The World Economic Forum and KPMG are working on catalyzing the establishment of the first global Sustainable Energy Innovation Fund (SEIF) using public and private blended finance to overcome the inherent funding challenges for disruptive sustainable energy innovations. The proposal was discussed at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos in January 2019 and builds on consultations with multiple organizations and experts.  It is intended that the SEIF will be of sufficient scale to have a transformative impact on sustainable energy innovation.

The SEIF is a unique proposition which can be differentiated from other funding models. The aim is to:

• Align public and private investors  to fast track sustainable energy innovation using a blended finance model
• Overcome national boundaries of innovation funding programs
• Invest in products / solutions with the potential to directly or indirectly significantly reduce GHG emissions
• Achieve competitive commercial returns
• Invest in and support high potential innovators that will be sourced from across the world, with a clear focus on applicability of innovations to low and middle income countries 

This project is also closely associated with Mission Innovation – an alliance of governments committed to accelerate sustainable energy innovation. 

The World Economic Forum and KPMG have developed the Fund concept and are currently working on identifying a “best in class” investment manager to help establish and operate the SEIF. Due to the broad scope of the SEIF, both in terms of technologies and geographical regions, the SEIF will be run by a primary investment manager that will appoint sub-managers specialised in specific technologies or regions.

The World Economic Forum and KPMG are looking for groups or individuals interested in participating in this initiative to act in the capacity of either the primary investment manager or specialised sub-manager. We are looking for first informal expressions of interest by 10 May 2019. 

For more information, please contact: Espen Mehlum , Thekla von Bülow  or Mike Hayes.