EMIZ Innovation Accelerator Fund

The East Midlands Investment Zone (EMIZ) EMIZ Innovation Accelerator can provide funding for eligible feasibility projects with up to £50k per project and for demonstrator projects up to £100k per project.

The lead applicant must be from University of Nottingham, Nottingham Trent University or University of Derby.

The Fund will focus on four interconnected clusters within the region in Clean Energy Industries and Advanced Manufacturing Sector - Nuclear, Propulsion, Renewable Energy & Green Construction and Advanced Manufacturing, and deliver on the innovation roadmaps developed for these clusters.

Each project must include an industry partner. Partner organisations should be located within the administrative boundary of the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA).

The EMIZ Innovation Accelerator will fund up to 80% of the full economic cost. The university partner should cover the costs of the remaining 20% FEC.

The expression of interest (EoI) stage (vis MS Form) will be open from 2nd February - 20th February.

All feasibility projects must be able to complete by October 2026, demonstrator projects need to complete by March 2027

EMIZ Innovation Accelerator Fund projects can include:

• Feasibility
• Proof of concept
• Prototyping
• Development and deployment of new technologies
• Overcoming barriers to entry in highly regulated sectors

For further information or to discuss potential projects please contact the Programme Delivery Team at your university:

Rob Ricketts at University of Derby r.ricketts@derby.ac.uk

Luke Todhunter at University of Nottingham Luke.Todhunter@nottingham.ac.uk

Richard Gravelle at Nottingham Trent University richard.gravelle@ntu.ac.uk

For general queries please contact emiz@derby.ac.uk