The Cambridge Institute for Sustainability leadership (CISL) is taking applications from SME’s in the built environment based in England for their Virtual Accelerator programme, “Innovators for the built environment”. The aim is to fast-track promising SMEs who are commercialising novel products and services that could help achieve net zero in the built environment.
The programme is a response to the climate emergency and the CO2 emissions produced by the construction and the building industry. The industry needs new products and services to move away from linear models to circular solutions, and to find creative ways to decarbonise.
The 6-week programme is 2-4 hours a week with additional hours for 1-2-1 mentoring, and optional networking events and a demo with investors. This Accelerator aims to fast-track companies that are commercialising novel products and services in the built environment space.
“Innovators for the built environment” is partly funded by the European Union’s European Regional Development Fund, and is available for free to SMEs based in England
CISL is looking for small businesses with commercial propositions who are looking to bring new products or services to the market, or who have existing clients and are looking to grow. This is particularly in 5 key areas:
- Decarbonisation of buildings – technologies and business propositions to decarbonise construction of new buildings and retrofit applications, including the use of AI or other strategies to improve and monitor construction standards
- Materials & circularity – novel materials, 3D printing and new circular business models for construction materials and resources consumed during building lifetime, such as water
- Biodiversity – innovative approaches to encourage greater biodiversity in the built environment and assist with monitoring and enforcement regimes
- Climate adaptation and resilience– new products or services to create greater resilience to drought, higher summer temperatures, storms and flooding, for example, in ways that are low in embodied energy and do not create future waste issues
- People-centred solutions–improving occupational health and safety for people in the construction industry and providing consumer education on sustainability behaviour relating to buildings to help encourage low impact lifestyles
Applications close on Tuesday 6th April at 9am. More information and application form is available HERE