The Biorenewables Development Centre (BDC), a not-for-profit company based at the University of York, announces its new funding opportunity, the Biorenewables Capital Grant Scheme (BCGS), for Yorkshire and Humber-based small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) wishing to explore commercial feasibility of bio-based projects.

The BCGS is available to eligible SMEs to implement pilot-technologies in the biorenewables area and provides 64% of the funding towards the purchase of capital equipment (up to £32,000 per SME), with the additional 36% to be matched privately by the SME. Available in three funding calls in 2014, the BCGS is a competitive grant scheme and expects to fund around 26 projects, with a combined project value of £1M.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for regional SMEs to invest in innovative green technologies, for example by turning their plant or food wastes into useful products,” said Dr Fabien Deswarte, business development unit manager at the BDC. “The BCGS will allow SMEs to purchase key pieces of equipment to test proof of concept before committing to full-scale industrial development”.

The BCGS aims to support local businesses by providing access to technologies to convert plants, microbes and biowastes into profitable green products; and adds to the funded services the BDC is able to provide to regional SMEs through grants from the European Regional Development Fund.

“The region is perfectly placed to drive innovations in biorenewables through its unique combination of industry, agriculture and world-class research”, comments Dr Joe Ross, director at the BDC. “This funding provides an excellent opportunity to harness the region’s capabilities and help establish Yorkshire and the Humber as a leader in the bioeconomy, which, across Europe, has a reported worth of around € 2 trillion”.