37 Greater Manchester SMEs take advantage of funding to help cut nearly 4,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions

37 companies in Greater Manchester are helping to cut nearly 4,000 tonnes of CO2 through funding and collaboration with universities via the Eco-I North West programme.

Eco-I North West is a research and development initiative to help SMEs from any industry work with universities in the region to develop new innovations to reduce CO2 emissions. Launched in 2020 with caster, Central Lancashire, Cumbria, Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores, and Manchester Metropolitan universities; 180 SMEs from across the North West, including 37 in Greater Manchester, are now taking part in the programme that will run until 2023.

Eco-I North West is now on target to help develop 135 innovations to remove 3,850 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere and supporting the national target of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Eco-I North West is now looking to connect with the next wave of businesses offering access to fully-funded interns from a pool of highly motivated and talented students across the six universities, match-funded postgraduate researchers for more long term projects, and capital grants to fund prototypes, pilots and demonstration systems.

Andy Pickard, Manager of Eco-I NW and the Centre for Global Eco-Innovation, said:

“This first two years of the Eco-I NW programme have been extremely challenging in view of the pandemic, which highlights the incredible achievement that we have managed to support 180 businesses to lead the region’s transition towards a low carbon economy. 

“The key message that came from our showcase event is that Eco-I NW is doing fantastic work to create a melting pot of disruptive innovation, driven by conversation and collaboration. However, to achieve the rapid transition to more sustainable economies and societies in the face of the climate emergency, we need to grow our network of collaborators.

“The North West has the knowledge, people and industry to be world-leading in the transition to a better economy which is sensitive also to the needs of the environment. And with more than 560,000 SMEs in the region, the opportunity for this crucial collective to create green growth is immense. 

“This is why I would encourage any small or medium business in the region, whatever their sector and whatever stage of their journey they are on, to make contact with the Eco-I NW team.”

Further information about the scheme is available from the programme’s website.