The Royal Academy of Engineering has announced the latest entrepreneurs selected for the Leaders in Innovation Fellowships (LIF) Global and Advance programmes that support startups working towards sustainable development in their respective countries.
The 68 participants across both programmes will receive entrepreneurship and commercialisation support to develop engineering solutions that address Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on a local and global scale, from circular agriculture to affordable clean transport, and green construction techniques. Funded by the UK’s Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and delivered by the Academy, the programmes support economic and social development though locally engineered solutions, strengthen business capabilities in participating countries, and provide a boost for technologies that are making a difference in communities.
A total of 58 innovators were selected for the LIF Global programme from Barbados, Colombia, Egypt, Jordan, Mexico, Romania, Turkiye and Vietnam, who will benefit from free, bespoke training and support to scale their businesses. Their solutions include ocean plastic recycling, accessible medical training devices, cancer treatment approaches, environmental de-contaminants, and a sleep-improving device for patients with chronic disease.
Leaders in Innovation Fellowships
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An additional 10 outstanding entrepreneurs were chosen from the LIF alumni community to participate in LIF Advance, an enhanced programme offering training in stakeholder relations and business growth to enable entrepreneurs to reach their full commercial potential. This year, innovators who are addressing SDGs 14 and 15 – Life Below Water and Life Above Land – were selected from Brazil, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, and Vietnam.
Over the next eight months both the LIF Global and LIF Advance cohorts will receive intensive training from the Academy and its network of UK and international experts, including online and in-person events both in-country and in the UK. The entrepreneurs will be able to connect with local innovation networks and LIF peers, receive tailored entrepreneurship instruction and one-to-one expert mentoring.
Ana Avaliani, Director of Enterprise at the Royal Academy of Engineering, said “The power of engineering and technology innovations in tackling sustainable development challenges cannot be overstated – it is why we are so excited to support the entrepreneurs selected for this year’s LIF Global and Advance programmes. Collectively their engineering solutions will impact global health, social mobility, and economic growth across the globe, beginning with tailored approaches to solving local issues.”
LIF has attracted international praise and strengthened partnerships between nations since its launch in 2015, with its companies catalysing more than 3500 jobs around the world and securing more than $100 million in funding. The LIF Global cohort will join their LIF Advance peers among an alumni community of 1,400+ engaged and passionate global entrepreneurs and can access the Academy’s international support to researchers and entrepreneurs and links to the UK innovation ecosystem. The programme is open to partners and funders to help reach thousands more.
Full details of the 2022/23 LIF Global participants can be found here.
Full details of the 2022/23 LIF Advance participants and their innovations can be found here and below: