Accelerating Cleantech founders to Scale Impact

The BMW Foundation and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) successfully launched the pilot of the RESPOND Scaleup Program to accelerate the deployment of cleantech innovations. Building on this pilot phase, the program is currently undergoing a comprehensive evaluation to assess its impact, capture key learnings, and inform potential next steps.
The RESPOND Scaleup pilot was designed to help close the scaleup gap between development and industrial deployment, contributing to the acceleration of the global clean energy transition.
The core ambition remains unchanged: to support scaleups through capacity building, curated networks, and international visibility, enabling growth across Europe and in emerging markets. The global transition to a net-zero economy is not progressing at the pace required, especially in hard-to-abate sectors such as energy and industry. Despite growing awareness and political commitments, Europe risks falling behind in industrial innovation if cleantech solutions are not scaled rapidly, particularly as regions such as the U.S. and China continue to advance their capabilities.At the same time, momentum for scaling innovation has never been stronger. Rising climate urgency, increasing investor interest, and growing global demand for clean technologies have opened a critical window of opportunity. By addressing key barriers such as fragmented regulations, cautious investment behavior, and disconnected ecosystems, Europe can unlock the full potential of its cleantech pioneers.OUR MISSIONThe RESPOND Scaleup Program supports founders and leaders of cleantech ventures in navigating the complexities of scaling to full commercialization. We provide:

• strategic, founder-centered capacity building
• access to a diverse, cross-sector network across Europe and beyond
• global visibility
• policy engagement
• access to capital