Listen as ESI Africa editor, Nicolette Pombo-van Zyl, speaks with Alice Goodbrook, Innovation Lead at Innovate UK, about Innovate UK’s Energy Catalyst programme and how the programme aims to accelerate innovation to end energy poverty in Africa.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST BELOW

Innovate UK is the United Kingdom’s innovation agency, which provides money and support to organisations to make new products and services. One way Innovate UK provides support is through its Energy Catalyst Programme.

In April 2022, the Energy Catalyst Programme, an Innovate UK programme that accelerates the innovation needed to end energy poverty, announced round 8 of its next wave of promising clean energy innovations in Africa that are addressing the energy trilemma: clean, affordable, and accessible energy.

“We’re looking for risky innovation – the technologies and business models that are too early stage for conventional finance, such as an investment or a bank loan, yet they have the potential that – if they work – they can really change lives and become a market leader,” said Goodbrook.

Through financial and advisory support and by building strategic partnerships and uncovering new insights, Energy Catalyst supports the development of technologies and business models that can improve lives in Africa and Asia.

“We’re interested in finding out what [innovators] are after and what [they] need. We love hearing about what people are doing and what those opportunities are for technology and sustainable development,” added Goodbrook. ESI

From our archives:
Innovate UK in search of innovators tackling energy poverty