£5m boost towards region’s green economy
More businesses in the Liverpool City Region could benefit as a low carbon business support programme led by Liverpool John Moores University has received a £5m boost.
Funded by the European Regional Development Fund, the Low Carbon Eco-Innovatory (LCEI) has the potential to bring significant economic benefits for businesses in the Liverpool City Region by helping them develop low carbon strategies and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The LCEI is a unique partnership between Liverpool John Moores University, University of Liverpool and Lancaster University, that encourages research, innovation and knowledge transfer by offering industry direct access to facilities at each university.
Benefits to business will include reducing operational costs, developing new income streams, accessing new markets and increasing profitability. This might involve product development, improved efficient processes, building design solutions, transport, carbon finance or measuring, monitoring and reporting carbon to suppliers and customers.
Professor Ahmed Al-Shamma'a, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology and Project Director, addressed business leaders and academics at the official launch event of the LCEI. He commented on the ‘modern civic role of universities to educate and empower individuals so that communities, the environment and industry can benefit from their skills’.
Paul Dickson, Project Manager, LJMU says: “We intend to further build on our strong links with industry by encouraging businesses to maintain a broader, long-term relationship with the city region’s research base.
“Through the programme, each university will open up access to cutting-edge exploitable assets and expertise, giving local businesses a significant competitive advantage and helping them make a positive contribution towards the Liverpool City Region’s low carbon agenda.”
Businesses will receive the support of experts within the LCEI who will develop the right low carbon strategy for each individual company by mapping its current practices and future potential. The nature of the support, including timescales, will dictate if the business will be allocated a research collaborator, an academic member of staff or student project.
A bespoke action plan will then be developed and implemented and if required, investment and further funding will be sought where necessary.
Matt Fulton, Project Manager, University of Liverpool added: “Ultimately our aim is to provide tangible benefits for each business. We want to help them to reduce operational costs, develop new income streams, access new markets and increase profitability”.
“This might involve product development, improved efficient processes, building design solutions, transport, carbon finance or measuring, monitoring and reporting carbon to suppliers and customers. We have the expertise within the universities to help and we are keen to reach out to the business community so that they know that this valuable service is available”.
Businesses interested in signing up to Low Carbon Eco-Innovatory can contact Anthony Seasman, Industry-University Liaison Officer, on 0151 231 2649 or email A.Seasman@ljmu.ac.uk.
Find out more about the Low Carbon Eco-Innovatory
