Four Edinburgh scale-ups selected for net zero programme

Four Edinburgh-based scale-ups have been selected to join Tech Nation’s Net Zero programme for their efforts in tacking climate change.

The 30 firms were announced by business and energy secretary Alok Sharma (file image). Picture: Peter Summers/Getty Images.

Boxergy, Ember Core, Reath, and Topolytics are focused on energy, transport, waste-management and data analytics respectively. They have been signed up to the programme, which is billed as the first initiative of its kind globally, and has been designed to support 30 of the UK’s most promising scale-ups that are contributing to the UK reaching its goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

The 30 firms were announced in business and energy secretary Alok Sharma’s speech today at London Tech Week. Sessions will include quantifying sustainability, navigating the regulatory landscape, and how to internationalise a net zero business.

A new report – also unveiled today – by Tech Nation found that the UK leads Europe for the number of net zero companies, at 323, and for venture capital investment into net zero companies at £336 million last year.

Jim Laidlaw, founder and chief at Boxergy, said: “Boxergy are pumped to be working with the Tech Nation team. With their help we will ignite our game changing heat technology and deliver net zero homes of the future.”

Keith Bradbury, co-founder at Ember Core, said: “We're at a pivotal moment in the global transition to net zero, and being part of a focused initiative that helps drive this ambition forward is a real privilege. This topic needs to be on everyone's radar so having the weight of Tech Nation behind it will hopefully raise the issue and accelerate tech-led solutions to solving the problem.”

Emily Rogers, co-founder at Reath, stated: “We agree that the tech sector has a vital role to play in tackling the climate crisis. The collaborative tools Reath are building will enable companies to integrate and reuse data effectively into their own systems. The opportunities for impact are endless. Data builds a foundation on which to make informed and innovative decisions, many of which resonate for decades.”

Michael Groves, founder and chief executive at Topolytics, said: “I love being an entrepreneur. Creating value from scratch - there is nothing better. While it does have its challenges, recognition from a credible organisation like Tech Nation is important. Having access to the network of skills and experience through the Net Zero Programme is vital nourishment.”

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