Zoom on: Climate Launchpad 2025
What is the Climate Launchpad?
The Climate Launchpad event in Portugal aims to identify, reward, and support the best cleantech business ideas that address climate change and transform them into scalable, sustainable startups. It serves as a key platform to boost innovation in the country’s green economy by offering finalists mentorship, incubation, and visibility.
Each project goes through a regular hackathon evolution process, the projects are selected and supported by UPTEC and its network of partners to finetune the business model and pitch. A set of mentoring sessions and tailored feedback loops is proposed to each applicant so that they are better prepared for the final pitch competition, that will allow the jury panel to choose the best idea/pitch.
The winning team earns the opportunity to represent Portugal in the European Regional Final and potentially at the Global Grand Final in Vienna. Supported by public and private partners, the competition fosters collaboration and helps startups access investment and networking opportunities to accelerate their growth and impact.
Which projects were represented?
7 projects participated in the competition:
ECOSEAL
Representatives/Team: Selina Hartmann, João Mendes
EcoSeal developed a Kit originally designed for household use, aiming to reduce energy consumption, improve comfort, and promote sustainable solutions. However, it can be adapted for use in ports and maritime infrastructures, contributing to energy efficiency, CO₂ emissions reduction, and climate change mitigation.
OZEAON
Representatives/Team: Joseph Flynn, Earl Wagner
OZEAON is an online platform that fosters an inclusive climate technology ecosystem through open science and blockchain technology. Its goal is to overcome the political and economic barriers that hinder effective climate action. The platform provides researchers, educators, innovators, and communities with access to resources, collaboration, and funding. It is especially aimed at early-career professionals and organizations committed to ocean and climate issues.
ECOWIRES
Representatives/Team: Inês Freitas, Rita Martins
EcoWires developed an innovative printing technology to manufacture flexible and sustainable electronics without use of plastic. This technology enables the creation of electronic components that easily adapt and bend offering a smarter- packaging, all with an eco-friendly approach that reduces waste and improves environmental management, minimizing the impact on the environment and promoting the protection of marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
FUTURETEMP
Representatives/Team: Florencia Blanco, Miguel Martins
FutureTemp optimizes indoor energy use by anticipating demand through artificial intelligence. By analysing a building’s thermal behaviour and weather forecasts, it accurately predicts energy needs and automates air conditioning cycles to minimize waste and maximize efficiency. Its solution aims to reduce energy consumption and emissions while improving overall operational performance. This innovative approach contributes to broader goals of sustainability, resource efficiency, and climate impact mitigation in environments where smart climate control is key.
SAVEARTH
Representatives/Team: João Machado, Bruno Santos
Savearth developed an intelligent shower solution that uses artificial intelligence to help hotels reduce water consumption by up to 60%. This solution promotes efficient use of natural resources, reducing the environmental impact of infrastructures located in coastal areas and contributing to sustainability and climate change mitigation by lowering water consumption.
LANDOS
Representative: Daniel Mathon
LandOS is a digital platform that helps small landowners in Southern Europe overcome challenges such as lack of knowledge, absentee ownership, land degradation, and limited access to financing. It provides tools, partnerships, and funding to transform underused land into productive and sustainable projects. These projects include reforestation, regenerative agriculture, renewable energy, and ecotourism, generating income for landowners while supporting environmental restoration and climate action.
PRESERVASHIELD
Representative: Teresa Braz
PreservaShield is a microbiological solution that forms a protective film with antibacterial and antifungal action on the surface of fruits and vegetables, naturally extending their shelf life and reducing waste. This solution is suitable for maritime food transportation, contributing to safety and sustainability by minimizing environmental impact and enhancing resource use efficiency.
Who were the jury members?
- Joel Gomes - Sines Tecnopolo
- Susana Pinheiro - UPTEC
- Natalia Cortina & Tiago Ferreira - Fundaçõ Repsol
- Margarida Abrantes - Ordem dos Engenheiros
- Tiago Soares - Prio
And the winners are…
- 1st place: Savearth
- 2nd place: EcoWires
- 3rd place: FutureTemp
Congratulations to all participants!
Business Lunch
With the support of SaferSEA, UPTEC also organised a Business Lunch Meeting, bringing together tech and solution providers with potential investors and technology uptakers. This gathering represented a key moment for fostering collaboration and accelerating innovation within the maritime sector.
The informal yet strategically designed setting offered a unique opportunity to strengthen professional connections, exchange perspectives, and identify synergies between those developing cutting-edge solutions and those positioned to support or adopt them.
By enabling direct dialogue in a relaxed environment, the meeting facilitated a mutual understanding of needs, expectations, and opportunities for collaboration. It played a crucial role in building trust and establishing the foundations for future cooperation, including pilot testing and investment initiatives.
Ultimately, the Business Lunch Meeting contributed to advancing the project’s broader goals—supporting a safer, more sustainable, and innovation-driven maritime industry.
Potential investors represented
i3S – Institute for Research and Innovation in Health of the University of Porto brings together expertise in biomedical sciences, biotechnology, and innovation, fostering interdisciplinary research with strong connections to real-world applications.
ISCAP – Higher Institute of Accounting and Administration of Porto, stands out for its strong ties to the professional environment, its focus on innovation, business simulation, and knowledge transfer, developing leaders with an international vision and entrepreneurial skills.
FEP – Faculty of Economics of the University of Porto is an internationally renowned academic institution in the fields of economics and management. It offers undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs, distinguished by its educational excellence and commitment to applied research.
Ordem dos Engenheiros is the professional body that regulates, represents, and oversees the practice of engineering in Portugal. Its main role is to ensure the quality, ethics, and professionalism of registered engineers, as well as to promote the scientific, technological, and professional development of engineering in the country.
UPTEC – Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto, is the main technology and knowledge transfer center of the University of Porto. Its mission is to promote the creation and development of business projects in the fields of arts, sciences, and technologies, facilitating the connection between academia and the market.
VdA – Vieira de Almeida is an internationally renowned law firm, recognized for its excellence in areas such as corporate, financial, technological, maritime, environmental, and energy law, among others. VdA advises both national and international companies, public institutions, and non-governmental organizations.
Fundação Repsol is the philanthropic arm of Repsol, serving as a strategic pillar in the company’s commitment to sustainable transition and social responsibility.
Smart Waste Portugal is a non-profit association, founded in 2015, that drives the transition to a circular economy in Portugal by advocating education, innovation, and collaboration across waste value chains.
Sines Tecnopolo is a non-profit science and technology park based in Sines, Portugal. It operates as a Business Innovation Center (BIC), supporting entrepreneurship through business incubation, training, and specialist consultancy services.
Thanks to project partners UPTEC and Sines Tecnopolo for the organisation and contribution to the event.
Thank you Mayerly Maldonado, Project Manager @UPTEC, for the recap!
Photo credit: UPTEC
