SBIR Innovations for greater resilience to climate change
Applications are closed. Are you an innovative entrepreneur motivated to make a social impact? Do you have ideas that not only address societal challenges but also create economic opportunities? We are seeking innovative solutions to address the increasing pressures of climate change. Think, for example, of unpredictable weather patterns and shifting climate zones that are severely impacting predominantly agricultural communities in non-urban areas. These solutions must lead to viable business models.
Themes for Innovative Ideas
You may submit ideas for up to three themes. Central to this call are innovative solutions that fit the local context of the target countries. As an entrepreneur, you decide which challenge you want to address, for which sector, and in which country. Cooperation with local partners and organisations that can implement the innovations is essential. The three themes are:
1. Climate Resilience Through Damage Mitigation
We are seeking products and services that enhance resilience and mitigate the impact of adverse weather conditions on households, production resources, and post-harvest activities in rural areas. This may involve both preventing direct impacts and mitigating indirect negative effects.
Direct impacts include drought, flooding, heat, and landslides. Indirect impacts include rodents, insects, erosion, reduced energy supply, and similar issues affecting storage facilities.
2. Coping With and Adapting to the Impacts of Climate Change
We challenge you to design products and services to reconstruct damaged infrastructure and housing through the reuse of building materials, to solve water-related problems by drainage or restoration of water supply, and to provide (alternative) energy supplies.
Adaptive designs—ranging from agri-logistics to flood management and predictability—are also valuable. Redesign can be done without importing expensive materials. Preferably, this results in opportunities for additional income sources that enhance resilience and stability.
3. Utilisation of Unused Available Resources and Materials
We are seeking for solutions that use available residual flows, waste, and by-products to replace expensive (imported) materials, feed, and food. Valorising untapped resources can provide farmers with additional income streams.
Examples include the use of crop residues, peels, shells, and animal byproducts for biogas production, composting, biochar production, and the development of agro-industrial products. This also includes climate-adapted housing, cooling systems, water storage, transport solutions, and alternatives to animal feed.
Assignment Duration
The expected duration of the assignment is from April 2025 until no later than November 2027. It is important that you are motivated to make your innovation a success and continue after SBIR funding ends.
Process
The SBIR methodology consists of two phases.
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Phase 1 focuses on research into the feasibility of the innovation.
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Phase 2 is the research and development phase.
For an explanation of the phases and procedure, see How does SBIR work?
Phases
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In Phase 1, 20 projects were assigned to conduct a feasibility study of the innovation. This phase has been completed. Read the public summaries of Phase 1.
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In Phase 2, 14 consortia will continue to develop their innovation and revenue models for the relevant country. Read the public summaries of Phase 2.
Budget
A maximum budget of €3,900,000 is available (all amounts include VAT).
Call Text
Download the full text of the SBIR call.
Questions and Answers
Read the answers to questions that have previously been asked about this SBIR call.
Want to know more?
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Do you have questions about this SBIR competition? Please send an email to sbir@rvo.nl
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This call is still published under the name SBIR, but falls under the Innovation Impact Challenge, the new name for SBIR.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
