The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in collaboration with the SME Foundation and the Department of Environment (DoE), recognized 25 promising cleantech innovators from across Bangladesh at the National Cleantech Award Ceremony and Innovation Showcase, held on Thursday at the Bangladesh Institute of Management (BIM) in Dhaka.
The event marked a major milestone under the Integrated Approach Towards Sustainable Plastics Use and Marine Litter Prevention in Bangladesh project, implemented by the Government of Bangladesh through the Department of Environment, with technical support from UNIDO and funding from the Government of Norway. Through this partnership, UNIDO, the Government of Bangladesh, the Government of Norway and national stakeholders are working together to address plastic pollution and advance circular economy solutions in
Bangladesh, bringing together policy and regulatory support, resource efficiency, sustainable recycling, innovation, entrepreneurship, capacity building, knowledge sharing and public engagement.
The Cleantech Accelerator and Commercialization Programme was launched to identify, nurture and support innovative cleantech entrepreneurs and environmentally sustainable business solutions with the potential to address pressing environmental challenges while generating new economic opportunities.
The programme attracted an impressive 643 applications from across Bangladesh, reflecting the country’s growing innovation potential and entrepreneurial interest in sustainable solutions.
Applications underwent an intensive and rigorous multi-stage selection process led by a jury board comprising members and experts from relevant fields, who assessed the proposed solutions based on their innovation potential, environmental impact, commercial viability, scalability and investment readiness.
Following this highly competitive selection process, 30 entrepreneurs were selected to
participate in an intensive residential Accelerator Bootcamp, where they received technical mentoring, business development support, commercialization guidance, investment-readiness training and pitch coaching.
Following further mentoring, business refinement and final evaluation, 25 innovators were selected to receive financial support through the Accelerator Support Fund across three award categories. The top three innovators, recognized under the First Prize category, each received TK 500,000. The seven innovators ranked fourth to tenth, recognized under the Second Prize category, each received TK 300,000, while the remaining 15 innovators, recognized under the Third Prize category, each received TK 200,000.
Beyond financial assistance, the selected innovators will continue to receive structured postaccelerator mentorship, technical guidance, progress monitoring and opportunities to engage with investors, industry leaders, financial institutions and development partners.
Speaking as Chief Guest, State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shaikh Faridul Islam emphasized the importance of translating innovation into practical solutions for Bangladesh’s sustainable development.
“Bangladesh’s transition towards a greener and more resource-efficient economy will depend on our ability to transform innovative ideas into practical and scalable solutions. The entrepreneurs recognized today demonstrate that environmental responsibility and economic opportunity can advance together.
"By supporting homegrown clean technologies and circular business models, we can reduce pollution, strengthen industrial competitiveness, create green economic opportunities and build a more resilient future for Bangladesh,” he also said.
Highlighting the opportunities emerging from the transition towards greener and more sustainable models of production and business, Unit Chief of Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency at United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Jérôme Stucki said the transition towards a greener and more sustainable economy is creating new opportunities for innovative business models and entrepreneurship. Sustainability and business success can, and must, go hand in hand.
"By developing solutions that use resources more efficiently, reduce waste and respond to environmental challenges, green businesses can generate economic value while creating lasting benefits for society and the environment," he also said.
Director General of the Department of Environment Dr. Md. Lutfor Rahman underscored the importance of locally developed solutions in addressing Bangladesh’s environmental challenges.
He said Bangladesh faces complex environmental challenges, including plastic pollution, inefficient resource use and increasing pressure on natural systems. Addressing these challenges requires innovative solutions as well asstrong collaboration among government institutions, entrepreneurs, industry, academia and development partners.
"The innovations recognized today demonstrate the potential of local entrepreneurs to contribute meaningfully to pollution prevention, resource efficiency and Bangladesh’s transition towards a circular economy," he also said.
Emphasizing the importance of supporting entrepreneurs beyond the initial innovation stage, Managing Director of SME Foundation Anwar Hossain Chowdhury said, “A promising innovation can achieve meaningful impact only when entrepreneurs have access to the right technical guidance, business development support, finance, markets and networks. Through the Cleantech Accelerator and Commercialization Programme, we have
worked to strengthen the business models and investment readiness of these innovators so they can move closer to commercialization and scale. SME Foundation remains committed to supporting entrepreneurs who can create economic value while contributing to a greener and more sustainable Bangladesh.”
The event also featured an Innovation Showcase, providing participating entrepreneurs with an opportunity to present their technologies, products, prototypes and sustainable business solutions to policymakers, investors, financial institutions, industry representatives, development partners and other stakeholders creating a platform to increase the visibility of homegrown cleantech solutions and foster potential connections for future collaboration, investment and market development.