As part of Global Entrepreneurship Week 2014 (17th- 23rd November), D2N2 will be periodically showcasing examples of innovation and entrepreneurship from across the D2N2 area.
Global Entrepreneurship Week is the world’s largest celebration of the innovators and job creators who launch startups that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand human welfare.
During one week each November, GEW inspires people everywhere through local, national and global activities designed to help them explore their potential as self-starters and innovators. These activities, from large-scale competitions and events to intimate networking gatherings, connect participants to potential collaborators, mentors and even investors—introducing them to new possibilities and exciting opportunities.
Sutton-in-Ashfield company Lindhurst, founded to provide engineering solutions in the mining industry, had diversified into new areas such as hydraulic motion systems, and was on the look-out for new market opportunities. Having identified an opportunity in the farming industry for converting waste products into energy, the MD contacted the University of Nottingham to help develop his ideas.
A university post-doctoral graduate was employed through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership to work with the company on the development of a new microbial fuel cell that could convert farm effluent and dairy by-products into bio-gas and electricity. The project involved testing a production-scale fuel cell using waste products from the University’s dairy farm at Sutton Bonington as fuel.
The University’s Environmental Technology Centre was also able to partner the company with dairy producer Arla Foods to investigate how best to exploit the technology. More recently the anaerobic digestion business Clearfleau has also come on board.
“The University’s support has been invaluable. They came up with the design for the commercial plant and have also developed a working industrial scale prototype. The results are very promising and we anticipate that within 18 months we will have a product that we can offer to the market. My experience of working with the University on this and other projects over the years has been extremely positive.”
Innovation stimulated by technology- Taken From the D2N2 Innovation Plan (Download Here)
