5 September 2013 15:26

The Centre for Global Eco-Innovation has helped a group of manufacturing businesses secure more than £1m of Technology Strategy Board (TSB) Launchpad funding.

The Centre for Global Eco-Innovation, a collaboration between Lancaster University, the University of Liverpool and international management consultancy Inventya, is a virtual centre that supports North West companies in commercialising eco-innovative products or services.

Altogether, the centre guided ten companies through a competitive video and written stage of the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) ‘Materials and Manufacturing North West Launchpad’ competition which centred around high tech manufacturing companies on the Sci-Tech Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus and the Runcorn Heath Business and Technical Park.

Amongst the companies that secured funding is Trametox which received £100,000 to develop its unique radiation detectors that are capable of detecting all forms of radioactivity, including neutrons. The device will be able to detect plutonium 239 hidden within shipping containers to help tackle the terrorist risk that stolen plutonium poses to the UK.

Another company to secure £100,000 from the TSB is ESP Technology which has developed an advanced new materials technology to resolve the serious medical complication of post-needling bleeding after haemodialysis.

Tom Wright, project manager at the Centre for Global Eco-Innovation, said: “As well as contributing to Europe’s green economy, eco-innovation has the potential to generate cost savings and new market opportunities for North West companies that are open to reconsidering their business models, developing new products, technologies or services, or improving production processes.

“To see so many of these businesses succeed in securing TSB funding is highly satisfying. Not only does it validate the strength of the individual business cases that CGE helped them to develop, but it also helps to drive forward improvements in green technology and services throughout the region.” 

Altogether 19 companies received a cash injection of £1.6m in total to help stimulate development of this industry in the UK.

Advice from the Centre for Global Eco-Innovation included bid writing top tips, proof reading, assistance on project costing, market research support and end-to-end production of the submission.

The Centre for Global Eco-Innovation is the only centre of its kind in Europe and is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund.