New grants scheme to help Yorkshire and Humber SMEs invest in innovative green technologies
Posted on 5 February 2014
The BCGS is available to eligible SMEs to implement pilot-technologies in the biorenewables area and provides 64% of the funding towards the purchase of capital equipment (up to £32,000 per SME), with the additional 36% to be matched privately by the SME. Available in three funding calls in 2014, the BCGS is a competitive grant scheme and expects to fund around 26 projects, with a combined project value of £1m.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for regional SMEs to invest in innovative green technologies, for example by turning their plant or food wastes into useful products,” says Dr Fabien Deswarte, Business Development Unit Manager at the BDC. “The BCGS will allow SMEs to purchase key pieces of equipment to test proof of concept before committing to full-scale industrial development”.
The BCGS aims to support local businesses by providing access to technologies to convert plants, microbes and biowastes into profitable green products; and adds to the funded services the BDC is able to provide to regional SMEs through grants from the European Regional Development Fund.
“The region is perfectly placed to drive innovations in biorenewables through its unique combination of industry, agriculture and world-class research”, comments Dr Joe Ross, Director at the BDC. “This funding provides an excellent opportunity to harness the region’s capabilities and help establish Yorkshire and the Humber as a leader in the bioeconomy, which, across Europe, has a reported worth of around €2 trillion”.
The deadline for expressions of interest for the first call of the BCGS is 3 March 2014. Further details are available here: www.biorenewables.org/business/funded-support
Notes to editors:
About the Biorenewables Development Centre
The Biorenewables Development Centre (BDC) is a not-for-profit company, based at the University of York that helps businesses develop ways to convert plants, microbes and biowastes into profitable biorenewable products. Using cutting-edge science and technology, we bridge the gap between academia and industry to assist companies both in development and scale-up of new greener processes and products. Established through a collaboration between the world-renowned Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence and the Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, our expertise, services, open-access facilities and access to over 100 scientists across the fields of chemistry and biology put the BDC in a strong position to help develop bio-based projects.
Many SMEs in Yorkshire and Humberside are eligible for two days funded consultancy through the on-going BDC ERDF Project, which complements the new Biorenewables Capital Grant Scheme. Visit our website to learn more: www.biorenewables.org and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter for latest updates.
The BDC is part-financed by the European Union European Regional Development Fund.
About the European Regional Development Fund
The Biorenewables Development Centre ERDF Project is financed by the Yorkshire and the Humber European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007 to 2013. The Department for Communities and Local Government is the managing authority for the European Regional Development Fund Programme, which is one of the funds established by the European Commission to help local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support local businesses and create jobs. For more information visit: www.gov.uk/browse/business/funding-debt/european-regional-development-funding
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