This project is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
About
About the centre
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. It brings together the expertise, resources and global contacts of Lancaster University and the University of Liverpool, together with international commercialisation consultancy Inventya Ltd. SME-led collaborative R&D partnership with two world-ranking universities underpin the development of new products, processes and services for the global marketplace, which by virtue of their use, manufacture, raw materials, reuse or disposal, deliver positive environmental impacts.
A centre team of 50-graduates
At the heart of the centre is a team of 50 graduates working on collaborative research and development projects with business. The graduates use these collaborations as the basis of a PhD programme of study and are supported by senior academic members of staff, all internationally-recognised experts in their fields. The centre takes a strong focus on international markets and a number of the graduates within the centre are from overseas.
Working with 50 of the region’s most ambitious businesses
The centre is recruiting an initial cohort of 50 businesses to work with this graduate team, with each business also making a financial contribution. These businesses will embark on a pioneering programme of collaborative research and development. This collaboration will last three-years and be underpinned by a suitably qualified and experience graduate, recruited specifically to undertake the collaboration with one of the two partner universities leading the centre. The centre will work with the most ambitious and internationally-aspiring businesses including those forming part of the chemicals, energy, environmental technologies, digital and high value manufacturing sectors within the Northwest region of England.
Providing support to over 285 businesses by 2015
In addition to intensive three-year long collaboration with 50 of the region’s most ambitious companies, from October 2012 the centre will provide opportunities for up to 235 additional companies to be supported in their development of new products and services. This will be provided by business mentoring, shorter-term (3-6 month) collaboration with a partner university and brokered introduction into established university-business collaborations.
The economic impact of the centre
Between 2012 and 215 the centre will provide more than 285 businesses with research and development expertise. The centre aims to deliver a significant number of new jobs to the region making a measurable contribution to the Northwest’s economic recovery. The centre will bolster the Northwest economy in key export markets and drive forward improvements in green technology and services.
Funding
The £9.8m Centre for Global Eco-innovation (CGE) is part financed by Lancaster University, the University of Liverpool and Inventya Ltd and via £4.9m of funds from the North West operational programme for European regional development funds.
