Clean Growth Innovation Fund
Through its partnership with Innovate UK, Equans has established the ‘Clean Growth Innovation Fund’, which provides between £100,000 and £1,000,000 funding for innovative projects that help to accelerate the UK’s progress towards Net Zero by 2050.
This initiative runs from 2019 to 2023 and will provide up to £4m of funding to UK-based pioneering small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) that can support the energy, digital and industrial transitions through the development of disruptive technologies, services, and/or business models.
The fund benefits from Innovate UK’s expertise as the UK’s national innovation agency supporting business-led innovation, whilst utilising Equans’ scale and expertise in developing commercial opportunities and maximising value from solution-oriented investments. In addition to funding, Equans can provide companies with access to new markets, including a broad customer base across 17 countries.
This pioneering partnership is the first of its kind, demonstrating the benefits of private-public sector collaboration to overcome key challenges associated with achieving Net Zero by 2050 in the UK. It will also help Equans’ customers to achieve their goals of reaching Net Zero.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must be a UK-registered micro, small or medium-sized business with an established presence in the UK. The project being proposed for funding should be completed by June 2024 and relate to either a feasibility study or industrial research - but not experimental development. Innovate UK's General Guidance provides more detailed definitions.
It is anticipated that most of the funding will go to projects that are at Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) 3-5, though innovative business models or novel integrations of more mature technologies may also be fundable.
Ian Meikle, Director, Clean Growth and Infrastructure at Innovate UK explained: "We are seeking the very best of British ideas in clean growth innovation. By teaming up with Equans we can multiply our funding and do even more to grow the industries, businesses and jobs of tomorrow by bringing in the private sector at an earlier stage through this investment accelerator programme."
Carl Foreman of Equans commented: "We are delighted to be working with Innovate UK to directly assist innovative UK companies in the clean growth sector – supporting the energy, digital and industrial transitions. This initiative also supports our own ambition to be a leader in making zero-carbon transition possible for businesses and public sector organisations."
For further information on the fund, please download the information pack or contact us.