A new business support programme has been launched by the University of Cumbria to help SMEs in the county improve efficiency, grow capacity and develop new solutions.
Eco-Innovation Cumbria will help local businesses to increase innovation in low-carbon technologies and encourage their adoption.
Through research and innovation, and the development of higher level skills, it will enable businesses to grow capability in developing new products and markets.
The four-year project, funded by the European Regional Development Fund, is a partnership led by the University of Cumbria with Lancaster University and the University of Central Lancashire.
Eco-innovation Cumbria can provide support to a variety of projects, including those in environmental technology, water, renewable energy, waste, carbon management, energy storage, food security, micro-energy systems, resource efficiency, district heating schemes, fuel cells, off-grid production, bio-energy, energy from waste and pollution control.
Corinne Watson, from Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership, which is overseeing the county’s European Structural and Investment Funds, said: “Eco-innovation Cumbria is ideal for businesses which need R&D support, have a new technology idea to develop or are seeking to increase their efficiency. It is supporting SMEs to grow capacity and develop new solutions for industry, with a range of short to long term interventions delivered by partner universities.”
The project will provide free workshops and events to explore innovation challenges. It will also develop collaborative research projects between the university partners and SMEs.
Key benefits for businesses include the chance to attend a series of workshops and masterclass events on innovation and product development, tap into undergraduate research for short-term assignments and gain access to in-depth, long-term researchers working specifically on business-led projects.
To find out more, visit www.cumbria.ac.uk/eco , email enterprise.services@cumbria.ac.uk or call 01228 888740.
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