#Innovation #France #Climate Change #Lyon #Team for the Planet

Global Call for Climate Innovation: €1 Million Prize from Team for the Planet

In a bold move, Team for the Planet has announced a global call for innovation, inviting researchers, engineers, and entrepreneurs from all corners of the Earth to submit their groundbreaking ideas aimed at combatting climate change. Each selected project will receive a substantial grant of €1 million to accelerate its journey towards industrial scale.

Founded in Lyon, France in 2020, Team for the Planet operates under the core belief that decarbonizing the economy must also be financially viable for those who invest and innovate. "We require major innovations to structurally decarbonize our economy. While many ideas already exist, scaling them effectively remains a challenge," stated Jean Jouzel, former vice president of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

More Than Just Financial Assistance

The initiative goes beyond merely offering financial support. Every winning candidate will be paired with an experienced executive who will help guide the enterprise, while also gaining access to a robust network of 133,000 shareholders. Additionally, the projects will benefit from a licensing model that has already shown to significantly enhance profitability.

Applications are open to everyone, without restrictions on nationality or legal structure, provided the projects can demonstrate a measurable impact of several million tons of CO₂ reductions per year.

A Unique Selection Process

What sets this competition apart from others is its one-of-a-kind selection mechanism. Each application goes through a rigorous process, starting with a preselection by a staggering 10,000 volunteer evaluators. This is followed by a review by a scientific committee composed of 14 experts from reputable organizations like CNRS, CEA, INRAE, and École Polytechnique. Economic validation is conducted by 13 private equity professionals before the final voting by shareholders takes place. Since its inception, over 1,700 proposals have been submitted, leading to the establishment of 14 enterprises focused on energy, industry, transportation, agriculture, and construction.

Profitable Environmental Initiatives

As of January 2026, shares, previously locked at €1, are reassessed annually based on the true value of the portfolio; capital gains are recognized only if climate objectives are met. Over the last five years, Team for the Planet has successfully raised €41 million, making it the largest crowdfunding initiative in Europe dedicated to climate action.

Mehdi Coly, the founder, emphasizes the economic value of environmental preservation: "Avoiding one ton of CO₂ has become a commodity value. Winners won’t just receive a prize but will sign the first funding agreement for a future global leader in decarbonization."

How to Apply

Interested participants can submit their applications at 1-million-planet.com/fr. The winners will be announced in December, with each receiving €1 million in funding plus comprehensive support throughout implementation.

About Team for the Planet

Team for the Planet is a non-profit organization founded in Lyon in 2020, with support from the French government through ADEME and notable investors including the Mulliez family and the Duval group. To date, it has mobilized 41 million euros from 133,000 shareholders and deployed 14 enterprises with a goal of achieving 100 global innovations. Performance outcomes are measured using Climate Dividends, where one dividend corresponds to one ton of CO₂ avoided.