Regional Strengths in Climate Tech Innovation

Last week I caught up with some of our climatetech founders and the Wavemaker Impact team in Singapore. It reminded me how much Europe could learn from the pace, creativity, hunger and grit of emerging markets when it comes to building climate solutions. In South Asia, you don’t have the luxury of slow progress or “pilot purgatory.” Climate impacts hit hard and fast, so the innovation mindset is lean, practical and deeply connected to livelihoods. 1. The Green Discount Forget moonshots and massive R&D budgets. Across South Asia, founders are building cleaner and cheaper solutions that work now: modular, low-capex climatetech with real unit economics from day one, like turning waste into biofuel (Octayne) or agricultural residues into biochar (WasteX) while improving customer margins. ✅ Lesson for Europe: Move beyond the “green premium.” We don’t always need new tech; we need to deploy what already works, faster and at scale. 2. Decentralised Energy and Leapfrogging Like Africa skipped landlines to go mobile, South Asia is leapfrogging traditional grids with off-grid solar, microgrids and batteries replacing diesel, from Agros to Helios Solar Company Limited and SOLshare. ✅ Lesson for Europe: Distributed renewable energy isn’t just cleaner; it’s more resilient. Energy security in wartime or flood season may depend on it. 3. Nature-Based and Community-Led Solutions After decades of deforestation and degraded land, pioneering models are fighting back through community reforestation, mangrove restoration and regenerative agriculture. Ventures like Bumi Baru and Fair Ventures Social Forestry make nature profitable by working with local populations. ✅ Lesson for Europe: Climate action sticks when people have skin in the game. Build with communities, not just for them. 4. The Just Green Transition In emerging markets, climate isn’t a distant moral issue; it’s a development and equity issue. Policy conversations link emissions to jobs, food and public health. When clean tech creates livelihoods, people back the transition. ✅ Lesson for Europe: Embed justice, inclusion and affordability at the heart of the transition, not as an afterthought. 5. Adaptation and Resilience South Asia is among the most vulnerable regions to climate change and has no choice but to adapt: flood defences, early-warning systems, better weather data and climate-resilient crops. Ventures like Rize and Intensel Limited prove that resilience and profitability can coexist. ✅ Lesson for Europe: Don’t just decarbonise, adapt. Resilience is also an investment class. After more than two decades building start-ups across Asia, I’ve seen how constraint breeds creativity and urgency drives focus. Europe has the capital, talent and technology. Maybe it also needs a bit more of that emerging-market scrappiness and hunger. Because the truth is, we don’t need to reinvent the wheel. We just need to roll it faster. 🌍💚

Africa and other emerging markets present significant opportunities for climate tech solutions, particularly in off-grid energy, sustainable agriculture, and water management. For decades, discussions about climate change have centered on challenges, but today, the focus is shifting toward solutions. In Africa, where over 600 million people lack access to electricity, off-grid energy innovations such as solar mini-grids and battery storage solutions are transforming rural communities. Companies are already deploying affordable, pay-as-you-go solar home systems, allowing families and businesses to generate power without relying on expensive and unreliable national grids. ➜ Sustainable agriculture is another key frontier for climate tech. With over 70% of Africans relying on agriculture for their livelihoods, the need for climate-resilient farming techniques has never been greater. Technologies like precision agriculture, drought-resistant seeds, and AI-driven weather forecasting are helping farmers adapt to changing climatic conditions while improving productivity. By digitizing supply chains and providing real-time market access through mobile platforms, smallholder farmers can reduce post-harvest losses and increase their profits. ➜ Water management is equally critical for climate resilience. Many African regions experience severe droughts and water scarcity, making efficient water use a necessity. Climate tech startups are developing smart irrigation systems, atmospheric water harvesting, and wastewater recycling solutions that maximize water efficiency. AI-powered sensors and data analytics are also being used to monitor groundwater levels and predict shortages before they become crises. The beauty of climate tech in emerging markets is that these solutions are not just mitigating climate change but also creating economic opportunities. The climate tech industry is projected to be worth over $1.5 trillion by 2030, and Africa is uniquely positioned to be at the center of this transformation. Governments, investors, and entrepreneurs must work together to scale these innovations and make them accessible to the communities that need them the most. ➜ The time to invest in climate tech for Africa and emerging markets is now. As global capital shifts toward green investments, Africa has the opportunity to leapfrog traditional, carbon-intensive models and embrace sustainable solutions. The question is no longer whether these technologies will take off, but how quickly they can scale to benefit millions. Let’s build a future where climate resilience and economic growth go hand in hand. The opportunities are limitless—who is ready to invest in Africa’s green revolution?

Can Abu Dhabi become the hub of climate innovation in the UAE, and the region? A new report by PwC Middle East, with Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week - ADSW, Global Climate Finance Centre, UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators, and Hub71, looks at how the Emirate can bridge the “deployment gap” in climate-deep tech. Climate-tech startups face three big hurdles: 📌Costly and limited piloting infrastructure 📌High capital needs with little de-risking 📌Fragmented regulations The report outlines key recommendations on how Abu Dhabi can lead: ➡️ Create dedicated climate-tech zones in KEZAD/Masdar City for example. ➡️ Expand Hub71 + ClimateTech as the central entry point for startups. ➡️ Strengthen lab-to-pilot partnerships with universities ➡️ Mobilise capital through blended finance and de-risking mechanisms ➡️ Drive early demand by embedding procurement guarantees and challenge-driven purchasing ➡️ Establish a unified governance model with clear regulatory pathways What I like about these recommendations is that they are concrete and tackle the full spectrum of hurdles startups encounter. Personally, I believe Abu Dhabi is best placed to become the region’s flagship Climate Innovation Hub, and set a global benchmark for scaling climate solutions. Do you see Abu Dhabi leading this transformation? If you’d like to dive deeper, I’ve shared the report link in the comments. #ClimateInnovation #ClimateTech #Sustainability #UAE #ImpactEntrepreneurship #AbuDhabi

🌍 Climate Adaptation Tech: Europe’s Hidden Investment Gem 💧🔥🌾 When we talk about climate tech, most of the spotlight goes to mitigation—clean energy, carbon removal, EVs. But there's a parallel revolution brewing in climate adaptation—and Europe is at the forefront. I’ve spent my career across both and see a better time than ever to focus on emerging adaptation technologies so have been researching this a lot lately. From early flood detection in the Netherlands, to AI-driven drought forecasting in Spain, to wildfire risk management in Southern France, a wave of startups is rising to meet the realities of a changing climate. This isn't speculative. It’s pragmatic—and it’s being backed by policy, capital, and necessity including the rising costs underinvestment. 🇪🇺 The EU is allocating billions through initiatives like the European Climate Adaptation Mission. 🌱 Insurance, agriculture, water management, and urban planning are all demanding adaptive solutions. Allianz has repeatedly warned how escalating climate risks could destabilize financial system from mortgages to supply chain finance. 💼 And the investor landscape is still relatively uncrowded—meaning early-stage access with upside. Exciting to watch some fast growing companies targeting this space like Climate X, Hydrosat, Muon Space, Pano AI and more. Adaptation tech is often viewed as niche but the reality is it’s pervasive and one of the most investable frontiers of resilience. #ClimateTech #Adaptation #Resilience #EUInnovation #SustainableInvesting #VC #ImpactInvesting #EuropeanStartups

The next wave of climate innovation isn’t coming; it’s already here, and it’s gaining momentum in the Middle East. With nearly $20 billion earmarked for green initiatives, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) isn’t just investing in renewable energy or sustainable water management. It’s part of a broader regional shift that is redefining where climate innovation happens. From issuing the world’s first 100-year green bond to committing $5.2 billion already toward certified green projects, PIF is demonstrating that sustainability commitments in the region are serious, scalable, and strategic. This matters… Because the global sustainability transition won’t be won in labs alone. It will be won through systems change: finance, infrastructure, and policy all aligned toward a common goal. But that alignment is fragile. The world remains undecided about sustainability. Geopolitics have seeped into environmental agendas, and countries are letting short-term tensions shape long-term priorities. In this uncertain global landscape, GCC countries are choosing a steadier course: one grounded in resilience. By embedding sustainability into economic strategy and long-term planning, the region is not just adapting to change but positioning itself to shape it. And that approach, in my opinion, will pay off. Across the Gulf, the direction is becoming clearer: • 70% of Saudi Arabia’s renewable energy target is being developed by PIF. • Projects span clean transport, land restoration, and resource circularity, aligned with the UN SDGs. • Regional funds are crafting a blueprint for how emerging economies can lead on climate finance and inclusive growth. Sustainability is not a Western story. It’s a global one. And the next mega innovation may rise from green bonds, desert ingenuity, and bold regional ambition. #GreenFinance #SustainableDevelopment #PIF #GCCVision #ClimateLeadership #MiddleEastInnovation #NetZero #EnergyTransition #ResilienceEconomy #CenterForSustainableFuture Kearney Kearney Middle East and Africa

By analyzing millions of posts, researchers have created the first real-time tracking system for climate technology development. Using machine learning and LinkedIn data, researchers mapped 134,727 organizations and 399,318 collaborations in climate tech, highlighting patterns in global innovation networks. 60% of climate tech startups focus on just three areas (solar, electric vehicles, hydrogen), while crucial technologies like heat pumps and biofuels see little activity despite their high technological readiness. Geographic analysis exposes two contrasting innovation models: Houston's oil & gas industry-driven cluster versus Berlin's government-led ecosystem. Despite different approaches, both clusters generate similar startup outcomes, suggesting multiple viable paths to fostering climate innovation. The research introduces a novel real-time monitoring approach for tech development, providing policymakers with early warnings about innovation gaps and cluster dynamics. Congrats to Malte Toetzke, Benedict Probst, Stefan Feuerriegel, Laura Diaz Anadon, and Volker Hoffmann!

𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘀, 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝘆𝗽𝗲 𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗲. Oftentimes, when a technology achieves adoption in one market, the entrepreneurs in other markets create “copy-cats” of their business models with local competitive advantages, therefore the technology spreads rapidly. From my seat at AQUILA.is and through the Climate Hero Club network, I see this play out regionally. While Silicon Valley bets on fusion and Carbon Capture, Southeast Asia is advancing quickly in the circular economy and sustainable agriculture. In Silicon Valley Bank's 2025 report, the energy hype cycle shows this divergence clearly. CCS technologies are at the peak of expectations with nuclear fusion following right behind; massive investment is flowing into businesses in this category, but they will likely face a deep canyon of despair before being adopted by the masses. In contrast, Solar PV has made a rapid jump to a leading position in climate adoption with high adoption and proven net impact. Car sharing plateaued in 2023 and disappeared from later cycles, so further research should show whether it is now commoditized or no longer interesting as an investment. In ASEAN, battery storage is still nascent compared to the US, but with players like StB Giga Factory, Inc., Blue Whale Energy, and VFlowTech, it is rapidly climbing toward productivity. Meanwhile, Hydrogen - the poster-child technology that never seems to break through - appears to be moving backwards after the scandalous case of Nikola. (The Guardian, 2025) Nonetheless, like with any technology, enough investment and time will lead to a successful outcome. 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲: When a company’s technology reaches a productivity plateau, scale happens with debt financing of working capital. On the slope of enlightenment is where it receives growth equity capital. In the trough of disillusionment, it must survive on paid pilots. At the peak of expectations, it gets early-stage VC money, and at the innovation trigger, it relies on government grants as its technology isn’t commercially viable yet. If you are building an impactful business in Southeast Asia, pick your lane with intent, choose the right capital, and be honest about the timeline. 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆, 𝗯𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲. 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁, 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗯𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁. That is the work. ———— I'm Ollie Smeenk, Director of Growth at AQUILA.is and founder of the Climate Hero Club, dedicated to strengthening the climate tech ecosystem. Let's connect.

One of the highlights of last week in Israel was experiencing firsthand the depth and maturity of its climate innovation ecosystem. Israel’s strength in deep tech is not accidental. It is built on decades of world class R&D centers including the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology and the The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and a culture that encourages founders to take on hard problems early and with conviction. As part of PLANETech - Climate Change Technologies’s delegation, we met startups applying advanced science, engineering and AI to some of the most complex climate challenges. Across energy, food systems, materials and infrastructure, the technical quality was consistently high and global in ambition. Helios and EVR Motors are reimagining core industrial and mobility systems. BloomX and Pure Blue Fish are applying deep biological and agricultural science to food resilience. Apollo Solar Power, Brenmiller Energy and H2Pro are tackling clean energy production, storage and hydrogen at scale. ZutaCore and Carrar are advancing thermal management and efficiency through a combination of hardware and AI driven optimization, critical to electrification. TripleW, LAVA, Solar Wine and Criaterra Innovations are embedding circularity and sustainability from the ground up. What ties this ecosystem together is the entrepreneurial spirit often described as Startup Nation. Founders move quickly, test assumptions early and embrace complexity. Strong academic research, close ties between universities and industry, and a culture of collaboration help move deep tech from lab to market faster than almost anywhere else. PLANETech plays an important role in connecting this ecosystem with global partners and capital. The week reinforced my belief that solving climate change will require deep technical excellence, entrepreneurial urgency and long term thinking. Unovis Asset Management #BetterFoodSystems #Climate #Innovation

When people think about global tech leadership, they rarely think of Colorado. That’s a mistake. It’s true that China is setting the pace by investing heavily in quantum, photonics, and climate-focused technologies. The U.S. must match that urgency, and here’s the good news: Colorado is already punching above its weight. Ranked as the 4th strongest ecosystem for technologies around advanced sensing, computational modeling, and AI-powered decision support tools (the NSF ASCEND Engine in Colorado and Wyoming framework), Colorado sits at the intersection of federal labs, research universities, and a thriving startup culture. It’s a proving ground for what regional ecosystems can achieve when they align resources with national R&D priorities. The Earth and Space Systems Accelerator builds on this strength. By helping startups move from idea to commercialization (without requiring equity), we are showing how a regional hub can scale its impact to the national and even global level. Colorado may not be the biggest. But in terms of talent, urgency, and execution, it’s leading in ways that matter. The Earth and Space Systems Accelerator is the next step in that journey. For more information, visit Innosphere’s website, www.innosphere.org.,

The Middle East Can Become the Global Hub for Climate Solutions — The region is warming fast. Temperatures have risen about 4 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit since the mid-20th century, with another 2 to 3 degrees likely by 2050. This creates shared risk across borders and one of the largest business openings in the world. The region warms faster than the global average. Summers rise at least 20 to 50 percent faster. Cities from Haifa to Riyadh to Amman face the same pressure on energy, water, housing, food, and health systems. When you map the risks, you also map the opportunities. A Longpath view asks what builds value across decades. Climate adaptation and mitigation will shape the next century of growth. The Middle East can become a global center for climate technology. Not the Silicon Valley of apps, but a hub for systems that help humanity live well on a changing planet. Here are five areas where this can happen now. 1. Regional science partnerships with global impact The region holds top institutions. The Weizmann Institute, Technion, and Hebrew University. KAUST. Leading centers in the Gulf and Egypt. Together they can drive breakthroughs in carbon removal, advanced materials, geothermal systems, methane tracking, and nuclear innovation. Long-term climate work depends on long-term stability. As the region moves toward workable arrangements for Palestinian self-determination, space for shared research grows. History shows former rivals can build strong partnerships when the stakes demand it. 2. Clean-energy innovation zones Neom, Israeli planning corridors, and Gulf development projects can test next-generation grids, long-duration storage, advanced solar, geothermal, and hydrogen systems. These zones can play the role Bell Labs once played, solving hard problems and creating exportable intellectual property. 3. Climate-safe urban design as a regional export sector The region is building cities at scale. This creates a chance to design heat-safe buildings, low-energy cooling, shade networks, and circular-water systems. These prototypes can guide planners worldwide. 4. Nature and land protection as risk reduction Forest loss in the Amazon, Congo, and Southeast Asia raises global temperatures. That heat reaches the Middle East. Funding conservation lowers climate risk for insurers, sovereign funds, and food systems. 5. Next-generation agriculture and water systems Israel’s strengths in irrigation and water reuse, combined with Gulf investment capacity, can anchor regional food security. Climate-resistant crops and precision-water systems can scale across borders. Climate work is strategy. It is stability. It is value creation. The Middle East can lead the systems that help humans live safely on a hotter planet. If the region commits, the next century can be defined by human flourishing rather than climate failure.