Global Incubator Programme: Singapore - Cleantech 2025

We are looking for businesses with the ambition and commitment to scale globally. The programme best suits businesses that already have some traction and sales in the UK that are now looking to innovate their products and services through building global partnerships and collaborations to accelerate their growth and scaling journey.

Where the business proposition could grow faster in Singapore than the UK, for example in certain industrial biology applications, we are receptive to applications from earlier stage businesses. We are also open to Cleantech propositions where engagement with the Cleantech ecosystem is critical to global expansion.

The CEO, founder or a senior decision maker from the company needs to commit to being involved in all stages of the programme. To be eligible for the Global Incubator Programme, you must be a small or medium sized company based in the UK.

The three stages of the programme are as follows:

Prepare

Online preparation workshops will be delivered to the entire cohort whilst in the UK. You will be allocated an Innovate UK Business Growth innovation and growth specialist to work with in the UK who will work with you on your strategic action plan for the programme. You will receive an overview of the innovation and sector landscape of the country’s market, a full briefing on the programme and working with the incubator, and support to better present and articulate your business and the value proposition. We will provide one-to-one support to help shape your first visit.

Pursue

This 6-month stage of the programme is about working with the incubator. The programme will see a visit to the market in April (7-11), providing the opportunity to consider technology and market fit, preliminary customer validation and an introduction to ecosystem players. This will be followed by regular (weekly or fortnightly) virtual sessions with the incubator team, mentors, and experts, to do a deep dive into understanding what it takes to be successful in accessing the market. The final part is a second visit to the market in October (27 – 31), including a demo day to showcase the achievements of the cohort and attendance of the SWITCH expo (29-31 October), continuing to raise the profile and make connections for the businesses involved.

Exploit

Work with your Innovate UK Business Growth innovation and growth specialist to continue to exploit the programme, building on all the connections, knowledge, and expertise gained. You should now be in a much better position with the necessary understanding and networks to accelerate your global growth and scaling journey.

Innovate UK’s Global Incubator Programme works with expert partners in-market to enable UK companies to establish international innovation collaborations and to overcome barriers to entering global markets.

We are pleased to work in partnership with Singapore Deep-Tech Alliance and Better Earth Ventures to deliver this Cleantech incubator in Singapore.

• Advisory support – Guidance from sector experts and experienced entrepreneurs in Singapore.
• Connections to capital – Introductions to VCs and corporates looking to invest in new ventures.
• Connections to talent – Support with finding and recruiting skilled workers from Singapore and the world.
• Tools and services – Webinars, information sessions, peer-to-peer guidance, and access to marketing and communication expertise.
• Access and introductions – Connections to Singapore-based customers and partners.
• Professional network – Participate in a vibrant community of Cleantech entrepreneurs and industry professionals.
• Exploit the opportunity – One-to-one support from a Innovate UK Business Growth innovation and growth specialist.

The programme will be delivered through a combination of online sessions and two visits to Singapore.

Singapore Deep-Tech Alliance (SDTA) is Singapore’s leading innovation platform and venture builder that empowers founders to rapidly build, validate and scale Industry 4.0 startups. Through their innovation and venture builder programmes, SDTA works with businesses to tackle large-scale environmental and social problems with advanced technologies to create a positive impact today. SDTA’s portfolio of companies represent industry-leading solutions across the Advanced Manufacturing, Cleantech, Medical and Energy Verticals. SDTA is supported by Enterprise Singapore, HighTechXL, XNode, A*StartCentral and National Health Innovation Centre (NHIC).

Visit sdta.org.sg for more information.

Better Earth Ventures is dedicated to accelerating the development and deployment of transformative technologies and initiatives that mitigate climate change and promote sustainable living. Located strategically in Singapore, Better Earth Ventures serves as a pivotal gateway to Asia-Pacific, with a strong regional network of commercial partners, investors and mentors to help growth-stage businesses scale sustainably across borders. Through collaboration, mentorship, and strategic partnerships, Better Earth Ventures empowers visionary entrepreneurs to drive tangible impact and pave the way for a resilient and thriving planet.

To apply for this initiative, you must:

• Be a business focused on the Cleantech sector.
• Be a UK-based innovation-led company with ambitions to grow and internationalise.
• Be a company with fewer than 250 employees.
• Be the CEO, founder or a senior decision maker in the business who can attend and complete all activities.

Desirable:

• Companies with market-ready products or technologies prepared for international deployment.
• Demonstrated traction through pilots, early sales, or partnerships, suitable for case studies to attract international partners.
• Clear value propositions aligned with Singapore’s Cleantech priorities: resource efficiency, carbon reduction, or sustainable urban development.

An advanced digital economy and consistently ranked as one of the world’s most innovative cities, Singapore can serve as a gateway to Asia due to its high GDP per capita, healthcare, transport, infrastructure quality and technology adoption, plus an attractive tax system, a familiar legal framework, and the ease of doing business in English. Launched in February 2021, the Singapore Green Plan 2030 seeks to galvanise a whole-of-nation movement and advance Singapore’s national agenda on sustainable development. With ambitious and concrete targets over the next 10 years to achieve its long-term net zero emission aspiration by 2050, Singapore is taking firm actions to do its part to build a sustainable future.

Innovate UK will fund and organise flights, accommodation and any conference fees for successful applicants. Innovate UK will also pay for any reasonable adjustments throughout the initiative. Only one representative from each company will be funded.

On acceptance of the offer, a commitment fee of £2,000 will be obtained from each delegate. It will be refunded on completion of the full activities and agreed work plan. Non-completion after formal acceptance may result in forfeiting some or all the commitment fees.

We are inviting applications from innovative companies who are developing technology to advance Cleantech solutions, promoting environmental sustainability and transforming resource efficiency. Cleantech spans many industry verticals, the scope of which is listed in the following segments:

• Smart City – Resource-productive and equitable solutions for urban development
• Smart Grid – Utility solutions for digital, de-carbonised grid
• New Energy Solutions/Resource-Efficient Energy Solutions – Geothermal, wind, hydrogen, solar
• Advanced Buildings – Energy efficiency, smart controls
• Waste Management & Circular Economy – Longer in Use, reuse, and waste valorisation
• Carbon Capture & Utilisation – Net-zero and carbon negative products, chemicals, and materials
• Water – Efficiency and reuse
• Environment – Data capture, monitoring, and management
• Transport and Mobility – Mobility solutions, maritime and alternative fuels
• Sustainable Materials – Composites, nanomaterials and smart materials

To learn more about the programme, including hearing how this has worked for previous delegates, register for the applicant briefing event on the 15^th January 2025 09:00 (UTC).

Application form can be found here.

Key Dates:

• Applicant briefing: Wednesday 15^th January 2025 09:00 (UTC)
• Closing date for applications: Sunday 9^th February 2025 23:30 (UTC)
• Shortlist Interviews: 27^th and 28^th February 2025
• Successful Applicants notified: week commencing 3^rd March 2025
• Bootcamp (Online): 17^th March 2025
• Market Visit: Immersion Week – 7^th – 11^th April 2025 (5 – 13 April with travel)
• Incubation programme (Online): 14^th April – 24^th October 2025
• Market Visit: Showcase Week – 27^th – 31^st October 2025 (25^th Oct -2^nd Nov with travel)

For more information, assistance with your application or to discuss accessibility needs, please contact Gail Cherry: gail.cherry@iukbg.ukri.org or Jens Boehm: jens.boehm@iukbg.ukri.org