Want to get €50,000 to grow your business? Greencubator, the EBRD, and the EU have opened a call for applications for the Climate Innovation Vouchers grant project. Small and medium-sized businesses can apply for a grant until February 14, 2025. Here's what you need to do to be successful fill out an application. 

Step 1: Carefully read the selection criteria 

The EBRD and the EU clearly define the rules of who is eligible for the grant, so once again make sure that your company meets all (!) of the listed requirements:

1. Legal status: Small or medium-sized businesses (SMEs) with at least one year of registration in Ukraine.
2. 100% private capital: The company must be wholly owned by individuals or other private companies. 
3. Focus on climate innovation: The company should develop or implement technologies that reduce CO2 emissions.
4. Financial stability: Availability of financial statements and income for the last year.

Unable to participateState-owned and municipal enterprises, individual entrepreneurs, public organizations, institutions with Russian-Belarusian roots or reputational risks.

A full list of conditions is available on the project website here: https://climate.biz/ruls/ 

Step 2: Come to weekly consultations 

Until February 14, the Greencubator team is waiting for you every week on Thursday at 13:00 for group consultations, where program managers will answer all your questions. 

To participate in the consultation register. We also have recordings of previous consultations on our YouTube channel, which you can watch and hear answers to questions from other applicants. For example, here is a recording of the January 9, 2025 consultation:

Step 3: Identify your funding needs 

Identify the problem that is hindering the development of your climate technology.

To apply for a grant, a company must select the services it needs to finance and find service providers (from 1 to 3) who will perform the described services for the company.

"The Climate Innovation Vouchers finance mainly services that help business development. These can be:

• Research and development (R&D): creating or improving products, developing prototypes.
• Certification: obtaining certificates to enter new markets.
• Protection of intellectual property: patenting, trademark registration.
• Industrial design: improving product design.
• Product testing: checking quality or compliance with standards.
• Legal services: drafting contracts and advising on international markets.
• Marketing services: strategy development, branding, content creation, market research.
• The purchase of equipment should not exceed 20% of the total grant amount.

It is important to note that this is not an exhaustive list of services that can be submitted in a grant application. Greencubator does not limit companies in choosing such services. 

The grant cannot be used for:

• Salaries of employees of the beneficiary company.
• Payment of office rent.
• Operating expenses that are not related to the services specified in the application.
• Replenishment of working capital.

Step 4: Select service providers

Service provider - a company that provides services needed by the beneficiary to improve green innovations and enter new markets.

You can choose up to three service providersthat will provide you with the necessary services. You can choose such a company on your own or with catalog on the project website. 

Make sure that the service providers meet the requirements of the grant:

Importantly, the service provider must also register on the website and describe its expertise. We have described all the steps for service providers in detail on the website: https://climate.biz/forsp/  

Step 5: Apply by February 14 inclusive

You can apply here: application form.

We advise you to pay attention to the following points: 

1. Describe the project: What services are needed and how they will help business development.
2. Develop a budget: Break down the costs of services and equipment (no more than 20%).

The beneficiary company must finance minimum 25% the cost of the project. For example, if the total project budget is $60,000, the company covers $15,000, and the grant covers $45,000.

3. Add a justification: Explain how your project contributes:
   1. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
   2. Development of the green economy.
   3. Innovation and scalability.
4. Add documents: Commercial proposal, project presentation, photos and videos, proof of greenhouse gas emission reduction, patents, certificates, etc.
5. Important! Your application is in the draft status when you fill it out, which you can continue to edit at your convenience. After filling out the application, be sure to click the "Apply" button. If you do not, the application will remain in the draft status and will not be admitted to the evaluation.

Detailed video instructions on how to fill out the application:

Step 6: Wait for the evaluation

Your application will be evaluated by experts based on five criteria: level of innovation, emissions reduction, scalability, market potential, and feasibility.

Step 7: Follow up with emails and meet deadlines

The project team will send you emails regarding the status of your application and may also request additional information during the evaluation process. Please be sure to provide an email address that you check regularly.

We are waiting for your application and wish you to win the contest!