CASE STUDIES
Identifying intervention options and delivering a challenge competition

Client: UK-based accelerator

THE CHALLENGE

The client wanted to identify and execute an intervention in the algae biofuels landscape as part of an industry action plan. It needed a partner that could research and analyse the market landscape, facilitate workshops within the bio-energy ecosystem and assess options for interventions. It also wanted a partner that could follow through and deliver the agreed interventions.

THE OUTCOME

The client progressed disruptive and scalable algael biofuel innovations to market through the programming of an Advanced Algae Accelerator Challenge Competition. In so doing, a multi-party ecosystem was create

CLT designed, launched and managed an algae biofuels challenge competition after identifying and appraising intervention options to accelerate the biofuels market.

The first phase of the project was to appraise the intervention options. This involved Initial Research Development and Demonstration (RD&D) Landscaping, facilitating industry workshops and identifying and costing Intervention options. Structured interviews were undertaken with industry, corporates, SME’s, and academic stakeholders (UK and overseas) to draw out key technological gaps requiring innovation or demonstration. The content was then shared with stakeholders and a series of workshops were facilitated each with circa 50-100 participants from the communities of interest. Following analysis of the workshop outputs an assessment was made of the type and level of support necessary to have an impact (e.g. a few large collaborative projects bridging the supply chain; many smaller R&D projects; equity investments in existing start-ups etc.). These interventions were then costed and the options were put forward for the client to select from.

As a second phase, CLT were involved in the scheme design, and the activities included the drafting of competition objectives, scope, format, and conditions (grant size, timing, stage gates, IP rights arising, etc.) and the design of two stage competition process.

The third phase was the launch and management of the challenge competitions to include the distribution of application forms, conditions and Q&As and managing the responses and Q&A from applicants.

Finally, CLT led the assessment of Applicants including participation on the client selection panel, preparing positive and negative feedback to applicants and mentoring applicants and consortia that reached second stage.