What Cleantech for UK does

Cleantech for UK is a London-based policy coalition and advocacy initiative launched on February 15, 2023, at Imperial College London with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Bill Gates in attendance. The organization is powered by Cleantech Group and supported financially by Breakthrough Energy, and functions as a direct dialogue channel between the UK's policy-making community and the operators, investors, and company builders working across the UK cleantech ecosystem. Its membership coalition includes accelerators, venture capital firms, growth investors, and alternative asset platforms managing combined assets of over £9 billion as of mid-2025, with notable members including HSBC Innovation Banking, AP Ventures, Elbow Beach Capital, BGF, Greenbackers, Future Planet Capital, Zero Carbon Capital, Green Angel Ventures, and Imperial College London as the launch host.

The organization does not sell products or services in the conventional sense. Its core 'offerings' are research publications, policy reports, and advocacy materials — including the annual Cleantech Investment Report, sector-specific studies (UK aviation, first-of-a-kind project investment), the Recharge, Refocus, Rebuild manifesto, and UK-EU collaboration proposals — distributed via its website, quarterly newsletter briefings, LinkedIn, press engagement, and events such as the Modern Industrial Showcase series. Revenue is derived from undisclosed coalition membership fees, sponsorships, and partner support rather than commercial sales, and the organization employs 1–10 people led by Director Sarah Mackintosh and Policy Analyst Charlie Garner.

Cleantech for UK addresses structural UK cleantech weaknesses: the scale-up funding gap where venture capital exits before commercial manufacturing volumes are reached; the need for stable long-term policy signals; retention of UK-born innovations domestically; and competitiveness against the US Inflation Reduction Act and EU Green Deal Industrial Plan. It serves three primary stakeholder groups — UK cleantech companies and innovators, UK government and policymakers, and cleantech investors and fund managers — and operates as a member of the broader ClimateTech Policy Coalition alongside Startup Coalition, Tech Nation, techUK, Undaunted, and Tech Zero.

Name

Cleantech for UK

Legal name

Cleantech for UK

Website

https://cleantechforuk.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cleantech for UK is a London-based policy coalition and advocacy initiative launched in February 2023, connecting UK policymakers with cleantech investors and companies. It publishes research reports and policy positions on UK cleantech investment, the scale-up funding gap, and industrial strategy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clean Technology Policy Advocacy

NAICS

Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411)

akta.pro primary industry

Smart Cities & Urban Innovation Programs (Digital Planning, Civic Tech for Cities) (BPAIANAJ)

Keywords

• Clean technology policy
• Cleantech advocacy
• Policy coalition
• Cleantech investment research
• Clean energy policy

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cleantech for UK is a policy coalition and advocacy initiative that convenes UK cleantech investors, accelerators, and company builders to engage with policymakers. It conducts research, publishes investment reports and policy papers, and advocates for measures to close the scale-up funding gap and strengthen the UK's cleantech ecosystem. The organization is powered by Cleantech Group and supported by Breakthrough Energy.

Product overview

Cleantech for UK is a policy coalition and advocacy initiative, not a product company. The organization does not offer a traditional software product or platform. Its offerings consist entirely of research publications, policy reports, manifestos, and advocacy materials that analyze UK cleantech investment trends, propose policy recommendations, and promote British cleantech innovation. The primary deliverables include the annual Cleantech Investment Report, sector-specific reports (aviation, power sector, UK-EU collaboration), and policy position papers such as the Recharge, Refocus, Rebuild manifesto. These publications are distributed as PDF documents through the organization's website and are intended for policymakers, investors, and cleantech stakeholders rather than as commercial products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cleantech Investment Report Annual research publication tracking UK cleantech investment trends, sector performance, deal activity, and funding analysis. Aimed at policymakers, investors, and cleantech stakeholders.
• Unlocking Cleantech Innovation in UK Aviation Report Sector-specific research report examining clean technology opportunities in UK aviation, covering sustainable fuels, decarbonization pathways, and policy recommendations for the aerospace sector.
• Stronger Together: UK-EU Collaboration Report Policy report proposing recommendations for UK-EU collaboration in clean technologies, covering grids, offshore wind, carbon pricing, CCS, and shared talent strategies.
• Recharge, Refocus, Rebuild Manifesto Vision document outlining three strategic priorities for a clean industrial revolution: closing the scaleup funding gap, enabling policy reform, and rebuilding British leadership in key cleantech sectors.
• Powering Up the UK's Cleantech Advantage (FOAK Report) Policy report on catalyzing public and private investment into first-of-a-kind cleantech projects, addressing funding gaps, regulatory complexity, and infrastructure bottlenecks.

Quantifiable outcome

• UK cleantech funding reached £7.2bn in 2025, reclaiming position as Europe's best-funded clean tech sector
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, minor and flagship.

• Cleantech GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 February 2023Cleantech Group powers the Cleantech for UK initiative, providing research data, industry expertise, and operational support. This is the primary organizational partnership that enables the coalition's activities.
• ClimateTech Policy CoalitionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCleantech for UK is a member of the ClimateTech Policy Coalition alongside Startup Coalition, Tech Nation, techUK, Undaunted, and Tech Zero. The coalition represents hundreds of climate startups and investors and publishes analysis of political party climate pledges.
• EU Cleantech CounterpartsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSimilar programmes in continental Europe include Cleantech for Europe, Cleantech for France, Tech for Net Zero Allianz, Cleantech for Nordics, and Cleantech for Baltics. The UK coalition collaborates with these counterparts on cross-border policy alignment and shared climate goals.
• Rishi Sunak and Bill GatesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Bill Gates attended the launch event at Imperial College London, signaling high-level political and private sector support for the initiative's mission.
• Ridgeback PartnersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRidgeback Partners co-authored a paper with Cleantech for UK on empowering British innovation through government-early-stage tech company partnerships. The partnership produced recommendations for government investment as shareholder and awarded contracts.
• Imperial College LondonflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for the February 2023 launch event where Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Bill Gates attended. Imperial College represents the UK's world-class research institutions that Cleantech for UK aims to commercialize.
• AnaphiteminorOthersBristol-based battery materials company featured in Cleantech for UK's Modern Industrial Showcase. Anaphite is developing dry coating technology for lithium-ion electrode production that could reduce carbon emissions by 7 million tonnes annually if applied globally.
• WaseminorOthersBristol-based waste-to-energy company featured in the showcase. Wase's Electro-Methanogenic Reactor technology increases biogas generation by 30% and boosts methane content to over 80%, working with customers including Hepworth.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• RenewableUK: UK trade association for wind, wave, and tidal energy, with established government advocacy on cleantech-relevant policy. Comparable as a UK sector-specific clean energy policy and lobbying organization with deeper regulatory remit.
• E3G (Third Generation Environmentalism): European climate change think tank with major UK operations, focused on accelerating the transition through political engagement. Comparable as a policy advocacy and research organization working the UK-European cleantech and climate policy interface.
• Breakthrough Energy: Bill Gates-founded climate investment and policy platform that provides strategic support to Cleantech for UK. Operates overlapping cleantech advocacy, investment, and ecosystem-building functions globally with far larger capital base.
• Cleantech Group: Global cleantech data, research, and advisory firm that 'powers' Cleantech for UK. Operates overlapping market intelligence and ecosystem-building activities at much broader geographic scale, making it both a partner and a natural benchmark for the UK coalition.
• Green Alliance: UK independent environmental policy think tank working on the green economy, energy, and climate policy. Comparable as a UK-based environmental policy research and advocacy body targeting government decision-makers.

Direct peers

• techUK: UK technology industry trade association with a dedicated climate and sustainability programme; fellow member of the ClimateTech Policy Coalition alongside Cleantech for UK. Comparable as a cross-sector UK tech/climate advocacy body engaging policymakers.
• Startup Coalition: UK advocacy body for high-growth tech startups and investors; co-member of the ClimateTech Policy Coalition with Cleantech for UK. Comparable as an early-stage founder- and investor-facing voice on UK growth policy.
• Cleantech for Europe: Direct peer and sister coalition advocating for cleantech policy and investment at the EU level. Operates the same advocacy model for European cleantech as Cleantech for UK does for the UK, and is explicitly cross-referenced by Cleantech for UK as a counterpart.

Emerging players

• Undaunted: UK climate-tech accelerator and convening organisation focused specifically on hard-to-abate sectors; co-member of the ClimateTech Policy Coalition. Comparable as a targeted UK cleantech ecosystem builder with overlapping policy and investor mobilization activities.

Regional players

• Cleantech for France: Country-level sister coalition to Cleantech for UK operating in France under the same 'Cleantech for [Country]' banner. Directly comparable advocacy model focused on a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cleantech-for-uk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cleantech for UK