Fourteen projects funded under UK Community Renewal Fund’s Mid Wales Challenge Led Launchpad

Fourteen projects aiming to address challenges facing Mid Wales have been awarded up to £30,000 each as part of a new programme supported by Ceredigion and Powys County Councils under the UK-wide Community Renewal Fund (CRF) and by the Welsh Government.

The Mid Wales Challenge Led Launchpad Series is a new procurement programme aimed at developing novel solutions to public sector and societal issues through research and innovation whilst offering new market opportunities for businesses and people in Mid Wales. The Launchpad aims to identify innovative solutions to the challenges of protecting the environment and improving health outcomes in Ceredigion and Powys, addressing core areas of Welsh Government legislation such as the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 and the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.

The programme draws upon expertise from AberInnovation, Innovation Strategy, BT, Ceredigion County Council, Powys County Council, Hywel Dda University Health Board and Powys Teaching Health Board.

The projects were chosen for research and development funding awards following a first stage competitive application process and second stage elevator pitch event by the Mid Wales Launchpad stakeholder group representative panel.

The successful businesses include: Vertikit, PlantSea, New Juice, Jonah Oceans Systems, Enviro356, Lohas Recycling, Nellie, Pennotec, MarinaTex, Conwy Kombucha, Cwm Harry Land & Trust, ArcitekBio and Agroceutical Products.

The three-month Mid Wales Launchpad will enable these successful businesses to analyse and evaluate the potential of their concepts for eventual deployment through collaboration with academia and regional leadership. Through a collaborative working model, the programme, delivered in partnership with Innovation Strategy, will provide expertise and resources to accelerate the development of proposed technology solutions. The programme will include tailored support and the potential to utilise unique regional capital assets and technology in Mid Wales.

Uniquely, the Mid Wales Challenge Led Launchpad will also support a number of individuals across the region via a pioneering work placement and match making scheme. A number of individuals have applied to be a part of the Skills Builder programme, securing the opportunity to work alongside the successful businesses to gain new skills and knowledge as well as enhancing their career prospects.

Dr Rhian Hayward MBE, CEO of AberInnovation “We are delighted to have the support of UK Government, Welsh Government and public sector stakeholders in this new programme of business support. Mid Wales companies have come forward with some truly innovative technologies and approaches and the Launchpad will prove invaluable to getting those solutions to an advanced stage – unlocking more of the potential in the industry base and academic expertise in Ceredigion and Powys.”

Luke Player, Director of Innovation Strategy “We are thrilled to collaborate with AberInnovation and partners on this innovative programme. This new approach offers excellent opportunities for both businesses and people in Ceredigion and Powys. This programme draws upon world class expertise to provide businesses with the support they need to grow while providing people with the skills they need to enhance their careers. We’ve received a fantastic response to this first challenge to advance our environment and the businesses and people involved will undoubtedly develop some outstanding solutions.”

AberInnovation, which was completed in August 2020, provides a focal point for a community of ambitious companies to advance the development of new products and services in the agri-tech, food and drink and bio-economy sectors. Its facilities boast a state-of-the-art Future Food Centre, Advanced Analysis Centre, pilot-scale Biorefining Centre, Seed Biobank and Innovation Hub. Businesses are able to lean on the support and expertise offered at AberInnovation to truly accelerate their solutions’ development.

AberInnovation-led bids have attracted £1.2m of funding to support its partners and stakeholders through three innovative programmes of support in total under the Community Renewal Fund.