Website: https://www.theliveabilitychallenge.org/
Application Deadline: 15 January 2021 - 22 April 2021
Organisers: Eco-Business, Temasek Foundation
By 2050, global carbon emissions must reach net-zero emissions to keep temperatures within a 1.5 degree Celsius rise from pre-industrial levels. Scientists regard this as critical to prevent the worst effects of climate change. With more than 50 billion tonnes of carbon emissions released into the atmosphere annually, we need revolutionary ideas that will enable humanity to drastically reduce the production of greenhouse gas emissions and its removal at scale.
At the same time, our disposable culture has exacerbated resource scarcity and created a pollution crisis that threatens the natural ecosystems which we need to thrive. We need a circular economy to replace the existing linear model that is hugely wasteful and pollutive. How can we find solutions which are restorative and regenerative in design?
From 15 January to 15 April 2021, The Liveability Challenge is accepting proposals with the most disruptive, game-changing Deeptech solutions in two key areas – Decarbonisation and Re-imaging Resources. If your solution is at Technology Readiness Level 6 that would address climate challenges in the tropical urban environment and deliver measurable impact for the planet and for society, this is your opportunity to win up to S$1 million in project development funding to pilot your solution, receive exclusive mentorship by industry experts, and more!
Submit your idea and the best solutions will get to pitch to some of Asia’s top investors at The Liveability Challenge Grand Finale this June.
Theme 1: Decarbonisation
With the global race for net zero cities underway, we are looking for the most innovative ideas that will dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our atmosphere. Key sectors with huge potential for decarbonisation solutions include energy generation, urban infrastructure, and transport and logistics systems. We are also seeking revolutionary carbon capture, utilisation and storage solutions to remove carbon emissions from the atmosphere at scale.
Submitted solutions should:
Significantly reduce the carbon emissions produced by industries; or effectively capture, and convert carbon emissions into useful products such as food protein, building materials, reclamation sand or synthetic fuels
Be either technology-based solutions (e.g. physical, chemical) or nature-based solutions (e.g. biological capture and sequestration)
Integrate into existing infrastructures or systems
Be carbon negative in the overall lifecycle and have zero/minimal externalities
Be commercially viable and scalable
Theme 2: Re-imagining Resources
With rising constraints on land, energy and water, urban centres urgently need to find pathways to achieve a circular economy where waste is eliminated and business models are regenerative by design. We are looking for breakthrough technologies or materials that will reinvent waste streams into valuable resources or replace or reduce packaging in key sectors such as food and e-commerce. These solutions should significantly reduce the input of resources required in the production process and help achieve responsible consumption and production at scale.
Submitted solutions should:
Replace/reduce plastic, or virgin/hard-to-recycle paper packaging; utilise/convert food waste, plastic waste, or e-waste into valuable products/materials
Drastically reduce land, water, energy and major resources required for the production of goods and services, such as food and materials
Keep reclaimed products in circulation at their highest value possible
Exceed the performance of conventional materials and be cost-competitive
Be closed-loop, commercially viable and scalable