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by empowering innovative startups that develop solutions to reuse resources and reduce the
environmental footprint of productive sectors. Through this cooperation, we reaffirm our
commitment to providing a supportive regulatory environment for better integration between the
public and private sectors and stimulating sustainable investments to achieve the UAE’s circular
economy policy and consolidate its position as a global hub for the new economy.”

Following this strategic partnership, UICCA announced that the Circular Economy Cycle of the
Launchpad Programme will officially commence in May 2025. As a zero-equity, market-access-
oriented programme, the accelerator is designed to support early-stage ventures developing
solutions that eliminate or repurpose waste across key industries. Applications are now open to
local, regional, and international start-ups, with the registration portal live from 27 February 2025.
Selected participants will gain access to tailored mentorship, investor engagement opportunities,
and a network of key industry stakeholders committed to advancing sustainability-focused
innovation.

UICCA invites all start-ups to submit their applications through the official application
form: https://forms.office.com/r/5G5fNZmiEp.

Recognising the broader challenges that climate-tech start-ups face in scaling their solutions, the
Launchpad team also hosted a roundtable discussion at Investopia 2025 to present key findings
from the inaugural edition of the UICCA Policy Brief: Sustaining Start-ups – Bridging the Financial
Gap in the UAE Climate-Tech Ecosystem. The session, attended by leaders from finance, corporate
innovation, and technology sectors, examined the structural funding challenges faced by climate-
tech ventures as they transition from early-stage to growth-stage operations.

The policy brief identified a critical gap in growth-stage funding for climate-tech start-ups in the
UAE, where investment remains concentrated in fintech, health-tech, and e-commerce. It
highlighted that while early-stage support through incubators and accelerators is strong, many
climate-tech start-ups struggle to secure the capital needed to refine proof of concept, expand
operations, and enter new markets. Key recommendations from the discussion included
establishing dedicated scale-up funds, incentivising private investment in climate-tech businesses,
streamlining regulatory frameworks, and fostering stronger regional market integration to unlock
cross-border growth opportunities.

All start-ups can download the full policy brief to explore these insights in
detail: https://uicca.ae/resources/policy-brief.

UICCA remains committed to ensuring that its accelerator participants receive ongoing support
beyond the start-up phase, enabling them to navigate the complexities of scaling their operations
and achieving long-term impact.

https://en.aletihad.ae/news/business/4555655/uicca--moe-partner-to-reinforce-sustainability-
through-launc