30 March 2026 - Leaders from investment, academia and industry gathered in London on 26 March to explore how breakthrough energy technologies can move from lab to market - fast enough to meet the demands of the global energy transition.
Hosted by the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership in partnership with the TERA-Award, the roadshow brought together founders, investors and policymakers to examine the UK’s role as a global hub for clean energy innovation- and how this year’s $1.15M TERA-Award can help to scale deep-tech solutions.
“We have the technologies we need – now markets must evolve”
Opening the event, James Cole, Executive Director and Chief Innovation Officer at CISL, set the tone with a stark reminder of the urgency driving innovation.
Referencing new data on global energy imbalance, he highlighted that oceans are absorbing energy at a rate equivalent to more than 18 times annual human energy use - contributing to the hottest decade on record.
His core message was clear: climate risk is no longer abstract, it is economic and societal. The challenge is no longer technological feasibility, but market transformation.
“We already have many of the technologies we need to reach net zero,” he noted. “What’s missing is commercial viability - and that means markets must evolve.”
Building a global platform for climate innovation
Jerry Hu, Managing Director at Full Vision Capital, outlined the vision behind the TERA-Award: going beyond a competition to become a global platform connecting innovators with capital, expertise and market access.
With a growing community of over 1,700 startups across more than 170 countries, the initiative is designed to identify and scale the next generation of climate leaders. Backed by a $1.15 million top prize and strategic support, the programme aims to accelerate the commercialisation of breakthrough technologies.
From decarbonisation to energy security
CISL’s Head of International Innovation , Jie Zhou, led a keynote that highlighted a significant shift in the energy narrative.
While pre-2022 innovation focused heavily on decarbonisation, today’s startups are increasingly framing their solutions around energy security, resilience and cost efficiency - reflecting geopolitical tensions and Europe’s energy vulnerabilities.
Key trends included:
A growing “valley of death” for scale-ups - too advanced for grants, but too risky for traditional finance
A shift in investment strategy from “growth at all costs” to profitability and capital efficiency
Rapid growth in sectors such as hydrogen, nuclear (including fusion), and AI-enabled energy systems
Jie also highlighted Europe’s competitive edge in university-led innovation and the rising role of AI in optimising energy systems, materials discovery and grid management.
The scaling challenge: capital, talent and mindset
A panel featuring leaders across startups, venture capital and policy unpacked the barriers to scaling climate technologies.
Shruti Iyengar, Investment Director at Future Planet Capital, emphasised that many startups struggle not with technology, but with demonstrating commercial traction at scale - particularly at the Series A stage.
She also pointed to cultural differences in risk appetite, noting that European founders often underplay ambition compared to US counterparts.
Cansu Deniz Bayrak, Impact Capital Advisor, reinforced the need for systemic change - highlighting capital and talent as the two critical levers. Policy measures such as unlocking pension fund investment and improving founder incentives were identified as key to turning the UK from a “startup nation” into a “scale-up nation.”
From lab to market: bridging the gap
Discussions also focused on the role of universities and ecosystems in translating research into real-world impact.
While institutions like Cambridge produce world-class IP, speakers noted that much of it remains uncommercialised. Greater support is needed to bridge the gap between academic discovery and market deployment - particularly for capital-intensive deep tech.
At the same time, collaborations between corporates and startups are proving critical. Programmes that connect early-stage ventures with large organisations are accelerating routes to market and enabling real-world validation.
Innovation in action: the impact of winning the TERA-Award
Zoe Kalus, CISL’s Head of Media, closed the event with a fireside chat that spotlighted last year’s TERA-Award winner, Professor Xavier Moya, professor of Material Physics at the University of Cambridge and founder of Barocal.
His company is developing solid-state cooling technology that could replace traditional refrigeration systems. With heating and cooling accounting for around 40 per cent of global emissions, the potential impact is substantial. Since winning the award, Barocal has scaled rapidly, expanding its team, facilities and commercial readiness.
Doris Pan, Director at Full Vision Captial, concluded the session by reinforcing a broader theme: the energy transition will not be a battle between incumbents and disruptors, but a collaboration - combining infrastructure, capital and innovation to accelerate deployment.
A platform for impact
Throughout the event, one message remained consistent: solving the climate challenge requires alignment across innovation, capital and ecosystem.
From early-stage research to global markets, initiatives like the TERA-Award are playing a critical role in connecting the dots - helping breakthrough ideas become scalable, investable solutions.
Apply for the next TERA-Award
If you’re building a breakthrough climate or energy technology, the TERA-Award offers a unique opportunity to accelerate your journey.
With a $1 million top prize, access to global investors, and strategic support to scale your solution, the programme is designed to turn innovation into real-world impact.