Page 458 - INVESTOPIA ENGLISH PR REPORT FEBRUARY - MARCH 2025

3/13/25, 1:20 PM UICCA, Ministry of Economy partner to reinforce sustainability through launch of Circular Economy Cycle – UAE Business and Trav…
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.

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://totaluae.com/posts/emirates/uicca-ministry-of-economy-partner-to-reinforce-sustainability-through-launch-of-circular-economy-cycle/ 3/3