Eco-innovation Cumbria | University of Cumbria

Eco-innovation Cumbria is a 4-year programme to help SMEs just like yours to improve efficiency, grow capacity and develop new solutions for industry.

Eco-innovation Cumbria will help SMEs to:

Identify and create opportunities to supply into the low carbon market
Develop a multi-sector network across Cumbria
Increase innovation in low carbon technologies
Access academic expertise and specialist resource
Develop products or processes which reduce greenhouse gases
Increase engagement in Research and Development
Provide exchange of knowledge to encourage companies to develop new products and services

If you are an SME based in Cumbria and think this of interest, please contact us by emailing enterprise.services@cumbria.ac.uk or calling 01228 888740.

3 reasons your business should be using life cycle thinking

Responding to the need to reduce single-use plastics

Forthcoming Open Innovation Workshops

Electric Vehicles: Understanding the Business Case (Cars,Vans, Fleets)

Date: 26^th September 2018

Time: 9:30am – 15:30pm

Location: Langdale Hotel, Great Langdale, Ambleside

Cost: Free for eligible Cumbrian SMEs (buffet lunch included)

The focus of the workshop will be to develop understanding of the changing environment for Electric Vehicles (EV) and the business case for starting to use or plan their introduction into your business.

Content (to be confirmed)

The electric vehicle revolution – the UK Policy Context (Clean Air Act, Diesel scrappage, CO2 targets, pollution levels, taxation, technology etc.)
Policy and Practice in Cumbria – What’s been happening? (Cumbria County Council, LDNPA, LEP, Britain’s Energy Coast, charge points etc.)
How does an electric vehicle work? (Charging, emissions, range, lifespan, warranties etc.)
Charging – What, where, how long, how much?
Running a fleet of electric vehicles – sharing the experiences of two Cumbrian companies
Electric Vehicles – Comparative running costs
Financing fleets – Better to own, to lease, hire purchase….what’s on offer?
Looking to the future – how the market and challenges might develop
Identifying barriers – what needs to change in Cumbria for businesses to benefit? (both potential customers and vehicle dealers)

Want to know more?

How does the programme work in practice?

Eco-Innovation Cumbria will support SMEs in developing their eco-innovation projects, involving either:

In-depth and intensive one to three year assistance, provided collaboratively by experienced academics, graduate and PhD students
20 day research projects provided by undergraduate students, supported by academic supervisors

Which sectors are best suited to the programme?

The project will target sectors that contribute to Environmental Sustainability, which could include, but is not limited to:

Renewable energy
Energy efficiency
Water management
Waste management
Transport
Visitor economy
Conservation
Natural resources
Manufacturing

If you have queries about whether your organisation is eligible, please feel free to get in touch with us by emailing enterprise.services@cumbria.ac.uk or calling 01228 888740.

What else does Eco-innovation Cumbria involve?

Eco-innovation Cumbria will provide a variety of free workshops and events around Cumbria to explore innovation challenges across multiple sectors, including:

Key note lectures to expand knowledge and stimulate divergent thinking in an informal setting
One day thematic workshops to explore a range of real and theoretical challenges around innovation
Open innovation forums enabling inter-company cooperation around Research & Development, sharing knowledge and experience for mutual benefit
Annual overnight residential events to provide an environment in which to share solutions and enable effective problem solving

Grow your idea

If you are interested in finding out more, get in touch today to discuss the eligibility of your business with one of our team.

Email us

Call us on 01228 888740

Student internships – application form for students

Paid opportunities are advertised on the University of Cumbria Jobshop

Search using keyword ‘Cumbria’.

Please use this application form and follow the instructions to apply for any of the advertised internships with local businesses.

Application Form

The programme is led by the University of Cumbria, partnering with Lancaster University and the University of Central Lancashire, and funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)