

Day released: 03 March 2022
Evoponic, primarily based in Middleton, manufactures plant additives for the hydroponics sector
A Middleton hydroponics gear supplier is a single of 27 businesses across Increased Manchester to have benefitted from a new inexperienced innovation fund.
Evoponic, based in Middleton, manufactures plant additives for the hydroponics sector (increasing crops with no soil), drawing on reducing-edge global science and focused United kingdom R&D to style and tailor distinctive formulations to enhance plant efficiency and resilience.
Firms, charities and social enterprises in the county can get up to 60% funding in direction of jobs well worth £25,000 to enable them deliver sustainable merchandise, processes or expert services.
The £400,000 grant plan is managed by Eco-I North West (NW), a £14 million study and improvement programme which presents SMEs entry to a regional know-how foundation, slicing-edge investigation facilities and competencies involving six of the region’s primary universities – Cumbria, Lancaster, Central Lancashire, Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores and Manchester Metropolitan.
Due to the fact its start two years ago, extra than 100 enterprises, which include 27 in Higher Manchester, have collaborated with universities to test their tips which could assistance remedy global issues such as drinking water provide and quality, squander, strength, resource performance, purely natural cash, air excellent, and meals security.
These new grants will accelerate these very low carbon improvements from study to commercialisation by match funding prototypes, pilots and demonstration systems.
Wilson Boardman, chairman and technological director of Evoponic, mentioned: “Our joint sponsorship of the analysis is quickly setting up the bodyweight of proof in support of the harmless use of benign biostimulants to generate more healthy and extra healthy foods, improved use of fertilisers, alongside with shortened growing seasons, even though facilitating massive reductions in pesticide usage.
“Evoponic is very pleased to be in partnership with the Centre for World wide Eco-Innovation building facts that can influence hydroponic and vertical farming meals output for the superior of the complete world.”
Eco-I NW aims to function with far more than 300 SMEs, supporting the growth of 135 new progressive options which will preserve 3,850 tonnes of CO2.
Andy Pickard, Supervisor of the Centre for Worldwide Eco-Innovation, which delivers the Eco-I NW programme, stated: “Eco-I NW opens up this kind of a large academic regional source to SMEs. It gives the option for the North West to make an ecosystem which accelerates our changeover to a reduced carbon economic system. This is a scheme which should really permit companies to accessibility grants promptly and check out new things.
“I would stimulate leaders of SME enterprises in the North West to commence a conversation with us about how Eco-I NW could aid to minimize prices and their carbon footprint, increase efficiency, and upcoming proof their small business in a very low carbon potential.”
“More than 100 enterprises from a large range of sectors, disciplines and challenge themes are presently collaborating with the husband or wife universities and could double their opportunity return on R&D financial investment.
“These grants will further more aid people previously functioning with the universities, and grow the rewards Eco-I NW can offer to even far more SMEs to deliver to industry even far more sustainable items, processes or products and services.”
To come across out additional about the programme, which is part funded by the European Regional Growth Fund (ERDF), take a look at www.lancaster.ac.uk/eco-i-nw/cash-grant-scheme/
