EarthScale is a UK-wide, 12-month climate tech programme designed to support IP-rich ventures as they scale, navigate manufacturing, and prepare for Series A funding. It is backed by a national network of regional university hubs and is currently accepting applications for its third cohort, with a deadline of 20 November 2026.
Programme Overview
• Tagline: Climate tech solutions. Built to scale.
• Programme status: EarthScale is back for cohort 3; applications open
• Application deadline: 21 November 2026 at 00:59 GMT+1 (20 November 2026 23:59 GMT+0)
• Duration: 12 months
• Target focus: IP-rich climate tech ventures ready to scale, navigate manufacturing, and raise Series A funding
• Geographic scope: UK-wide
• Delivery model: A connected, long-term ecosystem powered by a national network of regional hubs
• Inaugural cohort: 16 innovative climate tech ventures from across the UK selected for EarthScale’s first-ever cohort
Mission and Aims
• Context: Across the UK, cutting-edge climate innovations are emerging from research, with the potential to transform industries, cut emissions, and accelerate the transition to a net-zero, resilient future.
• Challenge addressed: Too many innovations stall in the gap between prototype and commercial deployment. This high-risk, capital-intensive phase is characterised by technical complexity, making it challenging to overcome the barriers necessary for scaling.
• Mission: EarthScale exists to bridge that gap.
• Aim 1: Tackle the most urgent climate and environmental crises.
• Aim 2: Create economic opportunities in green skills and jobs.
• Aim 3: Bolster the UK economy through high-potential research.
Support Package
• World-class technical and manufacturing facilities: Pre-paid vouchers (up to £14k) for access to cutting-edge labs, facilities, and technical expertise across the UK.
• Expert enterprise development: Benefit from unparalleled scaling support, including long-term vision, a scaling roadmap, and fundraising. Build connections with investors and commercial partners.
• Talent and peer engagement: Receive support in developing company culture, attract the right talent, and learn from fellow founders in the network.
• Policy and regulation navigation: Engage with high-level policy makers, as well as expert guidance on certifications, procurement, and regulatory hurdles.
Eligibility
• Developing solutions that contribute to net zero and/or support climate change mitigation or adaptation; demonstrable impact
• Registered and operating in the UK
• At Technology Readiness Levels 5 or 6
• Have raised seed investment
Impact in Numbers
• £16.9M raised by ventures in the programme’s first year.
• 43 hrs of support through one-to-one coaching and workshops, per venture.
• +1 average TRL and CRL gain across the programme.
• 60+ ventures supported by 2028.
Cohort Testimonials
• Federico Pesci, Chief Scientific Officer, Power & Water: "EarthScale stands out through its deep academic connectivity and tailored and flexible support across multiple domains. Unlike other more rigid or industry-specific programmes, EarthScale enables us to engage with world-leading universities and experts in ways that are directly relevant to our evolving needs, fostering both technical advancement and long-term strategic growth."
• Ekam Gill, Chief of Staff, Equisera: "EarthScale stands out for how well-tailored the support is to our stage of growth. The venture diagnostics process has been genuinely valuable for our senior team, helping us identify gaps and priorities that had not previously surfaced. That made it easier to focus both on where EarthScale could add most value and where we needed to focus internally."
• Valentina Dipietro, Co-Founder & COO, Mykor: "We appreciate how tailored the programme is to our objectives. It meets us where we are and adapts to our needs, not the other way around. EarthScale has been a sounding board for us and almost an extension of the team, working with us, rather than for us."
• Valentina Dipietro, Co-Founder & COO, Mykor: "EarthScale has enabled us to de-risk our scale-up by providing access to engineering-focused experts at universities across the UK who can help with characterisation and testing. Testing is also really expensive, so having the support of innovation vouchers to help reduce these costs has been really helpful."
• Ekam Gill, Chief of Staff, Equisera: "We chose EarthScale because it offers targeted support at a pivotal stage in our growth. Our technology is at TRL 6, and our focus is on scaling it in a technically robust and commercially viable way. EarthScale stood out because it is tailored for ventures at our stage, with access to facilities, expertise, and commercial support that can help us progress without overextending capital."
National Network and Partners
• EarthScale is powered by a national network of regional hubs at partner universities: Imperial College London, Cranfield University, the University of Derby, the University of Exeter, the University of Leeds and the University of Nottingham.
• Each partner university is embedded in a thriving local innovation ecosystem.
• These hubs will work collaboratively to cultivate deep sector knowledge, whilst supporting local partnerships with potential clients, partners and collaborators.
• EarthScale is a 3-year project co-funded by the Research England fund, part of UK Research and Innovation.
EarthScale’s next cohort closes on 21 November 2026 at 00:59 GMT+1 (20 November 2026 23:59 GMT+0), offering selected ventures access to technical facilities, enterprise development, talent support, policy guidance, and a national network of university hubs. The programme is positioned as a focused route for UK climate tech ventures moving from prototype readiness toward commercial scale and Series A investment.