UK — Interdisciplinary Research Hubs to Address Intractable Challenges
Research Councils UK invites proposals from eligible UK research organisations to establish research hubs addressing currently intractable challenges faced by developing countries. Examples might include but are not restricted to achieving economic growth in an environmentally sustainable way while also ensuring social cohesion and adequate access to safe food, water, and services; development of resilient infrastructure and energy production in the context of climate change; achieving food security in ways that make agriculture, food production, and consumption more environmentally and economically sustainable; and urban development that fosters diversity whilst tackling air pollution and other environmental hazards. The intention to submit must be completed by 29 September 2017. Link
LAUNCH Nordic — Innovation Challenge 2017
The LAUNCH Nordic Innovation Challenge 2017 focuses on new ways of design and manufacturing for a circular economy. LAUNCH Nordic aims to select ten innovations to be scaled globally through its international partners, network, and accelerator program. The program is open to innovators worldwide. The deadline for submissions is 01 September 2017. Link
U.S. Department of State — Environmental Funding for Pacific Islands
The U.S. Department of State announces environmental awards up to US$25 thousand to support local and regional small-scale environmental projects in eligible countries of the Pacific Islands region. Subject areas are agriculture and fisheries; sustainable economic development; adaptation to changing environmental conditions, e.g., coastal management; waste management, including marine litter; air quality; biodiversity and healthy ecosystems; marine protected areas; environment or health-related education; capacity building for scientific research on environmental issues; and deployment of new technology for application to environmental issues. Projects may propose activities in Fiji; Kiribati; Marshall Islands; Micronesia; Nauru; Palau; Samoa; Solomon Islands; Tonga; Tuvalu; or Vanuatu. Applications are invited from NGOs; public international organizations; institutions of higher education; and for-profit organizations and businesses. Funding Opportunity 2017-EAP-SUVAREO. The application deadline is 15 July 2017. Link
Unilever — Young Entrepreneurs Awards
The Unilever Young Entrepreneurs Awards invite nominations of individuals ages 18 to 35 anywhere in the world who have initiatives, products, or services that address sustainability challenges in four categories. The categories are “farm to table” (sustainable agriculture and food and drink nutrition); opportunities for women; waste management; and water management. The awards will be made to individuals who are putting their ideas into action, i.e., who are already having an impact. Unilever will recognise up to eight winners in 2017, each of whom will be awarded a cash prize in addition to one-to-one mentoring support for a year. The overall winner will receive the “HRH The Prince of Wales Young Sustainability Entrepreneur Prize” of €50 thousand. The deadline for nominations is 30 June 2017. Link
Global Cleantech Innovation Programme — Clean Technology for SMEs 2017
The Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP) for small and medium enterprises is co-sponsored by the GEF, UNIDO, and national institutions in the participating countries. The GCIP aims to spur local innovations in energy efficiency, green buildings, renewable energy, waste management, and water efficiency. Each country manages a competition to identify promising entrepreneurs and a business accelerator to connect them to potential investors, customers, and partners. The rules of participation, and the benefits of the program, vary by country. The remaining application deadlines include: 10 May for Turkey, Link; 09 June for Malaysia, Link; and 10 June for Pakistan, Link.