What is the Solutions Explorer?
The Solutions Explorer is a next-generation search platform designed to empower decision-makers, innovators, and organizations with access to transformative cleantech solutions. The Solar Impulse Foundation's Solutions Explorer, represents the evolution of years of research and development into an intuitive, AI-powered tool for finding, evaluating, and adopting Clean & Efficient Solutions that address global environmental challenges while driving economic progress.
The Solutions Explorer, a Journey
2021. Creation of the Solutions Explorer
Launched by the Solar Impulse Foundation, the Solutions Explorer began as a database of technical innovations rigorously assessed for their environmental and economic performance. This milestone came after five years of work involving:
400+ Experts: Carrying out 4,700 assessments.
1,000+ Solutions: Curated across 72 countries.
Transparency and Trust: Solutions were evaluated through a verified and transparent process.
Solutions were labeled based on their ability to provide environmental benefits while remaining cost-competitive and enabling economic growth, setting a standard for innovation.
2023. Beyond 1000 solutions
The Solutions Explorer has grown beyond its initial milestone of 1,000 labeled solutions, expanding to over 1,500 impactful innovations that address global environmental challenges. In 2023, the platform introduced the Labeling Update Program, a dynamic initiative to ensure all solutions remain cutting-edge and aligned with evolving market needs and sustainability goals. This program revalidates after 3 years existing solutions and incorporates new insights, maintaining the database’s credibility and relevance for decision-makers worldwide. These advancements solidify the explorer as a trusted, ever-evolving resource for climate action.
2024. Scope Expansion, Featured and Non-tech Solutions
In 2024, the Solutions Explorer broadened its horizons with the introduction of Featured Solutions, offering a pre-labeling system to highlight promising early-stage innovations. This initiative accelerates the discovery process, enabling faster access to impactful solutions. The Label 2.0 program revamped the evaluation process, shortening timelines while maintaining rigor to support rapid adoption. Additionally, the platform expanded beyond purely technological solutions to include behavioral and policy-driven climate actions, recognizing the vital role of non-technical approaches in driving meaningful and systemic change.
2025. Redefining the Solutions Explorer Experience
Starting 2025, the Solutions Explorer underwent a transformative evolution, integrating artificial intelligence to enhance usability and search precision. The platform’s refonte reimagined it as a standalone, comprehensive tool, transcending its origins as a solutions marketplace to become a full-fledged discovery and impact platform and support its goal to become the Global Repository of Solutions for Climate Action. A key innovation was the introduction of Collections, curated bundles of solutions grouped by themes, geography, or impact areas, offering users a higher-level, intuitive browsing experience. Additionally, the launch of the Use Case Search feature brought the platform to life by showcasing real-world deployments of solutions, enabling users to explore tangible impacts and learn from practical implementations, bridging the gap between discovery and actionable insights.
Learn more about the key features of the Solutions Explorer
🌟 A Global Database for Climate Action
Built for Impact: Over 1,800+ solutions, growing by two entries daily, ensure up-to-date access to the latest innovations.
Global Scope: Contributions from 100+ countries, with 90% of solutions originating from startups.
🔍 Advanced Filtering Tools
5 Sectors: Explore areas like Utilities, agrifood, and mobility.
50+ Profiles: Customize searches based on your entity type (e.g., business, NGO).
25 Applications: Focus on specific stages of your value chain.
300+ Tags: Navigate topics such as #solarthermal or #3dprinting.
5 Environmental Benefits: Identify solutions with tangible impacts, such as reducing CO₂ emissions.
🤖 AI-Powered Search Engine
Smart Search Engine: Delivers contextually relevant results, simplifying exploration.
AI Explorer: Guides users with tailored recommendations and actionable insights from the Solutions Explorer Database.
📌 Thematic Collections
Organized bundles by geography, sector, or thematic relevance to streamline discovery and inspire browsing.
🗺️ Use Case Map
Real-world implementations visualized geographically, offering a bridge between ideas and actionable results.
📞 Connect Button
A dedicated feature on each solution page enabling users to contact the innovator directly through the platform. This fosters seamless collaboration, partnership opportunities, and faster adoption of the showcased solutions.
⭐ Save and Portfolio Creation
The ability to favorite or save solutions, allowing users to curate their own personalized portfolio of solutions. Keep track of innovations you’re interested in and revisit them easily for future projects or partnerships. This feature makes managing discoveries both simple and efficient.
Why Use the Solutions Explorer?
The Solutions Explorer is more than a search tool—it's a strategic ally in accelerating climate action. By combining cutting-edge technology with an unparalleled library of solutions, the Solutions Explorer ensures you find the right tools to tackle environmental challenges efficiently and effectively.
Benefits of using the Solutions Explorer
🛠️ Examples of Use
For Businesses: Discover cost-efficient materials for thermal insulation or precision irrigation technologies.
For NGOs: Identify solutions tailored to providing water in developing regions.
For Policymakers: Explore technologies for large-scale land use reduction or renewable energy adoption.
The Solutions Explorer doesn’t just provide solutions—it provides the tools to act decisively for a sustainable future, bridging the gap between ambition and implementation.
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