Deadline approaching for Devon Net Zero Innovation Fund applications

The fund is offering grants of up to £7,500 to companies looking develop new products or services for the low carbon sector
Devon Net Zero Innovation Fund

Businesses across Devon have just a week left to apply for university support and funding to help them play their part in tackling the global climate emergency.

The Devon Net Zero Innovation Fund, run by the University of Plymouth, is offering funding of up to £7,500 to companies looking to develop new products or services for the low carbon sector in collaboration with University academics.

It aims to enable at least 10 eligible Devon enterprises to develop new, commercially viable initiatives or to diversity - and is also designed to encourage new industries to emerge.

Among the enquiries received so far are enterprises wanting to work with academics on behaviour change and app development, while others are looking for expertise in developing an alternative to concrete.

The deadline for applications is midday on Thursday 28 October, with successful applicants being notified in November and then having around six months to complete their project.

The Devon Net Zero Innovation Fund is being supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), delivered through the Low Carbon Devon project at the University of Plymouth.

Sustainability Hub - green wall
The Low Carbon Devon project is based within the University's Sustainability Hub, which provides a collaborative space where businesses can mix with researchers and students

Dr Paul Lunt, Director of the Low Carbon Devon project, said:

“With COP26 on the horizon, and the UK Government’s stated aim of shifting towards a net zero carbon future, the timing of this initiative could not be more topical. Businesses across the country are being tasked with reducing their environmental impact. For many of them, it will be something of a step into the unknown, but we can help with both of the actions they need to take and the best ways to develop and resource them.”

Claire Pearce, Low Carbon Devon’s Project Manager, added:

“This is a great opportunity for businesses and academics to work together. It will enable them to bring their respective strengths together to create something new and exciting for the low carbon economy. I can’t wait to see the ideas grow from these collaborations.”

In April this year, the University of Plymouth was named as one of the top 25 institutions globally for its performance against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

It has also consistently won national and international awards for its work to embed sustainability principles across its research, teaching and campus activities.

The £2.6million Low Carbon Devon project was launched in December 2019 and aims to build on those efforts, and harness the University’s sustainability expertise and experience to benefit the county’s employers.

Led by the Sustainable Earth Institute, the project is helping some organisations reduce their own energy consumption and support others in the development of new initiatives and innovations that can be brought to the wider market.

Through a range of coordinated activities, it will make the existing knowledge base easier to access for relevant businesses, embed graduate talent in the local economy and apply specialist research and development capacity to local low carbon and growth needs.

Find out more about the Devon Net Zero Innovation Fund

The Devon Net Zero Innovation fund is in place to enable collaborations between Devon enterprises and University of Plymouth academic researchers. The aim is to help Devon enterprises to develop new products or services for the low carbon sector, with funding of up to £7,500 per enterprise.
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Devon Net Zero Innovation Fund

Sustainability Hub: Low Carbon Devon

The Sustainability Hub: Low Carbon Devon project provides an exciting new catalyst for low-carbon economic growth in Devon.

Supported by an investment from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the three-year £2.6 million programme, will support Devon-based organisations to access research, business support, and engage with the University of Plymouth around the low-carbon agenda.

Low Carbon Devon Online Enterprise Workshop


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We are ranked 9th in the world out of all the institutions featured in the tables for our efforts in support of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal number 17: partnerships for the goals.

The University has established its position as an international pioneer in sustainability practices, research, education and engagement.

THE Impact Rankings SDG17 Partnerships for the Goals 2021 Top 10