Climate impact is the first thing we list in our programme criteria, and that’s no coincidence.

Our current economy is breaking the planet. By helping innovative climate tech businesses to scale and deploy their solutions more widely, we’re supporting founders addressing the world’s biggest environmental challenges – from cutting emissions to strengthening climate resilience for communities and regions.

Nine systems regulate the stability of life on Earth and six have already crossed their planetary boundaries. Here in the UK, the changes are showing up close to home, with more intense heatwaves, heavier rain and higher wildfire risk. Summer 2025 was the hottest we’ve ever recorded.

The science is clear. We must change how we produce and consume if we want a liveable future. With global politics shifting and uncertainty rising, supporting climate innovation isn’t something we can put off.

We need an economy that operates within planetary boundaries. And we support the founders working to make that happen.

The global market for net-zero technologies is set to almost triple by 2035, reaching around €1.9 trillion a year. This is a major opportunity for the UK as we push for clean energy and sustainable growth.

According to the 2025 Climate Tech Index, the top 1,000 UK climate tech startups have raised over £19 billion, are valued at £42 billion, and employ more than 26,000 people. Much of this growth is happening beyond London, with over half of jobs in the regions and eight areas now home to £1bn+ ecosystems. Green growth really does travel well.

EarthScale is helping to keep that momentum going. By connecting university-led hubs across the UK, we make it easier for founders to stay rooted in their home region while still accessing the best expertise, facilities and partners nationwide.

Our brokerage mechanism connects innovators with investors, corporates, and public-sector teams that need exactly what they’re building. It gets solutions into the world faster while boosting economic opportunities. It’s a win-win.

The UK has all the right ingredients to lead in climate tech – brilliant universities, world-class research and talent ready to turn that science into impact.

Earthscale’s focus on the hardest stage for many deep tech climate ventures – scaling from prototype to commercial deployment – is ironically the one with the least support. But the opportunity for UK leadership is immense.  

A step change in how universities collaborate on climate innovation, we’re building practical bridges between institutions so ventures can access the right expertise, facilities and partners to survive the scaling stage and become thriving economic actors.

We’re also facilitating a more active, long-term role by universities in supporting deep-tech climate innovation beyond the startup phase. By connecting different strengths, we’re creating a national network for scaling climate solutions – one that bolsters outcomes for both climate tech research and the UK economy.