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THE ENVIRONMENTAL FUTURES & BIG DATA IMPACT LAB

COLLABORATE. DELIVER. GROW.

Impact Lab offers an outstanding opportunity for companies seeking solutions to their environment and data challenges. By working collaboratively with our scientists and technologists, our support can take your business to the next level.

BIG DATA IMPACT LAB

We are a partnership of seven Devon-based research organisations helping local businesses use complex data. Our focus is to create new products and services that safeguard the environment for future generations. This three-year, £6.4 million programme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The initiative supports small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Devon region, through specialist technical support, access to academic expertise, and grants.

R&D Support

We aim to help businesses solve a key technical challenges in the development of new products, services or processes. Led by our Innovation Support Team, Impact Lab offers three types of support:

    • Academic expertise fund: access to academic support to carry out data driven research projects.
    • Grants for products & services: SMEs can access match grants to procure expertise/equipment.
      • Challenge Fund: academic work with industry partners in key challenge areas

Rothamsted Impact Lab

Academic expertise

To deliver a project, we can call on the support of a wide range of academic specialists from any of the seven Impact Lab partners. These academics can provide specific skills and subject-matter expertise where needed.

Grants for products & services

If your project needs additional products or services (such as development costs, testing equipment or Intellectual Property applications), you can apply for a grant to reimburse 60% of the costs. Grants range from £5,000 to £50,000. Funds will be granted following an approval process. Reimbursement claims can be made as soon as the goods and services have been purchased.

Challenges

We will be running a series of themed challenges; gathering enterprises, entrepreneurs and academics together to tackle globally important environmental and big data opportunities. Kick-started by an exciting and intensive two-day boot camp, innovators will collaborate, make new connections and receive mentorship and guidance. Larger enterprises can also become involved, networking with participants to help solve their most pressing environmental and big data issues.

Rothamsted North Wyke

Collaborative working space

The Impact Lab offers desk space in our dedicated project offices. This is available at Rothamsted Research’s North Wyke site in Devon, near Okehampton.

BUSINESS SUPPORT

Mentorship
We provide access to a network of ‘Entrepreneurs in Residence’, who provide in depth guidance to businesses as they develop their ideas and start to grow.

Advice & Referrals
We work closely with an extensive network of business development organisations who can provide a broad range of support services.

What are “Environmental Futures”?

We define these as the problems and opportunities arising from human activity or global trends. This encompasses pollution control and mitigation, climate change and impacts on ecosystems goods and services. We believe that viable solutions to these challenges can be found by working collaboratively across digital technology, big data, other disciplines.

Some of the problems requiring a solution are not yet known or fully understood. The nature of the problems may extend into a wide variety of sectors. This is expected and encouraged.

Big Data as an enabler

The seven partners possess significant and growing volumes of data that the lab can help you utilise. We use the term Big Data to encompass not only the data itself but also the skills, knowledge and capability to manipulate and exploit the data, including:

    • artificial intelligence
    • machine vision
    • high performance computing and communications techniques

Eligibility

The Impact Lab works with Devon based SMEs, meaning fewer than 250 employees and with a registered office in Devon. Or you should be willing to relocate the business to Devon and/or show a firm commitment to growing a business in Devon.

Please do not exclude yourself if you do not meet all of our eligibility criteria. We may still be able to help you, or refer you to another initiative/organisation that meets your specific needs, so please do contact us.

Active Projects

  • Elemental Digest System lead by Dr Marin Blackwell
  • RegenFarm lead by Prof Adrian Collins
  • Breedr lead by Dr Jordana Rivero-Viera
  • OTA Analytics lead by Dr Paul Harris