Climate-KIC is the most important initiative for innovation in the climate change domain in the European Union. It is divided into several pillars: The Valencian Association of Companies in the Energy Sector (AVAESEN) coordinates the entrepreneurial pillar in six European regions (RIC) in this programme. Through Climate-KIC Accelerator, espaitec acts as a collaborative organisation in the programme by mentoring several business projects.

The objective of this programme is to support the best start-ups in the Clean Tech field and to mitigate the environmental impact. Through this programme, entrepreneurs can gain access to not only a network of international Climate-KIC experts (coaching, mentoring, validating technology), networking and contacts to position their product on strategic markets, in the master class, but also to the European network of business angels and real investors.

Through collaboration with specialised centres such as the Science, Technology and Business Park of the Universitat Jaume I (espaitec), 30 new innovative companies in the Clean Tech sector have been able to make their business projects come true or accelerate their business by their innovation actually having an impact on the market and European society.

This programme has been developed in three phases: the model and business plan that must govern the participating start-ups were defined in the first one; the second phase saw this model being validated and connected to customers in order to finally, and thirdly, facilitate contacts with investors.

Apart from the Valencian Community in Spain, this programme has been developed in five other European regions in Hungary, Italy, Germany, Poland and the UK. Climate-KIC Accelerator is an opportunity to strengthen the innovation ecosystem related to climate change nationally by transforming our region, especially the province of Castellón, into a Clean Tech innovation hub by encouraging the creation of companies and by acting as a driver of wealth and innovation in our region because the companies chosen for the programme could develop their projects in the Castellón-based Centre For Energy Innovation and Sustainability.

Collaborating organisations and sponsors

The Valencian Community is one of the six EU regions that participate in this programme, led by IVACE-Energía, the AVAESEN Association and the Castellón City Council in collaboration with espaitec.

Further information can be found at:

http://www.avaesen.es/climate-kic/

http://www.climate-kic.org/for-entrepreneurs/