Deadline : Ongoing opportunity
Microsoft is pleased to announce an open call for the Climate Innovation Fund to accelerate the development of technology and the deployment of new climate innovations through equity and debt capital.
Areas
Microsoft will mainly deploy this capital in two areas:
- accelerate the continuous development of technology by investing in project and debt financing; and
- investing in innovation through equity and debt.
In addition to this new fund, they will continue to invest in carbon monitoring and modelling projects through the AI for Earth programme, which has grown over the last two years to support more than 450 donors in over 70 countries.
Primary focus
The main focus of the Microsoft Climate Innovation Fund is:
- Invest in emerging climate technology solutions that have early commercial traction and need capital to scale on the market
- Provide project funding to scale up existing climate solutions
- Invest directly in companies, with opportunities to:
- Scaling new innovative solutions on the market
- Demonstrate the viability of new technologies
- Partner with other investors to meet global climate goals
Financing information
The Climate Innovation Fund will commit to investing US$ 1 billion over the next four years.
The Fund does not have
The Microsoft Climate Innovation Fund has no mandate to:
- Providing grants or donations
- Leading an investment round
- Taking a majority stake in a fund or company
- Financing listed companies
Eligibility criteria
Microsoft will focus on areas such as direct carbon removal, digital optimisation, advanced energy systems, industrial materials, circular economy, water technologies, sustainable agriculture and business strategies for nature-based markets.
Criteria
Microsoft will focus funding on investments based mainly on four criteria:
- Climate impact: meaningful and measurable climate solutions in the areas of carbon, water, waste and ecosystems.
- Underfunded markets: Investing where the need for capital for climate solutions is not being met.
- Shared alignment: Technologies relevant to the core business of Microsoft and its customers.
- Climate equity: Ensuring that developing economies and poor communities benefit from climate solutions.
For more information, visit https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/corporate-responsibility/sustainability/climate-innovation-fund?rtc=1
