Lancaster University creates partnership to support green innovation

Lancaster University has formed a partnership with the Environmental Industries Commission to support innovation that benefits the environment,

At a time when climate change warnings have never been so severe, Lancaster University has identified clean and green technologies as "one of the greatest industrial opportunities" of the generation.

The new partnership will provide support to businesses working on ideas and developments that reduce energy use and cut wastage.

It benefits from the Lancaster Environment Centre, home of the the Centre for Global Eco-Innovation and one of the world’s largest centres for environmental research, and the support of the EIC, which is the main UK trade body for the environmental sector.

The two organisations have committed to working together to maximise low carbon innovation opportunities for business. Opportunities over the next 24 months include joint workshops, case studies and position papers.

Dr Andy Pickard, of Lancaster University, said: “We have a strong track record of working with businesses on innovations from new energy technologies to improving food security. This could mean finding new ways of using existing resources more efficiently or reducing waste and carbon emissions.

"This partnership also enables us to work closely with business to inform government policy. It will help develop new relationships with industry and commerce to address global challenges, ultimately benefiting both the environment and the economy. The two will have to go hand-in-hand is we are find ways to keep temperature increases below 1.5 degrees.”

Matthew Farrow, director at EIC, said: “The UK has some world-class strengths in environmental technology and services and we need to build on these to deliver the clean growth and exports we all want to see post-Brexit.

"Innovation is central to doing this – how can we solve environmental challenges such as air pollution or plastic waste faster and more efficiently? To succeed we need business, policymakers and universities working together and by partnering with Lancaster University with its eco-innovation strengths we believe we can help make this happen.”