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          Climate Tech Lab

          Building the next generation of climate and deep tech ventures
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          ABOUT

          The IE Climate Tech Lab is an intensive venture-building platform that transforms advanced technologies into credible, scalable climate ventures. Over an intensive two-month program, interdisciplinary teams work hands-on with real climate technologies, translating scientific breakthroughs into viable business opportunities.

          Participants master the ability to articulate the value of these technologies, build viable models around them, and successfully bring them to market.

          BUILT WITH PURPOSE

          The Climate Tech Lab is created around two fundamental questions: why this kind of initiative is needed, and what makes its approach genuinely distinct.

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            Why it exists

            Climate change is not a knowledge problem. It is a deployment problem.


            Breakthrough technologies exist across energy, materials, circular economy, and industrial systems, but too few make it to market. One of the biggest barriers is translation. Scientists, engineers, investors, corporates, and policymakers often operate in different languages, with different incentives and time horizons.

            The Climate Tech Lab exists to bridge that gap: turning R&D into ventures, connecting talent with deep tech, teaching participants how to speak across science, business, and impact, and accelerating time from lab to market.

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            What makes it different

            Applied technology: Teams work on real world innovations, from advanced materials to energy systems.

            Execution driven: Participants spend 10 hours per week validating markets, talking to customers, building models, and iterating ventures in real time.

            Language and translation: Participants learn how to translate complex technologies into clear value propositions, credible business cases, and compelling narratives.

            Ecosystem integrated: The Lab operates at the intersection of industry, research, policy, and capital.

          INSIDE THE LAB

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            THE PROGRAM

            Over 8 weeks, each team works with one real technology to build one credible venture: 10 masterclasses with founders, investors and operators, 6 coaching sessions with business, tech and pitch experts, continuous validation and a final Demo Day with ecosystem stakeholders.

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            What teams build

            Each team develops a complete venture package: a go-to-market strategy, a business model with financials, market validation through customer interviews, and a clear, compelling venture narrative.

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            Speakers and contributors

            Participants engage directly with leading operators, investors, and policymakers shaping the climate and deep tech landscape. The Lab brings together technical depth, entrepreneurial experience, and real-world insight into one environment.

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          first edition: 2026


          The first Climate Tech Lab brought together 9 venture teams working with breakthrough technologies. The winning team, RecoPGM, worked on a technology developed with Tecnalia and traveled to Bilbao and San Sebastián to visit the labs behind the innovation. Finalists presented their ventures at Climate Tech Day 2026 in front of leaders from science, industry, and finance.Subtitle intro

          Read more
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          Technologies explored

          Developed in collaboration with Tecnalia, our pilot technology partner, and IE University research initiatives:

          • Space photovoltaic arrays (SPAR, Tecnalia)
          • Advanced textile recycling (ClearTex, Tecnalia)
          • Carbon membranes (C-MEM, Tecnalia)
          • Platinum group metal recycling (RECOPGM, Tecnalia)
          • Biochar (Vayu, IE University)
          • Bio engineered spider silk (SpideyTek, IE University)

          Powered by

          The Climate Tech Lab is powered by a combination of forces, that create an environment where science, business, and impact come together.

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            IE UNIVERSITY

            The host institution — providing the academic foundation, student talent, and entrepreneurial ecosystem where climate and deep-tech ventures come to life.

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            TECNALIA

            Our pilot technology partner, providing proprietary, tangible technologies and deep-tech expertise across energy, advanced materials, and the circular economy.

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            Climate KIC and EIT Higher Education Initiative

            Driving climate innovation, circular economy models, and venture creation across Europe.

          What Participants Gain

          Participants graduate from the lab with six distinct strategic assets:

          • 1 - An Authentic Venture: A functional business built around an actual, patented technology.

          • 2 - Systems Fluency: A profound understanding of climate and deep-tech infrastructure.

          • 3 - Multi-Dimensional Navigation: The skill to manage technical, commercial, and policy complexities simultaneously.

          • 4 - A Credible Investment Case: A rigorous, institutional-grade business plan ready for capital deployment.

          • 5 - Strategic Exposure: High-level access to key founders, researchers, and institutional actors across the ecosystem.

          • 6 - Leadership Readiness: The ultimate ability to translate immense complexity into immediate action and build scalable organizations.

          Who the lab is for

          Success in the lab requires the capacity to build, adapt, and execute under acute uncertainty. We bring together:

          • Entrepreneurs and builders

          • Students ready to work at the frontier of climate and deep tech

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            Engineers and scientists

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            Business and policy thinkers

          How to Get Involved

          Whether you want to build a venture, support the ecosystem, or stay connected — here is how to engage with the Climate Tech Lab.

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            Partner with Us

            Contribute technologies, mentor founding teams, or explore strategic partnerships. We work with research organizations, corporations, investors and ecosystem builders.

            Get in touch
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            JOIN THE WAITLIST

            Be the first to know when applications open for the next edition of the Climate Tech Lab.

            Join the Waitlist
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            Follow us on LinkedIn

            Stay up to date with the latest news, events and ventures from IE Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

            Follow IE Entrepreneurship and Innovation
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            Attend Climate Tech Events

            Join our events to connect with founders, researchers, investors and policymakers shaping the future of climate innovation.

            See upcoming events

          Building the future of climate innovation, one venture at a time.

          Frequently Asked Questions About the IE Climate Tech Lab

          • The IE Climate Tech Lab is an intensive venture-building platform where interdisciplinary teams work with real climate and deep technologies and explore how they can become credible, scalable solutions. It combines technology, entrepreneurship, experimentation, expert input, and market-oriented development.

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          • The Lab is designed to help move promising technologies toward practical climate applications and viable venture concepts. Participants work through uncertainty, test assumptions, consider users and markets, and develop pathways from technical potential to implementation.

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          • The Lab is relevant to entrepreneurs and builders; students; engineers and scientists; and business, design, policy, or other professionals who can contribute to multidisciplinary climate-technology teams. Specific eligibility and team requirements are set for each edition.

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          • Application timing and participation routes vary by edition. Interested candidates should consult the Climate Tech Lab page and current IE Entrepreneurship and Innovation communications for applications, waitlists, events, and eligibility information.

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          • The Lab works with real climate and deep technologies relevant to areas such as energy, advanced materials, industrial systems, carbon management, bio-based solutions, and the circular economy. The specific technology portfolio depends on the edition and participating research or technology partners.

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          • The Lab is hosted by IE University and works with research, technology, innovation, and ecosystem partners. Partners may contribute technologies, specialist expertise, mentors, networks, or venture-development support. The current partner set should be confirmed on the Lab's website for each edition.

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          • Research and technology organizations, corporations, investors, mentors, and ecosystem builders may collaborate by contributing technologies, expertise, challenge areas, mentorship, market insight, or strategic partnership support. Organizations should use the current contact route on the Climate Tech Lab page.

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          • The Lab does not stop at discussing climate challenges. It gives multidisciplinary teams the opportunity to work with real technologies, evaluate possible applications, and build practical, market-aware responses while considering environmental, social, and economic value.

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