The Cleantech Innovation Competition is a joint initiative by the Embassy of Switzerland-Nairobi, SICPA and KCIC. The purpose of the competition is to support early-stage businesses in the cleantech sector that focus on solving environmental problems. The Cleantech Innovation Competition is an initiative aimed at providing a platform for higher education students in Kenya to showcase their innovative cleantech ideas and technologies that can be used to address local environmental issues.
The competition is in line with the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs). Through strategic partnerships, KCIC will work to influence the creation of enabling legal and regulatory frameworks for clean tech businesses as well as the mainstreaming of the green growth and climate change agenda into the Kenyan economy. KCIC is engaged in five sectors: water; renewable energy and energy efficiency (RE & EE); agriculture; commercial forestry and waste management. By focusing on these sectors, KCIC (and its clients) will directly and indirectly contribute to the achievement of SDG 1 (no poverty); SDG 2 (no hunger); SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), and SDG 13 (climate action). Others are SDG 15 (life on land); SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth) and SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production).
The Kenya Climate Innovation Center, which is the implementing partner, is placing a call for applications to enrol cleantech technologies and related business ideas into the competition. The competition will address key challenges that hinder cleantech technologies and related innovative business ideas from tapping into the immense potential in the cleantech sector. The applications can be submitted online through the KCIC website. The call for applications will run from 10 th July 2026 to 10 th August
How to apply
- All Applications must be submitted online through the Kenya Climate Innovation Center website Application portal II. The Applicants must complete an application form by answering a series of mandatory questions III. Personal information supplied in the application form such as names, addresses and date of birth should be verifiable, and the applicant is solely responsible for informing KCIC of changes in current contact methods indicated in their application. IV. The Applicant must provide current correspondence address, email and telephone numbers and inform of any changes during the review and onboarding process.
- Upon submission of the application form, an email will be sent to the Applicant or via the preferred contact method indicated in their application. VI. Once submitted, applications cannot be altered or amended. VII. Review of applications will commence immediately after client applications have been received in our system. Shortlisting of applicants will take place following the close of the Application Window.
Requirements
The following criteria and scoring system will be used for evaluation of the eligible applications for this call.
- Scalability – does the innovation show clear and compelling mission to grow a sustainable and commercially viable business
- Climate Impact – The extent to which the proposed business/product/technology has an impact on climate mitigation OR climate adaptation OR environmental benefits.
- Job Creation – The potential of the proposed business/product/technology towards job creation.
- Progress to date – has the applicant taken key steps to move the idea forward?
- Innovation – is the business innovative in the way it addresses an identified problem in the market / has a unique business model?
Who can Apply
- The applicant must be a university student in Kenya.
- The application must be in the ideation stage
- The application must clearly demonstrate how it addresses an environmental problem
Selection Process
The applications will be screened for eligibility as outlined below:
- Vetting All the potential projects that will respond to the call for proposal shall go through a vetting process which will see the qualified ones recruited into the competition. The criteria for selection and scoring system is clearly defined and documented below to ensure that there is an established, standardized, transparent and objective process.
- Selection and Onboarding of participants It is only after the vetting, selection and acceptance of the selected cleantech projects that shall be referred to as “participants” of the competition. The participants shall constitute those that will be taken through the pitching and communication training. A scoring system will be used to provide each application with a score between 1 and 35 (35 being most successful). An application must score a minimum of 25 or 70% to be considered under the cleantech innovation competition.
- Applications will be ranked on scores from top to bottom and all applicants will receive an official response on their application determining whether they were successful or not.
- Applicants will be contacted via email regarding their application.
Key Terms
- Applicant: An individual, group, or project that submits an application through the Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC) application portal for consideration in the Cleantech Innovation Competition.
- Application: The completed online entry form submitted through the KCIC website.
- Application Window: Applications are accepted from 10 July 2026 to 10 August 2026.
- Competition: Refers to the Cleantech Innovation Competition.
- Participant/Successful Applicant: An applicant who has been selected and officially enrolled into the competition.
- Climate Technologies / Cleantech Solutions: Innovations designed to address climate change challenges.
- Climate Angle: The contribution of an innovation toward climate change mitigation, adaptation, environmental protection, and biodiversity conservation.
Eligible innovations should contribute to:
🌱 Climate Mitigation: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions or removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.
🌍 Climate Adaptation: Helping communities, sectors, and systems adjust to climate impacts by improving resilience, particularly in vulnerable areas such as agriculture, water, and infrastructure.
💪 Climate Resilience: Strengthening social, economic, and environmental systems to better prepare for, respond to, and recover from climate-related disruptions and disasters while creating inclusive benefits.
Evaluation Criteria
Applicants will be assessed based on:
- Innovation and uniqueness of the cleantech solution.
- Environmental and climate impact potential.
- Technical feasibility and readiness of the idea.
- Business potential, scalability, and market relevance.
- Strength and capacity of the applicant/team.
Terms & Conditions
Applicants must:
- Provide accurate and complete information.
- Submit original ideas or innovations they have the rights to present.
- Participate in programme activities if selected.
- Follow KCIC and partner programme requirements.
Integrity Policy
Applicants are expected to:
- Maintain honesty and transparency throughout the application process.
- Avoid plagiarism, false claims, or misrepresentation.
- Ensure their innovations promote responsible and ethical environmental solutions.
