Asia Green Energy Innovation Challenge
Empowering Tomorrow’s Energy Leaders
Up to
S$750,000
total cash prize
Application closes 29 March.
About The Challenge
Building on the success of our inaugural edition in 2025, the Asia Green Energy Innovation Challenge returns for a second year to bring together visionary innovators from China and Singapore in the pursuit of sustainable energy breakthroughs.
Co-hosted by Tsinghua University’s pioneering X-lab and NUS Enterprise’s BLOCK71, this cross-border programme empowers bold founders to tackle pressing global energy challenges.
With 10 top-tier start-ups from each country, the 2026 edition is set to catalyse transformative solutions and advance a greener, more sustainable future.
Challenge
Themes
Green & Renewable Energy
Innovations in Solar, Wind, Hydrogen, Emerging Renewables, and Clean Energy Generation.
Energy Storage & Grid Resilience
Battery / Long-duration Storage, Hybrid Systems, Grid Optimisation, and Flexible Energy Infrastructure.
Smart Grids & Decentralised Systems
DERs, Microgrids, Virtual Power Plants, Energy Access, and Next-Generation Distribution Models.
AI, Digitalisation & Energy Efficiency
AI/ML Solutions, Digital Twins, Data-driven Optimisation, Predictive Analytics, and Intelligent Energy Management.
Clean Fuels & Industrial Decarbonisation
Hydrogen, Low-Carbon Fuels, Carbon Capture, Hard-to-Abate Sectors, and Industrial Emissions Reduction.
Circular & Sustainable Energy Systems
Recycling, Waste-to-Energy, Sustainable Materials, and Circular Economy Solutions for the Energy Value Chain.
The Top 3 Prizes are awarded to the highest-scoring teams overall, regardless of whether they are in the Singapore or China categories.
S$300,000
Grand Prize (1 winner)
S$150,000
1st Runner-up (2 winners)
S$50,000
2nd Runner-up (3 winners)
Challenge
Prizes
Challenge Timeline
Screening & Selection
Application: 19 Jan – 29 Mar
Selection: 1 Apr – 24 Apr
Shortlisting & Onboarding
Announcement: 30 Apr
Pre-Arrival Briefing: 5 Jun
China Immersion
1 week in-person in Beijing
programme: 22 Jun – 26 Jun
Demo Day
26 June 2026
Challenge Eligibility
To qualify for Asia Green Energy Innovation Challenge 2026:
Commitment
Commit to the full duration of the challenge in-person in Beijing from 22- 26 June 2026, including workshops, coaching sessions, networking events, and demo day.
Flight and accommodation will be provided.
Product Readiness
Your start-up must at least have a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and technology readiness levels (TRL) 4 to 7.
Geographic Scope
Open to Asia-Pacific–based startups, including teams planning regional or cross-border expansion.
Incorporation Status
If not yet incorporated, you should be preparing to incorporate and launch your product within six months of the programme.
Sector Relevance
Solutions must be relevant to at least one of AGEIC 2026’s key themes (e.g., renewable energy, storage, smart grids, AI for energy, clean fuels, energy access, circular systems, etc.) and demonstrate measurable impact potential.
If this sounds like you, you’re exactly why Asia Green Energy Innovation Challenge 2026 returned for our second year.
Hear from our Alumni
The Asia Green Energy Innovation Challenge brought together some of the best ideas and innovators working on climate solutions, making it a valuable platform to test the assumptions and hypotheses behind our business model.
Dr. Lim Kang Hui
CEO & Co-Founder
CRecTech
The challenge exposed us to a wide range of startups and commercialization approaches across the region. Seeing how others frame their value propositions and engage customers helped us sharpen our own messaging and better align our technical strengths with market needs.
Feb Hillman
CEO & Co-Founder
AeroFlux
It gave us a lot of exposure and opportunities to exchange ideas with founders across the industry in both Singapore and Tsinghua, which was really eye-opening. We also had plenty of opportunities to sharpen our pitch through workshops, test them out with mentors as well as other founders.
Chew Bolong
CEO & Co-Founder
GetSolar
FAQs
Is there a fee involved?
Participation in challenge does not involve any fees.
What is the commitment?
Selected teams are expected to actively participate in all the key activities from 22 June to 26 June.
Will visa arrangements be covered?
Visa fees are typically not covered, but we will provide official invitation letters and guidance to support your visa application process.
Can I apply if my startup is not incorporated?
Yes. Startups do not need to be incorporated at the time of application but must incorporate in Singapore within six months, if selected.
Is the cash prize equity-free?
Yes. The cash prizes awarded in this challenge are non-equity grants. Winning teams will receive the funding with no ownership or equity taken.
Is a working prototype required?
While a prototype is not mandatory, start-ups with a proof of concept or early-stage product will have a stronger chance of selection.
How many team members can participate?
Each team will have up to 2 fully sponsored participants (flight + accommodation). Additional team members may join at their own cost, subject to space availability and confirmation by the organisers.
Outreach Events
A Powerhouse Collaboration for Startups
BLOCK71 isn’t just another startup space. This is a launchpad for founders who dare to do things differently.
Part of NUS Enterprise and backed by industry and government partners, BLOCK71 powers startup success with incubation, mentorship, and a global network access.
Since 2011, more than 1,600 startups have taken off with BLOCK71 across Singapore, the U.S, China, Japan, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
Build what’s next.
Welcome to the Home of the Brave.
Tsinghua X-lab is a non-profit innovation platform advancing entrepreneurship and the commercialisation of scientific research within the Tsinghua community.
Established in 2013 and anchored in the Tsinghua School of Economics and Management (SEM), it collaborates with 16 departments to provide education, training, and networking support.
Through dedicated innovation and pre-incubation spaces and a network of nearly 100 industry mentors, X-lab supports early-stage startups from idea to execution.
Over 11 years, it has engaged more than 96,000 participants, supported 2,600+ projects, and helped 280+ startups raise over RMB 19.1 billion.
Build traction. Drive revenue. Unlock funding.
For all enquires regarding the programme, please email to singapore@block71.co.
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