North West business are set to benefit from more than £11.4 million worth of support through a trio of programmes being launched by Lancaster University, one of the N8 Research partners.
Part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the new funding programmes have been launched to drive innovation and help create new products and services, and the support will focus on next generation chemistry, smart materials and cyber security.
The first is the Greater Innovation for Smarter Material Optimisation (GISMO), which is a £4.4 million scheme set to engage with 250 SMEs in the Cheshire and Warrington areas.
Secondly, Next Gen Chem is a £4.9 million programme co-designed by Lancaster University and Yordas Group. The programme will work with 300 SMEs to allow chemical-using industries across Lancashire to innovate using next generation technology.
Finally, Lancashire Cyber Foundry is a £2.1 million initiative offering the opportunity to increase the awareness of cyber security breakthroughs and explore the development of digital products and services.
Dr Steve Fish, director of partnerships and business engagement at Lancaster University’s Faculty of Science and Technology, said: “GISMO, Next Gen Chem and the Lancashire Cyber Foundry are three new initiatives that build on Lancaster University’s academic capability and will connect the institution to commercial partners across the region over the next three years.
“This combined approach will accelerate innovation in chemistry, cyber security and advanced materials and will lead to a variety of opportunities linking with other complimentary activities across the region.”