LCEI is a continuation of its predecessor, the Centre for Global Eco-Innovation (CGE) which was also delivered by the The Innovatory. Both programmes were funded by the European Regional Development fund 2012-2023.
LCEI continues to provide a unique opportunity to businesses in the Liverpool City Region (LCR) with access to university technologies, academic expertise and financial assistance to facilitate clean and sustainable growth, enabling businesses to progress towards their Net Zero goals. In total The Innovatory projects have funded 67 PhDs, 13 MRes plus over 200 paid internships for regional enterprises.
Previously funded by the European Regional Development fund from 2015-2023, LCEI continues to provide a unique opportunity to businesses in the Liverpool City Region (LCR) with access to university technologies, academic expertise and financial assistance to facilitate clean and sustainable growth, enabling businesses to progress towards their Net Zero goals.
Supporting LCR businesses to decarbonise:
- Match funding available for low carbon installations and technologies*
- Academic expertise to help your journey to Net Zero
- Unbiased support for clean and sustainable business growth
Since 2015 we have:
- Assisted over 400 LCR companies to improve performance through industry-led research collaborations.
- Helped save over 54,000 tonnes CO2e**
- Developed close links with Liverpool City Region business networks
- Funded over 38 collaborative PhD projects
- Created over 150 paid internships and industrial dissertation projects
Please see examples of some of our industrial PhD projects here and case studies at our partner LJMU site for examples of the support we have provided across the region.
How it works
Step 1: Scoping
With our knowledge and expertise, LCEI can help you identify the most effective methods to make your business more sustainable. Whether you need assistance in creating a sustainability strategy, reducing energy consumption and expenses, or researching new low carbon innovations, we've got you covered.
Step 2: Action Plan
Following formal registration, the LCEI team will work with you to develop an action plan outlining the tailored support you will receive from the project, establishing timescales and deliverables.
Step 3: Implementation
The action plan will be implemented with the help of LCEI researchers, interns or students. The business will be provided with a comprehensive report based on data they have supplied and addressing the specific business sustainability need or goal. This will illustrate a clear pathway to next-steps carbon reduction.
The LCEI team will also discuss grant funding options and pathways.
Step 4: Grant Application*
If appropriate, businesses can progress to a grant application. The grant can be used to match fund the purchase of capital equipment that will help the business to decarbonise and facilitate the transition towards Net Zero. The LCEI Grant Panel will assess each application on its individual merits and the benefits for the business and carbon reduction.
Step 5: Monitoring
Any greenhouse gas reduction and business improvements made as a result of the collaboration with LCEI will be monitored to determine impacts and the effectiveness of the project.
We seek to build relationships with SMEs and deliver tangible benefits via collaborative approaches to encourage businesses to maintain a broader, long-term relationship with the city region’s research base.
Within the University of Liverpool the programme has funded over 38 collaborative PhD projects, over 100 paid internships and industrial dissertation projects. Local businesses have benefited from high-quality, impartial research that they might not have had the capacity or means to pursue, while also offering vital industry experience to UoL students. Companies and projects are not limited by sector or subject, and as such The Innovatory has funded projects across the campus.
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