Events
THEMATIC DIALOGUE ON INCUBATORS AND ACCELERATORS
[Watch the recorded webcast and view event photos through the Flickr photo album.]
On 14 March 2018, experts gathered in Bonn to explore how to boost climate tech incubators and accelerators in developing countries. They took part in an event that aimed to identify how to scale up the efforts of these initiatives, which provide vital life-support to small climate tech firms and entrepreneurs. Such initiatives play a key role in the innovation of new climate technologies that we need to achieve the Paris Agreement.
This thematic dialogue was organized by the UNFCCC Technology Executive Committee, the Green Climate Fund and the Climate Technology Centre and Network. The dialogue informed the secretariat of the Green Climate Fund as it develops a request for proposals on climate technology incubators and accelerators for consideration by the Green Climate Fund Board.
Incubators and accelerators support entrepreneurs in the start-up and early development of technology ideas. They help entrepreneurs develop their ideas to a greater maturity by providing them with training, guidance and networking on technological issues. They also support them with partnerships, business models and fundraising. They thus play an important role in supporting new low-emission and climate-resilient technologies to be developed, used and accepted by society.
Title: Boosting climate technology incubators and accelerators in developing countries
Date: 14 March 2018
Time: 09:00-15:30h
Lead organizer: Technology Executive Committee
Co-organizers: Green Climate Fund and Climate Technology Centre and Network
Venue: UN Campus, Bonn, Germany
You may read the programme below or download it here.
09:00 - 09:20 / OPENING AND RATIONALE
Ms. Claudia Octaviano Villasana, Chair, Technology Executive Committee
Ms. Carolina Fuentes, Head of Governance Affairs, Green Climate Fund
Mr. Jukka Uosukainen, Director, Climate Technology Centre and Network
Moderator: Ms. Wanna Tanunchaiwatana, United Nations Climate Change Secretariat
09:20 - 09:50 / SESSION I: Climate technology incubators and accelerators for enhancing innovation
This session described the key role that climate technology incubators and accelerators play as part of a country's innovation ecosystem. Furthermore, it provided an overview of climate technology incubators and accelerators around the world, for both adaptation and mitigation.
Mr. Wim Naudé, Professor of Development Economics and Entrepreneurship, Maastricht University [presentation]
Moderator: Ms. Claudia Octaviano Villasana, Chair, Technology Executive Committee
Format: Presentation followed by questions and answers with all participants
09:50 - 09:55 / VIDEO: Greentown Labs: the largest cleantech startup incubator in the U.S
09:55 - 11:10 / SESSION II: Experiences on the ground
This session highlighted climate technology incubator and accelerator success stories in different regions. It explored their impact and challenges they have overcome. It also highlighted how such success stories cover multiple sustainable development goals.
Scaling up climate innovation in India
Mr. Harish Hande, Entrepreneur and Founder of SELCO India
Enhancing climate innovation and entrepreneurship in Ghana
Ms. Rukayatu Sanusi, Executive Director, Ghana Climate Innovation Center
Accelerating climate innovation in Europe
Ms. Andrea Karpati, Head of Policy, Climate-KIC
Innovación Chile and climate technology incubators
Mr. Fernando Hentzschel, Director of Technology Development, Corporación de Fomento de la Producción, Chile
Supporting cleantech incubators and accelerators in Asia
Mr. Daniel Hersson, Cleantech Venture Capital Expert, Asian Development Bank
Moderator: Mr. Ambuj Sagar, Climate Technology Centre and Network Advisory Board
Format: Short presentations and panel discussion followed by discussion among all participants
11:10 - 11:20 / COFFEE BREAK
11:20 - 11:25 / VIDEO: Cool farming: growing plants in Africa without soil
11:25 - 12:30 / SESSION III: "Accelerating investment in climate technology incubators and accelerators"
This session highlighted opportunities for unlocking financing for climate technology incubators and accelerators in developing countries. It also highlighted how investment can have the most impact in enhancing such innovation efforts. Furthermore, it considered possible ways that the Green Climate Fund could support such efforts.
National policies for stimulating investment in entrepreneurship
Mr. Kitipong Promwong, Secretary General, National Science Technology and Innovation Policy Office, Thailand
Financing the Global Cleantech Innovation Accelerator
Mr. Alois Posekufa Mhlanga, Industrial Development Officer, United Nations Industrial Development Organization
Investing in climate innovation centres
Mr. Jean-Louis Racine, Lead, InfoDev Climate Technology Programme, World Bank Group
Financing start-ups for climate change adaptation
Mr. Christoph Jungfleisch, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, YAPU solutions
Moderator: Ms. Carolina Fuentes, Green Climate Fund
Format: Panel discussion followed by 30-minute discussion among all.
12:30 - 13:30 / LUNCH
13:30 - 14:30 / SESSION III: Accelerating investment in climate technology incubators and accelerators (cont.)
Breakout groups: Participants gathered in small groups to consider how to accelerate investment for and impact of climate technology incubators and accelerators for achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement.
14:30 - 15:15 / SESSION III: Accelerating investment in climate technology incubators and accelerators (cont.)
The breakout groups reported back to the plenary. Drawing on these reports, a final panel was held in an open discussion with all participants to identify ways to accelerate investment for climate technology incubators and accelerators in developing countries.
Ms. Claudia Octaviano Villasana, Chair, Technology Executive Committee
Mr. Jukka Uosukainen, Director, Climate Technology Centre and Network
Ms. Carolina Fuentes, Head of Governance Affairs, Green Climate Fund
15:15 - 15:30 / CLOSING
Ms. Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary, United Nations Climate Change Secretariat
Ms. Carolina Fuentes, Head of Governance Affairs, Green Climate Fund
Mr. Jukka Uosukainen, Director, Climate Technology Centre and Network
Mr. Wim Naudé, Professor of Development Economics and Entrepreneurship, Maastricht University
Mr. Harish Hande, Entrepreneur and Founder of SELCO India
Ms. Rukayatu Sanusi, Executive Director, Ghana Climate Innovation Center
Ms. Andrea Karpati, Head of Policy, Climate-KIC
Mr. Fernando Hentzschel, Director of Technology Development, Corporación de Fomento de la Producción, Chile
Mr. Daniel Hersson, Cleantech Venture Capital Expert, Asian Development Bank
Mr. Kitipong Promwong, Secretary General, National Science Technology and Innovation Policy Office, Thailand
Mr. Alois Posekufa Mhlanga, Industrial Development Officer, United Nations Industrial Development Organization
Mr. Jean-Louis Racine, Lead, InfoDev Climate Technology Programme, World Bank Group
Mr. Christoph Jungfleisch, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, YAPU solutions 
Ms. Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary, United Nations Climate Change Secretariat
Check out the event video here.
See these articles published about the event:
"GCF joins UN bodies to help entrepreurs embrace climate technology"
"UN bodies work to boost climate tech innovation for achieving the Paris agreement"
This event had a dedicated slot for virtual participation. Online participants were encouraged to join the Twitter chat using #ClimateTech.
Participants were asked the question: "Why do you think entrepreneurship incubators are key for climate action?" and sent their comments to the panelists through Twitter using the hashtag #ClimateTech. See Twitter box below for the answers.
