The Centre for Global Eco-Innovation has won an Impact Award for knowledge exchange and commercialisation (KEC) professionals, delivered by Research Councils UK (RCUK) and PraxisUnico. The winners were announced at a ceremony in Central Hall, Westminster.

The award reflects the success of a unique partnership between Lancaster University, the University of Liverpool and international commercialisation consultancy Inventya, who have delivered the £9.8m Centre for Global Eco-Innovation since 2012. The centre works with businesses on innovative environmental research and development projects and is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, the Universities and privately by Inventya.

Over the past three years, the Centre for Global Eco-Innovation has assisted 290 SMEs, supporting the companies to develop and take their products to market. The majority of the companies were directly assisted by Inventya and received mentoring in the development of their products, market intelligence and funding strategies. Inventya also referred companies to the two universities, who provided interns and 50 graduate researchers, which provided in depth support to the SMEs.

Aldo de-Leonibus, chief executive officer of Inventya said:

“I am extremely proud of the Centre for Global Eco-Innovation project and it is fantastic to see it recognised nationally by the research councils and PraxisUnico. Over the past three years the partnership has worked effectively to support almost 300 companies in the development of their eco-innovative products and services.

“I am confident that these companies will continue to thrive and contribute to the economic growth of the North West region. I am grateful to Lancaster for administering ERDF funding for the Centre for Global Eco-Innovation on behalf of the partnership and collecting the award on behalf of it.”

The Rt Hon Jo Johnson, Minister of State for Universities and Science, said:

“I would like to congratulate the winners of the RCUK/PraxisUnico Impact Awards. They, and all of the finalists, should all be immensely proud of their achievements. It is great to see so many innovative approaches to knowledge exchange and commercialisation, enabling UK research in deliver impact to businesses and society. This work is vital in ensuring that the UK remains competitive, innovative, and able to sustain development and economic growth.”

The Centre for Global Eco-Innovation is the only centre of its kind in Europe and is an SME-led collaborative research and development partnership, which underpins the development of new products, processes and services for the global marketplace, which by virtue of their use, manufacture, raw materials, reuse or disposal, deliver positive environmental impacts.

For further details about the Centre for Global Eco-Innovation and working with Inventya, please contact Dr Martin Andrews, Project Manager m.andrews@inventya.com