Apply for the Liveability Challenge and Win up to S$2 million in Funding

TLC welcomes all projects at or above Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 and has already achieved proof of concept. While teams may be based anywhere in the world, the proposed project must be applicable to Singapore or Southeast Asia (for nature-based solutions).

The Liveability Challenge is presented by Temasek Foundation and organised by Eco-Business.

The Challenge Statement

The seventh edition of The Liveability Challenge features two main themes:

• Climate Change
  • With the acceleration of climate change impacts across the world, there is an urgent need for both mitigation and adaptation measures to ensure thriving, liveable environments for the growing populations. While they continue to decarbonise and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, they also need to focus on strengthening the resilience of the ecosystems and wider society from the current and future impacts of climate change.​
  • TLC is looking to build on its efforts in enabling solutions that remove carbon emissions at scale, including revolutionary technology-based carbon capture, utilisation and storage solutions; low-carbon solutions for energy, urban infrastructure, transport and logistics. TLC is also looking for adaptive innovations, including nature-based solutions, that address climate change effects such as extreme weather and sea-level rise.
  • They are looking for solutions that:
    • Effectively capture, and convert carbon emissions into useful products (e.g. building materials, reclamation sand or synthetic fuels)​
    • Generate cost-effective energy from renewable sources (e.g. hydrogen, wind and tidal energy)​
    • Significantly reduce the carbon emissions produced by industries and buildings (e.g. cooling systems)​
    • Drastically reduce the negative impact of climate change (e.g. mitigating extreme heat, urban heat island effect)​
    • Builds climate-resilient communities for at-risk groups (e.g. mangrove restoration along coastal communities to combat sea-level rise) through sustainable and replicable business models
  • Other considerations – Solutions should:
    • Be carbon negative in the overall lifecycle and have zero/minimal externalities​
    • Be technology-based (e.g. physical, chemical); or nature-based solutions (e.g. community models)​
    • Be commercially viable and scalable​
    • Conduct the pilot in Singapore (for technology-based solutions) or within Southeast Asia (for nature-based solutions)
• Food & Nutrition
  • Food resilience is a critical pillar in the world’s ability to sustainably feed the growing populations. With rising constraints on land, water, and energy, coupled with climate change and global supply chain disruptions, there is an increasing need for countries across the world to enhance their food resilience to ensure reliable and affordable access to food supply in the face of unexpected challenges and disruptions.​
  • TLC is looking for innovative solutions that can enhance food resilience and safety in three critical areas: agriculture, aquaculture, and alternative nutrition sources. ​
  • They are seeking for breakthrough technologies to provide affordable, nutrient-dense and safe foods.
  • They are looking for solutions that:
    • Deliver breakthroughs in maximising production yield while minimising resource requirements and waste outputs (e.g. lower energy consumption, minimal carbon emissions), in at least one or a combination of these areas critical for food resilience: agriculture, aquaculture and alternative nutrition​
    • Deliver breakthroughs in extending the shelf life of perishable food, without compromise on food safety​
    • Produce foods with improved quality of essential nutrients without compromise on taste and texture
  • Other considerations – Solutions should:​
    • Be commercially viable and scalable in a dense urban environment​
    • Conduct the pilot in Singapore

Funding Information

• The teams with the most ground-breaking solutions will be mentored to refine their pitches and proposals, through an intensive month of coaching by leading experts. They will get to pitch their solutions at The Liveability Challenge Grand Finale at Ecosperity, for a chance to win S$2 million and more in funding and other exclusive opportunities. Finalists will also join the TLC alumni and ecosystem comprising investors, incubators, regulators, innovators and changemakers from across the globe.
• Winners of each track will walk away with grant funding of S$1 million.

Entrant Obligations

• Entrants who are shortlisted as finalists will:
  • Be required to submit videos of their presentation, including slides, which will be reviewed by TLC mentors in order for them to offer guidance. These slides will be screened at the grand finale.
  • Attend coaching and pitch preparation sessions in April 2023 to refine your business idea and presentation, with the help of the panel of coaches.
  • Take part in person at the grand finale of The Liveability Challenge on 17 April 2024 at Ecosperity held in Singapore. You will present your idea and take part in a question and answer session with the judging panel at The Liveability Challenge.
  • For finalists based outside of Singapore, they will be provided with travel and accommodation to attend the finale, with certain terms and conditions.

Eligibility Criteria

• You are eligible if you are:
  • 18 years or older.
  • Not an employee of Temasek Foundation or Eco-Business
  • Not a close relative or connected otherwise with the organisation or the judging of the competition.

For more information, visit The Liveability Challenge.