EarthScale

EarthScale Cohort 3

Runs a United Kingdom-wide climate-tech scaling programme through sustained support for teams building high-growth clean technology ventures.

EarthScale is a 12-month, UK-wide climate-technology scaling programme run by Imperial Enterprise Lab in partnership with five additional UK universities and institutions. Unlike most Imperial Enterprise Lab programmes, EarthScale is not restricted to Imperial affiliates — any UK-registered, IP-rich climate-tech venture meeting eligibility criteria may apply. Cohort 2 ran from June 2026 to June 2027, following an April 13, 2026 application deadline. Cohort 3 applications are expected to open in late 2026, though specific dates have not yet been published. No equity is taken and all programme services are delivered pro bono.

Selected ventures receive up to £14,000 in pre-paid vouchers redeemable for prototyping equipment and research facility access across the six partner institutions. Additional support includes one-to-one investment readiness coaching with investor introductions, workshops on financial modelling, recruitment, and regulatory navigation, and legal assistance with IP and manufacturing compliance. To be eligible, ventures must be registered and operating in the UK, working at Technology Readiness Level 5 or 6, must have already raised seed investment, and must demonstrate early sales traction or signed customer contracts. The programme specifically targets solutions contributing to net zero or climate change mitigation and adaptation, with a preference for ventures founded on STEM research and, ideally, prior UK research council funding.

The programme's focus areas include clean energy, sustainable materials, agritech, and related climate technology sectors. The hub-and-spoke model spanning six universities provides ventures with geographically distributed facility access. Applicants for Cohort 3 should register interest via the Imperial Enterprise Lab EarthScale page and ensure their venture has documented seed-stage investment and initial commercial traction before the call opens.