There is a global sentiment that calls for sustainable change now more than ever; to come together to reflect on the world's stance and to change the narrative. Use technology and your creative force to spark innovative climate solutions to save our planet.

ClimaTech Run is a global competition for tech entrepreneurs and digital artists who share a collective passion for sustainability and a better future for all.

ClimaTech Run is a multi-stage program to promote innovation and creativity for climate action. Applications for the global competition start on August 22, 2022, and close on September 22, 2022. The pitch event for the competition will take place during COP27 in November 2022 in Sharm El Sheikh, and Post-COP27 acceleration activities will follow after that. The competition addresses technology as a key to impactful climate action through two main tracks: tech-based startups and digital artists. There is also a focus on African startups with specially crafted awards and support programs.

ClimaTech Run invites you to step on COP27’s stage and participate in matchmaking and networking opportunities, in addition to mentorship and capacity-building programs.

1. Connecting global entrepreneurial efforts for a streamlined and more socially responsible ecosystem.
2. Uniting passionate, purpose-driven and innovative minds with support and momentum.
3. Magnifying efforts to reach the most significant potential for impactful climate action.

Climate change is a real threat that should matter to us all, and its importance is often reduced to a checklist, ticked through an eco-friendly tagline or disclaimer. 

Unintentionally, we fail to sufficiently care. Climate change has already started affecting the world we live in today, from our precious rainforests to our mesmerizing coral reefs. .

Not only that, but did you know that climate change can get in the way of your morning coffee someday? You know how precious that morning coffee is.

You know how precious clean water is. How precious, clear air is. But it's not all bad news– you should know how vital clean tech is! That's where ClimaTech comes in, addressing climate change through technology and digital art.

The ClimaTech Run is a multi-stage program for climate action that has three main phases:

• The Pre-Cop activities are represented in the competition. This phase takes place from the competition launch on August 22, 2022, until the selection of the finalists who will pitch and exhibit during COP27. Several hybrid satellite events and webinars will take place during this phase, capitalizing on a solid network of partners and community partners.
• During COP27 activities, giving voices to climate action enthusiasts from entrepreneurs and digital artists. At COP27, ClimaTech finalists and partners will get a chance to meet in Sharm El Sheikh and engage in mentorship and networking activities.
• The post-COP27 phase will start right after the pitching event and with the support of the ClimaTech partners and a curated network of mentors and advisors. A tailored support package will be offered to the finalists joining the acceleration phase. International experts will support all participating startups to scale their climate tech solutions using international experts and innovative activities such as external advisors support, access to a network of mentors and advisors, market access, and B2B and B2G opportunities.

The ClimaTech competition is organized and implemented by three Egyptian Ministries: the Ministry of International Cooperation, the Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.

ClimaTech’s partners offer valuable programmatic tracks and engaging activities to the participating startups and digital artists. These programs and activities are to be announced in due course.

Partners of ClimaTech Run are USAID, Afreximbank, the World Food Programme (WFP), Google, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), General Motors, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), UNDP Accelerator Lab, Microsoft, and other partners from the private sector and the entrepreneurial community.

The ClimaTech Run competition is a global call for all tech startups and digital artists who are using technology as the core of their work to address climate change challenges. The competition features thematic fields in each track, such as:

Tech Startup Track:

• Energy,
• Food security and agriculture,
• Water management,
• Industry 4.0 for climate action,
• Urban sustainability,
• Mobility and transportation,
• Other climate resilience applications.

ClimaTech, therefore, aims to support technologies such as:

• Use of AI in climate forecasting, e-agriculture, satellite imagery analysis;
• IoT and sensor-based applications (weather, soil, and water big data information processing);
• Smart cities applications lead to low carbon footprint and climate adapting economies;
• Electric vehicles technologies;
• E-waste management and recycling;
• Industry 4.0 applications (consumption and waste optimization, quality enhancement);
• ICT applications in green and renewable energy;
• Clean Water Technologies.

There is also a particular focus on African Tech Startups. A special prize is offered to the top 2 African startups. The top 5 African startups will be invited to pitch their idea during the global pitch event. The criteria for selection of African startups are the same as the worldwide track but adding that the founders must have a nationality from an African country.

Digital Artists Track: The Digital Art track comprehensively allows all digital art and media expression on forms, except poetry and writing formats:

• Digital paintings and drawings
• 3D modelling
• vector art
• animation videos
• matte paintings and photo manipulation
• pixel art
• digital collage and photography
• The use of new media technologies for art

In this track, there is also a complementary prize for African Digital Artists.

There are two tracks:

1. ICT for Climate Action

Global tech startups, this track is for you. We're looking for innovative solutions for a sustainable environment in energy, agriculture, water management, urban sustainability, and transportation.

African countries are more prone to the adverse effects of climate change. In light of this, we have dedicated an Africa-focused prize for African tech entrepreneurs to recognize their efforts in their own right.

A panel of expert judges will select winners.

2. DigitalArt4Climate

We are calling all artists and visual storytellers who respond and express the link between us and climate action!

This track aims to showcase how technology is pivotal in building a connection with the earth.

This track is co-designed with and implemented by the United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA) and the International Association for the Advancement of Innovative Approaches to Global Challenges (IAAI Glotcha).

It also highlights African digital art for the climate Action.

If you are an artist looking to spread awareness about climate action and the importance of putting women and young people at the forefront, apply to the DigitalArt4Climate track!

All digital art and media expression forms are welcomed. Submissions can range from digital paintings and drawings to 3D modelling, vector art, animation videos, matte paintings and photo manipulation, pixel art, digital collage and photography, and children's art.

The use of new media technologies for art is also encouraged.

Finalists will be short-listed by expert judges, with winners determined by public voting.

All Tech Startups will have to meet the following application criteria will be eligible to participate in the competition:

• At least a team of two members, with an average age under 40.
• The startup must be registered and operating for at least two years.
• The startup must not be a spin-off or subsidiary of an existing company.
• A scalable business model with high growth potential.
• The concept must be environmentally sustainable and involve at least one emerging technology.
• Functional prototype or minimum viable product.
• The team must have good communication skills and be able to present in English.
• Diversity and gender balance among the team is a plus.
• In case of winning, applicants must be able to provide valid contact details and sufficient bank information or tax forms to receive the monetary award.

To join the Digital Art track, artists must:

• Artist must be of age 18+ at the time of applying to the competition
• Artist can only present a maximum of 3 pieces per entry
• The work submitted must be authentic and original
• In case of winning, applicant must be able to provide valid contact details and sufficient bank information and/or tax forms to receive the monetary award.

The organizers are the following:

• Egyptian Ministry of International Cooperation
• Egyptian Ministry of Environment
• Egyptian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology

Press the "Apply" button on the platform, and you will be directed to a few questions verifying your eligibility. Once verified, you must create a profile to start filling in the application.

The application has seven main sections:

1. Basic Startup information
2. Team and Employees
3. Business model information
4. Industry-specific information
5. Product and technology
6. Investment and financials
7. Environmental Impact

Press the "Apply" button on the platform, and you will be directed to a few questions verifying your eligibility. Once verified, you must create a profile to start filling in the application.

Each artist is limited to submitting 3 art pieces attached to their application.

Save your application and return to amend it any time before submitting it. After submission, you no longer can access the application or make any changes to it.

For Tech Startups: To reach the ten pitching startups at COP27, all applicants will undergo a three-level evaluation process.

1^st level evaluation:
All applicants are assessed based on the below criteria and given a score based on their answers:

1. Innovation: The solution should be innovative and has a profound and novel technological aspect.
2. Team & Skills: The startup should maintain diversity and gender balance; they will be assessed based on HR and founders’ profiles.
3. Feasibility: The startup will be assessed on its business model, value proposition, competitiveness and scalability.
4. Clarity: The ideas should be presented and approached straightforwardly.
5. Impact: The solution should have a socio-economic and environmental impact.
6. Investment: The startup should have a precise business and financial plan with indicative sources of funds and critical investment risks and trajectories.

The 1^st level filtration will feature at least two judges for each applicant. Average application score will show after calculating judges’ scores.

2^nd level evaluation
The top 50 scoring applicants will be qualified for the next level of judging. During this stage, a technical committee of a panel of three judges covering technology, business and sustainability will assess the applications. The committee may contact the startups for more detailed information if needed.

Based on the results of the two rounds, the finalists will be invited to the pitching event, where high-level international judges will conduct the third and final round of selection at COP27
in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

For Digital Artists Startups: To reach the three finalists who will make it to COP27, all applicants undergo a two-level process.

1st level evaluation:
Art judges evaluate all art pieces to qualify the ones who will make it to the next phase.

2nd level evaluation:
All the qualified art pieces by judges will be open for public voting from October 6^th to October 20^th.

You can always track your application by checking the status of your application on the platform.

Also, keep an eye on your email. We will be sending you updates about your application status.

We will notify successful applicants after October 5.

• A team that consists of at least two members, with members’ average age under 40 years old.
• The startup must be registered and operating for at least 2 years
• The startup must not be a spin-off or subsidiary of an existing company.
• A scalable business model with high growth potential.
• The concept must be environmentally sustainable and involve at least one emerging technology.
• Functional prototype or minimum viable product.
• The team must have good communication skills and be able to present in English.
• Diversity and gender balance among the team is a plus.
• In case of winning, applicants must be able to provide valid contact details and sufficient bank information or tax forms to receive the monetary award.

• Artist must be of age 18+ at the time of applying to the competition
• Artist can only present a maximum of 3 pieces per entry
• The work submitted must be authentic and original
• In case of winning, applicant must be able to provide valid contact details and sufficient bank information or tax forms to receive the monetary award.

Stay tuned. More info will follow.

Tech Entrepreneurs
Grand Prize: $100,000
2^nd place: $50,000
3^rd place: $25,000

African Startups
Grand Prize: $50,000
2^nd place: $25,000

Grand Prize: $5,000
2^nd place: $3,000
3^rd place: $2,000

It also highlights African digital art for the climate Action.

Stay tuned. More info will follow.

Stay tuned. More info will follow.

Please check the timeline on the homepage.

Please check the terms and condition here: Terms and Conditions