Funding up to £50,000 available via the Sustainable Construction iNet
East Midlands construction companies looking for financial help to develop their bright ideas are being encouraged to come forward.
The Sustainable Construction Innovation Network (iNet) wants to help construction firms develop their ideas and embrace innovation. Grants of up to £50,000 are available for qualifying companies.
Introduced by the East Midlands Development Agency (emda), the Sustainable Construction iNet has a number of roles, including helping companies create and safeguard jobs.
The iNet is offering financial support via two schemes. Innovation Support Grants of up to £10,000 and a Higher Education Collaboration Grant, which could be up to £50,000, are on offer through the Sustainable Construction iNet.
“We want the region’s construction companies to develop their ideas, become the best in their fields, survive the recession and grow when it’s over,” says Charles Meynell, Senior Business Advisor at the Sustainable Construction iNet. “At this moment in time securing finance to develop ideas is extremely difficult, but we can help.
“The East Midlands currently has a very strong construction sector. However, this won’t remain the case if we don’t continue to innovate and invest in research and development. We want to hear from companies with fewer than 250 employees who have potentially commercially-viable, well defined ideas, products or processes so that we can help them reach the next stage with the expectation that they will create or sustain wealth and jobs in the industry”
With both the Innovation Support Grant and Higher Education Collaboration Fund applicants are asked to contribute half of the overall amount themselves, but uniquely with the iNet scheme this contribution can be in kind.
To qualify for an Innovation Support Grant the application must come from a company based in the East Midlands and operating commercially in construction or an associated industry sector such as mining, quarrying, waste management, energy or water. They must also require technical or consultancy assistance for their idea, product or process and expect to protect or create jobs as a result.
The Higher Education Collaboration Fund (HECF) provides grants to allow companies to access the support and expertise of the region’s universities. The fund requires two or more East Midlands higher education institutions and one or more construction companies, again employing fewer than 250 people, to jointly work together towards a commercial goal that will ultimately deliver competitive advantage.
The partnership created as a result of the HECF may also enable the applicant to bid for even larger sums from the European Union and other sources.
Businesses wanting to find out more about the Sustainable Construction iNet and the grants available should telephone 01604 892020 or visit www.eminnovation.org.uk.
-ENDS-
Issued on behalf of the Sustainable Construction iNet] by Lava. For further information contact Matt or Lindsey at Lava on 01522 842 800 / matt@lavapr.co.uk / lindsey@lavapr.co.uk
To view all of Lava’s recent press releases or to sign up to receive them via RSS please visit http://www.lavapr.co.uk/press-releases or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/lavapr
Notes to editors
About East Midlands Innovation
· East Midlands Innovation is the Regional Science and Industry Council which was established in 2005 by emda.
· East Midlands Innovation’s principle responsibility is to take the lead for emda in implementing the Innovation Strategy and Action Plan for the East Midlands with the aim to grow a long term, sustainable, innovation-led economy.
About emda
· East Midlands Development Agency (emda) is one of nine Regional Development Agencies in
· England set up in 1999 to bring a regional focus to economic development.
· Working in partnership with public, private and voluntary organisations the aim is to deliver the 2006 Regional Economic Strategy (RES) ‘A Flourishing Region’, which sets out regional priorities until 2020.
· The RES, coordinated by emda, highlights the themes of productivity, sustainability and equality and builds on the previous two strategies; ‘Prosperity Through People’ and ‘Destination 2010’.
· In early 2007 the National Audit Office announced emda had received the highest possible grade of ‘performing strongly’ in an independent assessment of our work – scoring 22 out of 24.
· www.emda.org.uk
