Carbon Zero Challenge 5.0 Timeline

Themes

Zero Carbon Energy

  • Renewable energy sources
  • Energy Storage Solutions
  • Decentralised energy systems
  • Carbon capture & storage in power generation
  • Sustainable fuel & fuel system
  • Energy efficient appliances

Zero Carbon Transportation

    • Electrification of public transport
    • Sustainable aviation technologies
    • Hydrogen powered transportation
    • EV & infrastructure
    • Sustainable urban mobility
    • Low carbon logistics & freight transportation system

Zero Carbon Agriculture

    • Regenerative agriculture practices
    • Soil health & carbon farming
    • Reduced carbon fertiliser technologies
    • Sustainable livestock farming technologies
    • Vertical farming & hydroponics
    • Sustainable plant based food

Zero Carbon Manufacturing

  • Decarbonising heavy industries
  • Circular economy models for production
  • 3D Printing technologies
  • Electrification of industrial HVAC
  • Green supply chains & sustainable sourcing
  • Carbon neutral product design

Zero Carbon Infrastructure

  • Sustainable urban planning
  • Low carbon construction materials
  • Energy efficient building technologies
  • Eco friendly & social infrastructure projects
  • Retrofit & renovation strategies
  • Urban green spaces

Zero Water Footprint

  • Water efficient irrigation technologies
  • Water recycling & reuse
  • Desalination technologies
  • Reducing water usage in industries
  • Sustainable wastewater treatment
  • Energy efficient Water purification systems

Zero End-of-Life Waste

  • Zero waste packaging & sustainable material innovation
  • Composting & organic waste management
  • Waste to energy technologies
  • Sustainable recycling & disposal technologies
  • Upcycling & innovative reuse of materials

Zero Impact AI for Sustainability

  • AI powered solutions for energy optimisation & management

  • AI for carbon footprint tracking and reduction in supply chains

  • Precision agriculture using AI to optimise resource use

  • AI in waste management and recycling optimisation

  • AI-based water management systems for conservation

Trainings Offered by CZC

The Carbon Zero Challenge (CZC) provides comprehensive training and capacity-building programs to help innovators transform their ideas into scalable, market-ready solutions. The training sessions cover both sustainable and business aspects, ensuring teams are equipped for successful commercialisation.
Direct access to climate-focused industry leaders, serial entrepreneurs, and tech experts for one-on-one and group mentoring.

Customised sessions on:

  • Market validation and product design.
  • Fundraising strategies.
  • Business plan to commercialise technology 
  • Impact metrics & climate story telling 
  • Customer discovery 

How to Apply

  • Fill out the ‘Create new account’ form
  • You will receive an email with a verification link. Click the verification link and set your password.
  • Login to the application portal using the user name and password.
  • Submit the Registration form.
  • CZC team will inform you via email if your team has been selected for CZC cohort (as per the given timeline).
Apply Now

Team Composition

Prerequisites

  1. At the time of the application, the team should have a clear definition of the identified problem they are addressing.
  2. At the time of application, the solution proposed by the team should have a valid proof-of-concept of their proposed solution.
  3. A solid motivation to convert their research outcome to impactful real-world solutions
  4. Teams\startups that have received prototype funding from previous cohorts are not eligible if they are applying for developing the same idea and prototype.  

Requirements

  1. Team should participate in all the training and mentoring programs which are part of the program.
  2.  Team should respond to requests for progress reports, financial documents, promotional material, interaction with sponsors and media, etc. from the organizing team in a timely manner
  3.  Team should mention support from the Carbon Zero Challenge program in any press releases, promotional material, and presentations related to the innovation during and for three years after they exit the program.

Fund Management

  1. All teams should submit the original hard copy of the bills to CZC at the end of the contest.
  2.  All teams should maintain separate ledger for CZC project. It is suggested to open a separate savings bank account for CZC to receive funds.
  3.  Bank statment highlighting the expenses have to be submitted to CZC at the end of the contest.