Page 472 - INVESTOPIA ENGLISH PR REPORT FEBRUARY - MARCH 2025

Programme at Investopia 2025 reaffirms the country's vision to drive investments to develop
circular economic models and support sustainable projects.

Bin Touq said, “The signing of the MoU between the Ministry of Economy and UICCA is a pivotal step
towards accelerating the adoption of circular economy concepts at the national and regional
levels, 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.

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://www.msn.com/en-ae/news/other/uicca-ministry-of-economy-partner-to-reinforce-
sustainability-through-launch-of-circular-economy-cycle/ar-AA1zZ5lM?ocid=BingNewsSerp