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Submit to Climate Piloting Opportunities

2026 Climate Solutions Challenge

Welcome to the application portal for Climate Piloting Opportunities at Governors Island. 

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The Governors Island Climate Piloting Program offers early-stage companies and innovators the opportunity to test and scale climate products and services in a real-world environment. Over 3-to-18-month periods, participants receive rent-free physical space on Governors Island, a unique 172-acre destination in New York Harbor with 50+ historic buildings, 2 miles of waterfront, and 1 million annual visitors. Companies gain access to valuable technical support, visibility through events and marketing, and networking opportunities designed to connect participants with funders, investors, customers, and the public. 

Since its launch in 2023, the Climate Piloting Program has advanced projects in living shorelines, clean water, circular economy, buildings, energy, air quality, and urban agriculture—opening doors to new customers, suppliers, talent, investors, and public agency partnerships. The program is a core initiative of the Trust's Center for Climate Solutions, a project building a community of partners dedicated to accelerating equitable climate solutions for cities.

Program highlights

  • Receive access to a project site for 3 to 18 months with no fee, as well as technical support from the Trust as the sole owner and operator of eligible sites.
  • Collect data in a real-world environment while also engaging with funders, investors, and prospective customers.
  • Bring your climate solution to a high visibility public place with nearly 1 million annual visitors. 

How to apply 

  • Apply to the 2026 Climate Solutions Challenge: Adaptation by January 21, 2026: Win a $10,000 prize and access to supplemental grants generally not to exceed $20,000 to support project design and deployment. Selected teams can access opportunities with the Trust’s network of climate partners, including the New York Climate Exchange, public agencies, and content area experts such as Streetlife Ventures.
  • Submit a General Application on your own schedule: A year-round rolling application is open to all climate sectors. Project teams are responsible for all costs.

Who should apply? 

  • Startups and young companies, including those led by underrepresented founders, are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to companies with 50 employees or fewer.
  • Applicants must be incorporated as a legal entity and must be working on urban climate solutions (e.g., hardware, software, materials research, policy, or innovative business and financing models). 
  • Project teams should identify a critical milestone that requires a temporary pilot site to support product development and deployment. 

Program Requirements

Project teams must be working on a climate solution that addresses one or more of the following: 

  • Climate Mitigation: Does your product or service reduce harmful emissions that cause climate change?
  • Climate Adaptation: Does your product or service maintain a safe, comfortable environment for everyday life in a changing climate? 
  • Environmental Justice: Does your product or service address adaptation or mitigation while centering human health, the environment, or climate change in frontline communities? 

Climate piloting projects must meet the following requirements: 

  • Projects must be temporary, with a plan for removal at the end of the term. Notwithstanding the foregoing, following the agreed-upon piloting period, the Trust may consider proposals for a longer-term arrangement, such as extending the pilot or future testing phases.
  • Projects must meet all local code, permitting, and regulatory requirements. Project teams are responsible for professional design, permitting, expediting, or engineering services as needed to support deployment.
  • Eligible pilot sites on Governors Island are managed by the Trust for Governors Island as the sole owner and operator. Project teams will be required to sign a license agreement with the Trust, on the Trust’s standard license template (click here to view), setting out the definitive terms and conditions of the program, including insurance requirements, details of award payments, rules for use of space on Governors Island, participation in public education and engagement, and other applicable terms. 
  • Governors Island is a publicly accessible destination. Project teams must ensure safe and responsible deployment, operation, and maintenance of their project subject to their license agreement. 

Evaluation Process

  • Applications will be scored by a selection committee made up of Trust for Governors Island representatives based on the degree to which proposals meet the selection criteria. Technical experts may be consulted in an advisory role. 
  • An interview and tour may be offered to a subset of applicants at the Trust’s discretion to explore feasibility and alignment, identify potential project sites, and inform a project workplan. The evaluation process provides an opportunity to discuss additional information requests including but not limited to concurrent uses of the site, utility availability, and anticipated permits and approvals. 

Selection Criteria

Quality of Proposal (40%)

  • Clear and compelling piloting project proposal.
  • Sound methodology and readiness for place-based deployment. 

Economic and Social Impact (30%)

  • Demonstrates an innovative approach that addresses a problem, inequity, or critical barrier in climate and offers an advantage or shifts the current paradigm. 
  • Shows how piloting can positively impact the business or organization’s go-to-market or deployment strategy.
  • Presents potential to accelerate an inclusive green economy and workforce in NYC. 
  • Creates positive social impact, such as expanding equity, climate and environmental justice, or a just transition.
  • Supports underrepresented climate leaders, including locally based and minority and women-owned enterprises. 

Project Feasibility and Program Alignment (30%)

  • Shows an understanding and makes good use of the physical environment on Governors Island.
  • Shows an understanding and makes good use of promotional and public education opportunities, including for inclusive audiences. 

Challenge Timeline

  • February - March 2026: A subset of applicants may be invited to further evaluate fit and feasibility, including interviews, visits to potential deployment sites, and development of project workplans and budgets. 
  • March 2026: Challenge winners will be notified, and the Trust will update the license template here to reflect the particulars of the specific pilot. Evidence of insurance coverages should be prepared according to Exhibit C in the license template. 
  • April 2026: Approved piloting partners and the Trust will sign the license agreement, finalize project plans, and begin projects.
  • June 2026: Invitation to pitch at the program’s annual summer showcase. 
  • September 2026: Invitation to participate in the Trust’s Climate Week event.

Challenge Prizes and Supplemental Grants

  • Challenge winners will receive a $10,000 prize for their unrestricted use. 
  • Supplemental grants will be allocated across the entire cohort of Challenge winners based on (1) funding availability and (2) demonstrated need for eligible costs of the selected project. 
  • Eligible costs may include professional services for pilot design, transport and installation costs, non-capital equipment purchased solely for use in the pilot, and other tasks generally shown here in Exhibit B of the license template.
  • All prizes, grants, or other payments by the Trust will be issued according to the terms and schedule of the final executed license agreement.
  • All program funding is non-dilutive.

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The Trust for Governors Island