Eco-innovation Cumbria | University of Cumbria

Eco-I NW is a low carbon innovation support project delivering technical and peer support to businesses across the UK North West

This project builds on previous successful initiatives, following 2 national awards and 8 years’ experience of delivering R&D support to low carbon innovations in business.

Eco-I North West seeks to support low carbon business innovations across the region through a variety of short and long term interventions. The aim is to deliver a transition to a low carbon economy in all sectors.

Eco-I NW is not led by specific technologies, but instead is driven by business needs and helps to facilitate a collaborative approach to problem solving.

Collaboration is at the heart of what we do - our partnership includes the universities of Lancaster, Central Lancashire, Cumbria, Liverpool John Moores, Liverpool and Manchester Met. Eco-I NW operates across multiple LEP areas; Lancashire, Cumbria, Liverpool City Region, Cheshire and Greater Manchester. Eco-I NW is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

BOOKLET READER

Eco Innovation Review

How Eco-I North West can help your business

Internships and Masters Research placements

Through Eco-I North West, the University of Cumbria offers assistance for businesses wishing to make carbon-reducing innovation through the support of skilled and experienced student researchers.

Internships provide 20 days (140 hours) of flexible research support to meet the innovation needs of your business.
Masters placements provide up to 4-months of in depth research

Innovation Workshop and Events

A programme of funded workshop and events created to meet the needs of businesses innovation. The programme focuses on different aspects of the innovation journey. Previous events focused on topic that included;

Life Cycling thinking
Renewable energy
Carbon Accounting
Low Carbon Food
Heat and ventilation
Electric vehicles
Sustainable Floristry

These events provide business with a number of great opportunities hear from expert speakers, network with other Cumbrian business, and share best practice.

What are the benefits of Eco-I North West to your business?

Access to knowledge and insight - When a business works with universities the return on R&D more than doubles according to UK Government statistics. (Dowling Review 2015)
Gain tools which shape your innovation business ideas and inspire a low carbon culture
Access extensive research and development support at state of the art laboratories and facilities
Reduce the risk and address the barriers and challenges to innovation within a supportive environment
Develop new low carbon products and services
Speed up innovation and support transition to zero carbon
Create a network of like-minded businesses to explore and share new ideas

Next Steps

For more information please contact

Mike Siddall- Eco-I North West Project Manager

eco@cumbria.ac.uk

07779132185

What are the benefits of Eco-I North West for students?

Eco-I North West provides a number of research placements and internships for students interested in low carbon innovation. These are an ideal way for students to extend their research skills, enhance employability by researching for a real business, strengthen CVs, and gain excellence references.

There are two options for students wishing to get involved with low carbon innovation research:

Paid internships lasting for a maximum of 140 hours. Internships are usually worked flexibly, and can be done on campus or with the business. Students often undertake internships whilst studying and some use the experience as a theme for their dissertation.
Paid* Masters research placements lasting for the duration of the student’s research modules, usually up to 4 months (*stipend paid each month of the research dissertation module). Masters students usually use the 4-month placements to generate evidence for their research dissertation. Like internships, the Masters placements are flexible and can be managed alongside other commitments.

All students are supported by academic supervisors and mentored by the Project Manager. We are on hand to answer any questions you may have and to ensure that your placement is enjoyable and productive.

What are the benefits of undertaking a student research placement or internship?

Getting paid fairly for the research you do
Adding to your CV by increasing your skills, knowledge & experience
Helping you to gain an insight into the way organisations operate and the challenges they face
Providing opportunities to gain evidence and research for your dissertation
Reasonable travel expenses will be paid
Playing a part in Cumbria’s transition to zero carbon

Student internships and masters placements: how to search and apply

Student internship opportunities are advertised on the current vacancies section of the University Of Cumbria website.

Be the first to hear about opportunities by registering your interest and signing up here.

Eco-I North West Events

For upcoming innovation workshops for SMEs in Cumbria (and other events at the University of Cumbria), see below:

Support is available to European Regional Development Fund eligible companies. To find out if your company is eligible for support please contact

Mike Siddall- Eco-I North West Project Manager

eco@cumbria.ac.uk

07779132185

Along with Eco-I North West, the University Of Cumbria is also hosting the Cumbria Innovation Platform (CUSP). CUSP is similar to Eco-I North West in providing research and development support for SME’s to innovate, only without the focus on carbon reduction. For further information, see Cumbria Innovations Platform

You may also be interested in the other Eco-I North West project being delivered by our partner universities:

Lancaster University https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/business/eco-i-nw-project/

Manchester Metropolitan University https://www.mmu.ac.uk/business-school/business/sme-support/eco-i-north-west/

Liverpool University https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/environmental-sciences/working-with-business/eco-i-north-west/

Liverpool John Moores https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/microsites/ecoinnovatory

University of Central Lancashire https://www.uclan.ac.uk/research/activity/eco-i-north-west-research-and-development-to-support-a-green-recovery