Green innovation fund will boost Lancashire SMEs in the race to net zero

A new green innovation fund has been launched to help Lancashire 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 £14million 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 36 in Lancashire, 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.

Manager of the Centre for Global Eco-Innovation, which delivers the Eco-I NW programme, Andy Pickard, 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 which 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.”

Examples of SMEs already working with Eco-I NW:

The Wellbeing Farm, based in Edgworth, is a unique and sustainable wedding and events venue and has been working with Eco-I NW to further develop its sustainability practises.

Founder, Celia Gaze, said: “We are working with Eco-I NW to explore how hospitality businesses can practically reduce their carbon footprint by focusing on cultural change, food waste reduction and premises management to enable them to reach net zero carbon targets.”

And Silverwoods Waste Management, based in Altham, a specialist in the recycling of industrial waste, is researching the sequestration and capture of carbon within agricultural soils.

Managing Director, Julian Silverwood, said: "With the UK’s aim to reach net zero emissions by 2050, there is a need to establish negative emission solutions.

"Industrial waste spreading on agricultural land provides fertilising capabilities as well as PH neutralising values which enhances soil quality and provides a more sustainable alternative to other popular fertilisers.

"We are delighted to be working with Lancaster University to understand the full carbon sequestration potential of cement bypass dust when applied to agricultural soils."

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/