Ebico is seeking applications by 15 September for development support of £5-10k for innovative start-ups developing low carbon home heating and energy efficiency solutions for lower income households.
The support will be awarded to help with product viability; commercial potential and exploitation; investment readiness; technical scoping and feasibility assessment; logo and brand identity; and new product or service development. Open to individuals, teams and start-up companies, applications will be judged by an expert panel for viability and impact, before the targeted and tailored innovation support awards are made. Grants totalling up to £100,000 will be awarded over the year.
Late entries after this will be considered for Round 2, which closes on 13 December.
Phil Levermore, chief executive of Ebico, said: “It’s so difficult for innovators working in affordable low-carbon heating to scale their ideas. The solutions which are easiest to commercialise are those that would only be an option for higher-wealth households.
“As a result, lower income private homeowners are being left behind. They can’t afford the very solutions which will reduce their energy consumption, carbon footprint and ultimately save them money. Unless this gap in the innovation pipeline is plugged, the drive to net zero will have the unintended consequence of creating a greater divide between rich and poor, and pushing more people into fuel poverty. Through Ignite with Ebico we want to address this problem by providing practical support which helps affordable, cleantech heating innovations get to market.”
The Ignite with Ebico scheme aimns for a simple and straightforward application process with a response guaranteed within three months. Sustainable Ventures, which has worked with over 350 cleantech start-ups providing high impact technical and commercial support to accelerate their innovation, is running Ignite with Ebico.
Apply for funding here