Six universities West have launched a £14 million programme to work North West businesses to develop the region as an exemplar for low carbon innovation and skills.
The ECO-I North West programme will work with more than 360 SMEs across Lancashire, Liverpool City Region, Cumbria, Cheshire and Greater Manchester to support the research and development of low carbon technologies, products and services.
The initiative is being led by Lancaster University, building on the university’s Centre for Global Eco-Innovation, which has supported more than 700 businesses over the last eight years to develop more than 120 new products and services.
ECO-I North West will operate across all sectors, but aims to focus in particular in environmental industries, technology and services, future energy systems, advanced manufacturing, and materials and chemistry. Support will include a blend of business leadership development, workshops and networking, collaborative R&D activities and a capital grant scheme to pilot, prototype and demonstrate new technologies.
The other universities involved are the University of Central Lancashire, the University of Cumbria, the University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University and Manchester Metropolitan University. Businesses on the programme will be able to capitalise on the extensive knowledge base and cutting-edge research facilities of the universities. More than 60 postgraduate research posts at PhD and Masters level will be delivered through the programme.
Dion Williams, director of research enterprise and innovation at Lancaster University, said: “The global markets for clean and sustainable products, processes and services are enormous and growing, and the opportunities for North West businesses are significant. Lancaster University together with our partners are determined to support our region and our businesses to benefit from the green recovery and to establish the North West of England as a global exemplar for clean and sustainable growth.”