Frequently Asked Questions

To be eligible to participate in the Climate Investment Challenge, students must be current post graduate students (Masters or PhD-level) at any university during the 2024/2025 academic year. Students must form a team of 2 to 6 students in order to participate.

*Undergraduates may participate as part of a team with a lead applicant that fits the eligibility criteria above.

Students form teams of 2 to 6 graduate-level students from any university, develop a climate finance idea, and produce a concept note

Stage 1: Students complete online registration and submit concept note.

Stage 2: Semi-finalists are invited to submit a detailed slide presentation

Stage 3: Finalists pitch their ideas in front of an expert judging panel at the Royal Institution

A concept note template has been provided in the “Apply” submission page for students to download and submit.

No, your proposed idea does not need to answer all of the evaluation criteria questions. The evaluation criteria are only intended to be taken as guidance and are ‘directional’. Because every idea is unique, only some of the criteria questions may be relevant to your proposed idea. As part of the concept note submission, we do not expect your application to answer all the questions.

If your idea addresses climate change and its impacts in some way, then you are probably on the right track and we want to hear your idea. There is no right or wrong answer.

In general, proposed ideas could (1) identify new and innovative climate finance opportunities, (2) propose approaches to increase the mobilisation of public/private capital in climate investments, or (3) introduce innovative financial instruments, project structures, frameworks or facilities focused on climate investments.

Proposed ideas are not limited to any particular sector. But, if you need some guidance, we would recommend exploring climate challenges and opportunities in one of the following; energy, healthcare, infrastructure, industry, transportation, agriculture, telecommunications, water, information technology, and natural resources (e.g., forestry, oceans, etc.), among others.