Net Zero Innovation in UK Catapult Business Support
This project contributes to climate change agenda by identifying and sharing effective Net Zero business support practices.
Background
Funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and supported by the Innovation Launchpad Network Plus, it facilitate knowledge exchange and application. By placing leading university researchers within the Innovate UK Catapult Network the project strengthens the innovation ecosystems and enhances Net Zero in business support.
The Researcher in Residence (RiR) is based at the Energy Systems Catapult (ESC) and studies innovation within ESC business support. The project aims to understand how ESC’s business support interventions contribute to the energy transition to Net Zero. Particularly, it examines best practices in sustainability and Net Zero incorporated in business support interventions.
Project Lead: Dr Juliane Schwarz
Objectives
Objectives
The project aims to identify and highlight innovative practices (new, efficient and impactful) in business support in relation to Net Zero, e.g., sustainable business model innovation, user-oriented innovation, analysis of stakeholder needs, in various catapults. It investigates how Net Zero considerations are embedded within the Energy Systems Catapult’s (ESC) business support interventions for start-ups and scale-ups. The aim is to identify and put a spotlight on good practices, how this can be further enhanced, and explore how they can be applied across other sectors and the wider Catapult Network.
Research will focus on incubation, acceleration and financial start-up support practices within Catapults, engaging with providers and beneficiaries to address the following research questions:
- What types of business support are available within Catapults?
- How is Net Zero integrated into these interventions—both planned and unplanned?
- How can these approaches be further improved?
- Are these practices sector-specific, or can they be adapted across different Catapults?
Knowledge, expertise and good practice will be shared across the Catapult Network to further a more effective and sustainable innovation ecosystem.
The Team
The Team
Project Lead: Dr Juliane Schwarz
Project Support: Selina Soomal
Researcher in Residence: Inside Juliane Schwarz' Net Zero practices workshop with the Catapults
