A new green innovation fund has been launched to help Cumbrian SMEs transform their ideas into reality in the race to net-zero.
Businesses, charities and social enterprises in the county can get up to 60 per cent funding towards projects worth £25,000 to help them deliver sustainable products, processes or services.
The £400,000 grant scheme is managed by Eco-I North West (NW), a £14 million research and development programme which gives SMEs access to a regional knowledge base, cutting-edge research facilities and skills involving six of the region’s leading universities – Cumbria, Lancaster, Central Lancashire, Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores and Manchester Metropolitan.
Since its launch two years ago, more than 100 enterprises, including 23 in Cumbria, have collaborated with universities to test their ideas which could help solve global challenges such as water supply and quality, waste, energy, resource efficiency, natural capital, air quality, and food security.
These new grants will accelerate these low-carbon innovations from research to commercialisation by match funding prototypes, pilots and demonstration systems.
Andy Pickard, Manager of the Centre for Global Eco-Innovation, which delivers the Eco-I NW programme, said: “Eco-I NW opens up such a huge academic regional resource to SMEs. It offers the opportunity for the North West to create an ecosystem that accelerates our transition to a low carbon economy. This is a scheme which should allow businesses to access grants quickly and try new things.
“I would encourage leaders of SME enterprises in the North West to start a conversation with us about how Eco-I NW could help to reduce costs and their carbon footprint, improve performance, and future proof their business in a low carbon future.
“More than 100 enterprises from a wide range of sectors, disciplines and project themes are already collaborating with the partner universities and could double their potential return on R&D investment.
“These grants will further support those already working with the universities, and expand the benefits Eco-I NW can offer to even more SMEs to bring to market even more sustainable products, processes or services.”
Typhon Treatment Systems, based in Penrith, is working with Lancaster University PhD student Jainil Shah to further develop its pioneering LED ultraviolet (UV) water treatment equipment.
Audrius Židonis, lead mechanical engineer for Typhon, said: “Eco-I NW has given us further opportunity to expand and validate our research. Our partnership with the university has expedited the process and has given us additional credibility as we talk to potential customers. As a young company, this has been very important.”
Chinnery Hotels, which owns the Victorian House Hotel in Grasmere, worked with Eco-I NW to learn about opportunities to implement low-carbon ideas to the business.
Serena von der Heyde, owner, said: “As part of the project we received a huge amount of top quality education about sustainability and were empowered to really start making a difference.
“Our team put together a package for hotel guests to encourage them to travel to the Lake District without a car, showing them the carbon saving and showcasing great days out without needing a car. This has been popular with our guests and we intend to develop the idea and take it further.
“The project has enriched my business and given me a new perspective, and I feel equipped to get to grips with climate change in my own sphere.”
Eco-I NW aims to work with more than 300 SMEs, supporting the development of 135 new innovative solutions which will save 3,850 tonnes of CO2.
To find out more about the programme, which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), visit www.lancaster.ac.uk/eco-i-nw/capital-grant-scheme/
