EEDA - East of England Development Agency

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Low carbon innovation

The vision of a world-renowned low carbon innovation cluster

As the UK seeks to transform into a low carbon economy, it makes business sense to commercialise the region’s reputation as the ‘space for ideas’ to answer the challenges of climate, resource and energy change.  It is a new way of thinking. More than running a business, it’s a new way of doing business. Our bold new vision is to take the first steps towards a world-renowned low carbon innovation cluster based in the East of England.

As the ‘ideas region’, the growth of our region as a low carbon economy depends upon our businesses, enterprise hubs, universities and research institutes thriving together, through investment in Research and Development (R&D) of low carbon technologies and through one shared vision.

If we are to realise our vision we need to build on our strengths and capabilities. To help us achieve this, in partnership with the ERDF Competitiveness Programme, EEDA commissioned an evidence based report, which describes the East of England’s low carbon economy. You can read the report here.

A compelling regional low carbon innovation story

The East of England is developing a compelling regional low carbon innovation story. As a region we have significant low carbon innovation capabilities built upon the East of England’s world class R&D and enterprise strengths. We lead the UK in low carbon innovation and have key capabilities in many sectors. To find out more please read a regional overview of each of these 6 priority sectors:

1. Offshore wind
2. Biorenewables
3. Vehicles
4. Built environment
5. Water and resource recovery 
6. Advanced engineering & manufacturing

Networking for Innovation

EEDA has a range of business support designed to support and stimulate low carbon innovation in these 6 priority sectors. By focusing on these sectors we aim to make a significant regional intervention with potential global impact. Through our low carbon innovation programme, we are currently developing a ‘Networking for Innovation’ business support product to:

• Stimulate UK supply chain development to meet demand in the 6 priority sectors 
• Support SMEs access £50 million of low carbon innovation support already available through ‘Solutions for Business’
• Help SMEs commercialise more low carbon R&D opportunities by accessing match-funding worth £6 million a year from the UK government, Europe and the private-sector 
• Develop SMEs by strengthening the region’s low carbon innovation cluster around leading enterprise hubs, R&D companies and research-intensive universities
• Champion SMEs to position the East of England as a global leader in low carbon innovation

EEDA is at the heart of the region’s compelling low carbon innovation story, having played an instrumental and important role in developing the region’s low carbon innovation landscape.  We also have a critical role to lead the region to future prosperity and growth by facilitating the creation of a low carbon economy. 

How can SMEs become involved?

• learn more about the region’s enterprise hubs 
• find out more about low carbon innovation business support available for SMEs
• check out what funding support is available for SMEs undertaking low carbon innovation.

Business support - Solution for Business

On March 17 Mark Prisk, Minister of State for Business and Enterprise, announced a streamlined and refocused Solutions for Business portfolio. The range of Solutions for Business products will be rationalised and simplified during this financial year. To keep up to date on what is changing please visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/governmentsupport

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