East Midlands Invests £1.5M in 32 Clean Tech Startups

The East Midlands just doubled down on its clean energy future, and 32 businesses are about to benefit.

A £1.5 million grant program has returned for its second year, pairing startups and established companies with university researchers to turn cutting-edge ideas into commercial products. Mayor Claire Ward launched the Innovation Accelerator Fund in September 2026, building on a successful pilot that supported 15 collaborations the previous year.

The expansion speaks volumes. This year's cohort includes early-stage startups working alongside global firms, all focused on technologies that replace fossil fuel markets. The projects span hydrogen fuel cells for aircraft, AI tools that make sense of complex manufacturing data, robots that autonomously inspect solar farms, and advanced 3D printing techniques.

Three universities are backing these ventures. The University of Nottingham, University of Derby, and Nottingham Trent University are sharing their research firepower with businesses ready to move fast. The goal is simple: shorten the gap between laboratory breakthrough and market-ready product.

The program is part of the East Midlands Investment Zone, a 10-year initiative backed by £160 million in government funding. Local and national partners are already involved, including East Midlands Pipeline, Intelligent Energy, Luxfer Gas Cylinders, and GeoPura.

Professor Jane Norman, President of the University of Nottingham, sees the region becoming a national clean technology leader. The combination of advanced manufacturing expertise, transport decarbonization research, and industry connections creates the perfect environment for innovation that actually reaches customers.

The Ripple Effect

The program's real power lies in what happens after the initial funding. These collaborations generate new intellectual property, attract follow-on investment, and support business growth. They're building supply chains that create high-value jobs across the region's emerging clean energy economy.

More than 170 stakeholders from industry, academia, and regional innovation networks helped shape the program's direction. Their input ensures funded projects align with real market opportunities and regional strengths.

The East Midlands is proving that regions can lead on climate innovation when they connect research talent with business ambition and back it with serious funding.

##