emirates7 - Ten climate tech start-ups showcased their groundbreaking circular economy innovations at a recent event organized by the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy. This showcase marked the finale of the latest UICCA Launchpad cycle, an accelerator program designed to propel climate-focused start-ups by providing access to funding, mentorship, market opportunities, and policy support.
Each Launchpad cycle addresses a key area of climate action, with this round centered on circular economy approaches that minimize or repurpose waste across sectors like food, water, energy, and infrastructure. The ten selected start-ups were chosen from a pool of over 150 international applicants, based on the promise and impact of their technologies. Their solutions span areas such as decentralized composting, textile recycling, recovery of critical minerals, industrial reuse, food waste reduction, and circular water desalination.
Over the course of three months, the participating companies underwent an intensive acceleration process involving expert mentorship, skill development, and strategic engagement with UAE-based stakeholders to prepare them for scaling their operations locally.
H.H. Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, President and CEO of UICCA, highlighted the importance of reimagining the economy to be not only waste-reducing but regenerative, stating, “The innovators in this cycle are helping to redefine industry norms and build a future where sustainability drives long-term value. Our partnership with the Ministry of Economy strengthens our ability to an ecosystem in which these climate solutions can thrive.”
Maria Hanif Alqassim, Assistant Undersecretary for Policies and Economic Studies at the Ministry of Economy, expressed the Ministry’s commitment to the initiative, emphasizing the importance of fostering collaboration across sectors to scale sustainable business models. “Through this programme, we aim to bring together innovators, investors, regulators, and industry leaders to design an economy that restores and regenerates by default.”
The start-ups featured in this cohort were Altera, Cauli, Circa Biotech, Desolenator, Excess Material Exchange, Food with Benefits, Novasensa, Terrax, The Waste Lab, and Yellow Octopus: Circular Solutions. They presented their innovations to a diverse audience of investors, policymakers, and sustainability advocates from across the UAE.
UICCA announced that future Launchpad cycles will focus on carbon reduction technologies and climate adaptation, aligning with the UAE’s ambition to position itself as a leading hub for global climate innovation.
Each Launchpad cycle addresses a key area of climate action, with this round centered on circular economy approaches that minimize or repurpose waste across sectors like food, water, energy, and infrastructure. The ten selected start-ups were chosen from a pool of over 150 international applicants, based on the promise and impact of their technologies. Their solutions span areas such as decentralized composting, textile recycling, recovery of critical minerals, industrial reuse, food waste reduction, and circular water desalination.
Over the course of three months, the participating companies underwent an intensive acceleration process involving expert mentorship, skill development, and strategic engagement with UAE-based stakeholders to prepare them for scaling their operations locally.
H.H. Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, President and CEO of UICCA, highlighted the importance of reimagining the economy to be not only waste-reducing but regenerative, stating, “The innovators in this cycle are helping to redefine industry norms and build a future where sustainability drives long-term value. Our partnership with the Ministry of Economy strengthens our ability to an ecosystem in which these climate solutions can thrive.”
Maria Hanif Alqassim, Assistant Undersecretary for Policies and Economic Studies at the Ministry of Economy, expressed the Ministry’s commitment to the initiative, emphasizing the importance of fostering collaboration across sectors to scale sustainable business models. “Through this programme, we aim to bring together innovators, investors, regulators, and industry leaders to design an economy that restores and regenerates by default.”
The start-ups featured in this cohort were Altera, Cauli, Circa Biotech, Desolenator, Excess Material Exchange, Food with Benefits, Novasensa, Terrax, The Waste Lab, and Yellow Octopus: Circular Solutions. They presented their innovations to a diverse audience of investors, policymakers, and sustainability advocates from across the UAE.
UICCA announced that future Launchpad cycles will focus on carbon reduction technologies and climate adaptation, aligning with the UAE’s ambition to position itself as a leading hub for global climate innovation.