The new commitments comprise S$2 million in catalytic grants from Temasek Foundation, S$2 million worth of development support from the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), and grant support from Enterprise Singapore.
The Liveability Challenge (TLC) is powering up with over S$4 million in catalytic funding and support—its biggest boost yet—to accelerate cutting-edge sustainable innovations from the lab to market. The package was announced at the launch of the ninth edition of TLC at Google Singapore, where over 200 decision-makers participated in the 2026 TLC launch.
RELEVANT SUSTAINABLE GOALS
Biggest Boost Yet for Lab-to-Market Solutions
The new commitments comprise S$2 million in catalytic grants from Temasek Foundation, S$2 million worth of development support from the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), and grant support from Enterprise Singapore. Presented by Temasek Foundation and organised by Eco-Business, TLC said the expanded resources are designed to speed promising climate innovations toward deployment.
Established in 2018, TLC has grown into a global crowdsourcing platform for sustainability solutions. With eight editions concluded, the annual program has attracted thousands of applications worldwide, shortlisted and incubated 54 finalists, and deployed almost S$14 million in catalytic funding to help start-ups scale.
“Turning Bold Ideas Into Real-World Impact”
“This catalytic boost of more than S$4 million represents our commitment to turning bold ideas into real-world impact for the environment. Through The Liveability Challenge, Temasek Foundation is providing catalytic funding to empower innovators to push boundaries, tackle pressing challenges and create lasting benefits for the planet and future generations,” said Heng Li Lang, Head of Climate and Liveability at Temasek Foundation.
“We are also delighted to welcome A*STAR on board as a new partner, whose development support and resources will further strengthen the innovators’ journey from lab to market,” she added.
“We are also delighted to welcome A*STAR on board as a new partner, whose development support and resources will further strengthen the innovators’ journey from lab to market,” she added.
The 2026 edition will seek groundbreaking solutions addressing urban challenges under two themes: Decarbonisationand Cool Earth. A*STAR joins as co-presenter of the Decarbonisation theme, lending its scientific know-how, industry partnerships, and national test-bedding facilities to help finalists pilot and scale their innovations locally and globally. Committing up to S$2 million annually for the next three years, A*STAR will significantly contribute to TLC’s mission of accelerating technology development and commercialisation pathways.
A*STAR’s Role in Accelerating Decarbonisation
“Climate change affects all of us, impacting our health, work and how we live. As part of A*STAR’s efforts to decarbonise Jurong Island and play an active role in enabling Singapore’s goal to achieve net zero by 2050, we are delighted to partner Temasek Foundation in The Liveability Challenge. We look forward to partnering with start-ups from all over the world to co-develop innovative solutions to accelerate solutions for decarbonisation, and achieve these important goals together,” said Irene Cheong, Assistant Chief Executive (Innovation & Enterprise) at A*STAR.
“As climate tech investments face headwinds from economic certainty and higher borrowing costs, innovative and catalytical capital has become indispensable. This patient, flexible funding not only fuels early-stage innovation but sends powerful signals that crowd in larger private and public capital,” said Jessica Cheam, founder and CEO of Eco-Business.
“Growing this pool of capital requires a multi-disciplinary approach that brings together policymakers, investors and start-ups – an ecosystem that platforms like The Liveability Challenge uniquely facilitates,” she added.
“Growing this pool of capital requires a multi-disciplinary approach that brings together policymakers, investors and start-ups – an ecosystem that platforms like The Liveability Challenge uniquely facilitates,” she added.
Launch Highlights and Call for Submissions
The launch event featured a high-level panel on “Catalytic capital: Accelerating climate innovation,” with thought leaders from A*STAR, Google, Breakthrough Energy and Antares Ventures sharing strategies to unleash the next wave of climate tech solutions. Under the theme “Solutions that scale. Impact that lasts,” TLC 2026’s call for submissions officially opened today and will close on 9 February 2026.
Each TLC edition culminates in a Grand Finale during Ecosperity Week in Singapore, showcasing the finalists’ deep-tech solutions. The top TLC 2025 winners were Singapore-based deep-tech start-up Krosslinker and Canada-based hydrogen solutions provider Ayrton Energy, who secured S$1 million each in catalytic funding among other investment prizes. For 2026, two steering committees—one for Decarbonisation and one for Cool Earth—will select the finalistswho will pitch to judges and investors at The Liveability Challenge Grand Finale during Ecosperity Week 2026, 18–21 May next year.
Lead image courtesy of Eco-Business
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