The Ghana Climate Innovation Centre (GCIC) has admitted its first group of entrepreneurs into its business incubator.

The incubation programme aims at supporting over 100 climate innovation businesses by 2020.

The 11 entrepreneurs were selected from about 72 applicants from across the country who applied to the GCIC last year.

The selected businesses will receive business advisory and support facilities, including provision of office space, business skills training and mentoring by selected business leaders and social entrepreneurs, proof of concept grants, and market growth and access support services.

The 11 entrepreneurs will also receive technical assistance in product development to help them grow their businesses.

Speaking with the B&FT at an induction ceremony held for the group at Berekuso in the Eastern Region, Ruka Sanusi, Executive Director, GCIC emphasised the fact that her team is focused on grooming businesses to be investor ready, rather than just providing funding.

She also stressed the Centre’s commitment to creating and supporting transformational and innovative ventures that explore adaptive and mitigate solutions for climate change issues in Ghana.

“This is not just a financial transaction we are making with entrepreneurs, but building a relationship that will go a long way. There are a whole lot of other interventions that can help and support grow businesses.

So what we do is that, when you come, we assess your business to know exactly what your needs are. We incubate businesses and business leaders to operate their enterprises at the place of joint value that points to where the needs of society, business, client and stakeholder values and needs can be maximised”, she said.

Ms. Sanusi also indicated that the centre is also willing to help some of the selected entrepreneurs access additional funds.

The GCIC is part of the World Bank’s Climate Technology Programme and its global network of climate innovation centres. The programme is also supported by the governments of Denmark and the Netherlands.

The programme is focused on businesses that operate within the areas of solar energy, domestic waste management, energy efficiency, water supply management and purification. And climate-smart agriculture.

The 11 selected enterprises will start the actual incubation next month, when they will start enjoying fully, the bouquet of services lined up for the programme.