The Liveability Challenge 2026 pledges over S$4 million in catalytic funding in its brand new ninth edition launched

The Liveability Challenge (TLC) is powering up with a game-changing injection of over S$4 million in catalytic funding and support – its biggest boost yet – to fast-track cutting-edge sustainable innovations from the lab to market. 

This includes S$2 million in catalytic grants from Temasek Foundation, S$2 million worth of development support from Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and grant support from Enterprise Singapore, as announced during the launch of the ninth edition of TLC at Google Singapore on September 4. 

Presented by Temasek Foundation and organised by Eco-Business, TLC was established in 2018 and has grown to become a global crowdsourcing platform for sustainability solutions. 

With eight successful editions concluded, the annual crowdsourcing platform has attracted thousands of applications globally, shortlisted and incubated 54 finalists and deployed almost S$14 million in catalytic funding to help these start-ups scale and commercialise.   

“This catalytic boost of more than S$4 million represents our commitment to turning bold ideas into real-world impact for the environment. Through The Liveability Challenge, Temasek Foundation is providing catalytic funding to empower innovators to push boundaries, tackle pressing challenges and create lasting benefits for the planet and future generations,” said Heng Li Lang, Head of Climate and Liveability at Temasek Foundation.  

“We are also delighted to welcome A*STAR on board as a new partner, whose development support and resources will further strengthen the innovators’ journey from lab to market,” she added.  

The 2026 edition will seek out innovative, groundbreaking solutions addressing urban challenges across two themes – Decarbonisation and Cool Earth.  

A*STAR joins as the co-presenter of the Decarbonisation theme, lending its scientific know-how, industry partnerships and national test-bedding facilities to help finalists pilot and scale their innovations locally and globally. 

Committing up to S$2 million annually for the next three years, A*STAR will significantly contribute to TLC’s mission of accelerating technology development and commercialisation pathways. 

“Climate change affects all of us, impacting our health, work and how we live. As part of A*STAR’s efforts to decarbonise Jurong Island and play an active role in enabling Singapore’s goal to achieve net zero by 2050, we are delighted to partner Temasek Foundation in The Liveability Challenge. We look forward to partnering with start-ups from all over the world to co-develop innovative solutions to accelerate solutions for decarbonisation, and achieve these important goals together,” said Irene Cheong, Assistant Chief Executive (Innovation & Enterprise) at A*STAR. 

The two themes of the TLC 2026 edition are: 

1. Decarbonisation

Disruptive deep-tech solutions that provide scalable and impactful solutions to reduce carbon emissions across diverse industries, including waste-to-resource, renewable energy and energy efficiency. 

To support the Decarbonisation theme, A*STAR is opening its doors to finalists, granting them access to cutting-edge scientific expertise at the A*STAR Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (A*STAR ISCE²), as well as national test bedding facilities such as the Low Carbon Technology Translational Testbed (LCT³) on Jurong Island. 

These facilities will enable technologies to be trialled in real-world industrial conditions in Singapore – a critical step that de-risks commercial adoption and ready solutions for international deployment. 

2. Cool Earth

Innovative solutions that enhance mitigation, resilience and adaptation to extreme weather events (especially heat) for a more liveable planet, including large-scale cooling benefits and adaptive solutions that strengthen resilience across diverse industries. 

“As climate tech investments face headwinds from economic certainty and higher borrowing costs, innovative and catalytical capital has become indispensable. This patient, flexible funding not only fuels early-stage innovation but sends powerful signals that crowd in larger private and public capital,” said Jessica Cheam, founder and CEO for Eco-Business.  

“Growing this pool of capital requires a multi-disciplinary approach that brings together policymakers, investors and start-ups – an ecosystem that platforms like The Liveability Challenge uniquely facilities,” she added. 

The launch event also featured a high-level panel on “Catalytic capital: Accelerating climate innovation” with thought leaders from A*STAR, Google, Breakthrough Energy and Antares Ventures sharing strategies to unleash the next wave of climate tech solutions. 

Under the theme “Solutions that scale. Impact that lasts”, TLC 2026’s call for submissions officially opened today and will close on 9 February 2026. Enter your innovation to The Liveability Challenge here.

Each TLC edition culminates in a Grand Finale during Ecosperity Week in Singapore, showcasing the finalists’ deep-tech solutions.  

The top TLC 2025 winners were Singapore-based deep-tech start-up Krosslinker and Canada-based hydrogen solutions provider Ayrton Energy who secured S$1 million each in catalytic funding among other investment prizes. 

Krosslinker develops passive cooling technologies in the form of aerogel materials capable of reducing surface temperatures by up to 10 °C and ambient temperatures by up to 5 °C, while Ayrton Energy develops technology for safe and cost-effective hydrogen storage and transport – addressing infrastructure challenges that currently hinder the widespread adoption of hydrogen energy.  

Two steering committees on the two themes – Decarbonisation and Cool Earth – will convene to select the finalists who will pitch their solutions to judges and investors at The Liveability Challenge Grand Finale during Ecosperity Week 2026 held from 18 to 21 May next year. 

More than 200 decision-makers gathered at venue partner Google Singapore for the 2026 TLC launch. For more information, visit The Liveability Challenge website at  https://www.theliveabilitychallenge.org/