Organiser
The Liveability Challenge (TLC), is an annual global initiative that seeks innovative, groundbreaking solutions to address urban challenges in the tropics. It crowd-sources the world for the best sustainability solutions and provides both the funding and ecosystem support required to take these ideas from laboratory to market.
Presented by Temasek Foundation and organised by Eco-Business, TLC was established in 2018 and has since grown to become Asia’s largest sustainability solutions platform with a global reach and a reputation for helping companies — whose innovations are disrupting industries to create significant positive impact for society and planet — achieve success.
With eight successful editions concluded, TLC has attracted thousands of applications globally, shortlisted and incubated 54 finalists, and deployed more than S$13 million in funding to help these startups, who have gone on to raise hundreds of millions more.
Join us for the launch of the ninth edition of TLC, where we will be announcing exciting details on more funding, new partners and themes for the year ahead. Finalists of each edition are showcased at a Grand Finale live in Singapore at Ecosperity Week.
For more information on the challenge, visit www.theliveabilitychallenge.org
Global investment into the energy transition surpassed US$2 trillion for the first time last year – yet financing into climate tech suffered amid uncertain economic conditions and rising borrowing costs, declining 29% to US$56 billion in the year ended September 2024.*
Against this backdrop – and as the climate crisis intensifies – catalytic capital is emerging as a key accelerator of sustainability innovation. Its patient, risk-tolerant and flexible nature enables it to bridge critical financing gaps that often stymie early-stage climate and sustainability ventures.
Beyond providing vital early-stage funding, catalytic capital sends strong market signals that help attract larger pools of private investment, thus leveraging far greater capital for commercialising breakthrough climate technologies. However, for such blended finance models to achieve its full potential, enabling policy frameworks must be established to support innovation and risk-taking.
Research institutions also play a pivotal role in this landscape, by developing new knowledge, providing multi-disciplinary expertise and creating conducive environments for innovation. In Singapore, Jurong Island exemplifies this place-based innovation, where advanced low carbon technologies can be piloted and commercialisation accelerated.
This dynamic discussion will explore how catalytic capital and research partnerships can come together to unleash the next wave of climate tech solutions and scale sustainable impact amid an evolving global financial landscape.
*PwC’s latest State of Climate Tech report.
Head of Southeast Asia/Singapore, Breakthrough Energy Fellows
