Business

Climate Innovation News: New platform for those seeking solutions to climate change, MCW 2026 Innovation Challenge Launched

By Samira Vishwas
  • Announcing the launch of the MCW 2026 Innovation Challenge
  • A new investment platform for climate startups
  • Efforts to create a green future of India

 

Climate Innovation News: Taking a major initiative towards strengthening India’s climate innovation ecosystem, Mumbai Climate Week (MCW) in association with National Stock Exchange (NSE) today announced the launch of the MCW 2026 Innovation Challenge. This flagship platform is designed to identify, evaluate and accelerate high-impact climate change solutions aligned with India’s sustainable development priorities.

Innovation Challenge startups, civil society, academia and early-stage, growth-ready and sector-focused innovators in the wider climate ecosystem in the Global South best aligned with MCW’s three core themes Invites applications with solutions. MCW’s three core themes are food systems, urban sustainability and energy transition. The Challenge aims to introduce developmental, equitable and investment-friendly innovations that address the unsustainable climate change, while also contributing to India’s long-term vision of inclusive and sustainable development.

The shortlisted innovators will proceed through a structured and intensive evaluation process, which includes application screening, expert jury rounds, mentoring and acceleration clinics from thematic collaborators and a final during the Mumbai Climate Week 2026 held from February 17 to February 19, 2025. Presentations will be included in the stages. Selected innovators will also benefit from greater visibility through exchange-enabled platforms and access to MCW’s premier investor ‘speed-seeding’ sessions, which will connect them with investors, ecosystem partners and enablers.

Also read: Stock Market Today: Sensex-Nifty down, market falling despite FII buying? Know the reasons

Commenting on this launch, MD and CEO of NSE Shri. Ashish Kumar Chauhan said, “NSE in collaboration with Mumbai Climate Week has launched the Climate Innovation Programme, a call to action for modern-day climate startups to bring transformative ideas to the limelight, where these ideas can shape India’s green future and Start-ups can become well-equipped enterprises for future capital markets.NSE has always prioritized product innovation in its journey.

From launching instruments such as Electricity Futures, ESG Debt Securities to designing future market solutions such as Contracts for Difference (CFDs) for energy markets, Green Equity Criteria and Social and Development Impact Bonds, we are incorporating sustainability into capital markets. Also positioning these markets as gateways for climate finance in India. In the coming years, such industries and instruments will play an important role in meeting the nearly US$10.9 trillion in climate finance needed to achieve India’s net zero goal by 2070. Through these efforts, NSEs are designing public markets that, while driving growth, will also set the course for a more sustainable, low-carbon and inclusive economy for the future.

Also read: EMC 2.0 Investment: 1.46 lakh crore investment in EMC, 1.80 lakh jobs will be created in the country

Commenting on the occasion, Shishir Joshi, Founder and CEO, Project Mumbai said, “Mumbai Climate Week is fundamentally about creating the conditions for solutions to climate change in India, designing infrastructure where innovation can be effective. In collaboration with NSE, we are India’s most innovative Climate Week. Giving thinkers the capital and platforms they need to grow Through the MCW Innovation Challenge, we are designing a robust, credible platform that incorporates the best of innovation from India and the Global South, with the capacity to innovate and develop for impact. assessed. This is turning climate change ambition into a competitive advantage, where climate change action can become a source of economic and social progress, as well as establishing India as a launchpad for Global South climate innovation.”

The Innovation Challenge is open to early-stage and development-ready innovators, with a strong emphasis on Global South relevance, climate impact, innovation quality, equity and inclusiveness, and development. Only complete applications that meet the eligibility criteria will be evaluated. Companies from the Global North may participate as observers or technical contributors, but will not be eligible for selection.

The application process for the MCW 2026 Innovation Challenge has started on 12 December 2025, and the last date to apply is 10 January 2026. Shortlisted applicants will be announced by the end of January 2026, followed by jury pitch rounds and mentoring sessions, followed by a final presentation during Mumbai Climate Week.

URL: Mumbai Climate Week

X: @Mumbai_Climate

YouTube: MumbaiClimateWeek

LinkedIn: Mumbai Climate Week

Facebook: Mumbai Climate Week

Samira Vishwas 927 posts 0 comments
You might also like More from author

Comments are closed.