A trio of West Midlands companies have been selected for a £1.3 million pilot programme aimed at transferring their skills and expertise into business opportunities in new markets. The so-called 'Pivot' programme is designed to help unlock cross-sector innovation in the region by offering R&D grants and other support so businesses can use their knowledge to solve challenges faced by industries outside of their own.
The pilot will help the three companies grow and improve their ideas so they can meet urgent aerospace and aviation requirements for lighter aircraft that consume less fuel and more sustainable aviation fuels based on recycled waste. PyroGenesys, based in Birmingham, is developing reactors and processes required to transform waste wood and food processor waste into energy and fuels.
The reactors will be the size of shipping containers which means fuel could be created close to waste sources in both developed and developing countries. It will use the new funding for development work needed to transform bio-oils into more sustainable jet fuel.
Impression Technologies, based in Coventry, is a specialist in high-speed forming of complex aluminium components for critical lightweight structures. The company will use the new funding to apply its technology, which is currently utilised by the high-performance automotive sector, to the aerospace industry, developing prototype parts for aircraft seats that reduce weight and enhance sustainability.
Wednesbury firm Kew Technology is generating future fuels and decarbonising energy-intensive industries like transportation by turning industrial waste into valuable energy. The company will be using the funding to carry out testing required to ensure its low-carbon synthetic paraffinic kerosene made from waste, which refineries could process into more sustainable aviation fuel, will meet industry standards.
In addition to the injection of fresh funding, the three companies will tap into expertise from the Midlands Aerospace Alliance and receive advice from potential customers across the region. The grants have been financed through the West Midlands Combined Authority's 'Innovation Programme' to the tune of nearly £400,000 then boosted by £900,000 in match funding.
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Midlands Aerospace Alliance chief executive Andrew Mair said: "We have a great opportunity in front of us to pivot our regional economy towards a greener future by accelerating technology crossovers in our engineering supercluster.
"The Pivot pilot is proceeding to plan and, if we can all work together like this at scale, we can help create the green jobs of the future. That's a win for the planet and for the region."
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street added: "The Pivot programme will help to unlock innovation in our region, enabling a stronger eco system to continue creating the high-quality jobs of the future.
"Congratulations to the three winning companies which draw on the great engineering heritage of the West Midlands. Technological advances are key to the future of the West Midlands which is why I'm keen to see us grow the funding available."
