Scots low-carbon innovation centre welcomes new generation of entrepreneurs into its business incubator

Fourteen new low-carbon Scottish micro-businesses hoping to make their millions from climate innovations have moved into the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation (ECCI).

They are the brains behind low carbon innovations ranging from a brand new alternative to plastic made from eggshells, to a smartphone-app for charity shoppers and a shower curtain made from hemp.

Their companies are part of the Climate-KIC Accelerator & Greenhouse schemes – EU-funded support programmes for start-ups – which gives them funding and support to translate their inventions into business plans.

Climate-KIC was brought to Scotland by ECCI last year and has since helped 17 start-ups scoop 14 awards, more than £400,000 in investment and save the equivalent of more than 260,000 tonnes of carbon in a year.

The ECCI – which operates an award-winning hub in Edinburgh and a new base in Hong Kong – supports low carbon enterprises and provides policy insight and evidence to help inform government decisions.

Martina Zupan, founder and chief executive of Alterwaste, commented: “Getting into the Climate-KIC Accelerator programme at the ECCI is a big step forward for our business.

“Professional support and additional finance available inside the low-carbon community will help us develop our business further and speed up our growth to reach our goal of reducing carbon footprint soon.”

Ed Craig, Head of Enterprise and Innovation at the ECCI, said: “Our big ambition is to create a vibrant zero carbon future – so it’s hugely exciting to welcome this latest batch of low carbon entrepreneurs with equally big ideas onto our successful accelerator programmes.

“Scotland has a world-leading approach to tackling climate change, and we’re looking forward to being able to offer our home-grown climate innovators the money and expertise to take on growing global markets.”

16 Feb 2018