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The Centre for Global Eco-Innovation was
created to help increase levels of innovation
in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The
centre unites the expertise, resources and
global contacts of N8 members Lancaster
University and the University of Liverpool, as
well as commercialisation company Inventya
Limited, with businesses wanting to grow and
innovate. The goal is to develop for the global
marketplace, new products, processes and
services which deliver positive
environmental impacts.
The centre calls upon a range of academic expertise working
closely with project supervisors within the partner businesses.
For the majority of these partner SMEs, this represents the
most significant commitment to collaborative research with a
university they have undertaken to date.
The centre has already engaged with 300 businesses, 135
SMEs have been supported with mentoring, 260 jobs have
been created and £4.9 million investment has been secured
for the region.
In addition, the centre has helped to protect our environment
with savings of: 27,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions;
46,000 tonnes of water; 19,000 tonnes of materials; and 55,000
tonnes diverted from landfill.
Innovating with SMEs
Case Study: Helping small businesses to grow
This represents the most
significant commitment to
collaborative research with
a university the SMEs have
undertaken
£4.9m
260
investment secured
for the region
Created
jobs in SMEs
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