A new environmental competition aimed at businesses across Scotland was launched at the beginning of January. The £800,000 competition aims to develop innovative solutions through private-public sector collaboration to recover phosphorus and other nutrients and chemicals from water for beneficial use. The competition is the first by a public agency in Scotland to use the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI), a process which connects public sector challenges with innovative ideas from small companies, microbusinesses and spinouts across all sectors.
Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for aquatic plants and animals. Even a modest increase in phosphorus can, under the right conditions, have a dramatic negative impact on marine environments including algae blooms, low dissolved oxygen and the death of certain fish.Priority Substances can also be toxic to water-based organisms and this competition is part of a concerted effort to protect our water environment.
A total of up to £400k (inc VAT) is allocated to phase one of the competition. On successful completion of the feasibility study a total of up to £400k (inc VAT) is allocated to phase two of the competition for prototype development. This competition forms part of a wider of programme, the Green Growth Group, set up to support and develop green growth and a circular economy in Scotland. The Green Growth Group is jointly administered by Scottish Enterprise and SEPA.
“The Scottish Government welcomed the launch of the SBRI competition as another key step in developing Scotland as a Hydro Nation – a nation that not only values and protects its water assets, but grows the water sector too. We are delighted to see this first ever, cross agency, SBRI competition being taken forward to support developments in the water sector and look forward to working to exploring new ideas and approaches.”
For more information, please check the Innovate UK website
