New initiative puts green technology at heart of county's recovery

A new centre has launched to position Lancashire as a global leader in green technology as part of the area's post-Covid recovery plans.

The Lancashire Centre for Alternative Technologies will fund new green tech developments in a bid to save jobs that may otherwise be lost from the county’s automotive and aerospace industries. It will also help organisations within the county to work towards net-zero carbon impact.

Known as RedCAT, the programme has been allocated £1.5m from the government's Getting Building Fund which finances ready-to-go projects that will support economic growth.

Its ultimate goal is to see innovative low carbon products manufactured in Lancashire and exported around the world, with RedCAT backing every stage of the process from R&D to sales and scale-up.

A not-for-profit venture, it is backed by the Lancashire LEP, the Chamber’s existing Chamber Low Carbon pan-Lancashire support program and will be funded through a mix of public, private and venture capital and equity investors.

RedCAT will be based at East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce’s offices in Clayton-le-Moors, within Hyndburn. Miranda Barker, Chamber's chief executive, said: "RedCAT’s mission is to ensure support for the manufacture and adoption of low carbon tech across Lancashire to drive economic green recovery and resilience.

"We’re looking to create manufacturing opportunities and jobs in Lancashire and to see low carbon innovation from the county exported overseas as part of the move towards a global net zero carbon future."

David Taylor, chair of Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, said: "I'm delighted that the Getting Building Fund has supported this important project that is helping to unlock Lancashire's potential as a net zero county and economy. RedCAT will not just help Lancashire decarbonise but will also drive a sustainable recovery from the pandemic."

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