Circular Ocean has announced free consultancy for start-ups and small/medium-sized companies (SMEs) to support the development of eco-innovative products, technologies and services derived from waste fishing nets, ropes and components (FNRCs).

Circular Ocean partners at The Centre for Sustainable Design ® (UK) are offering you the opportunity to avail of free research and consultancy related to the development, funding, marketing and commercialisation of eco-innovative products, technologies and services derived from waste FNRCs. The consultancy is available as a result of European Commission (EC) funding through the Northern Periphery & Arctic Programme.

Is it right for you?

Do you have an idea to develop a new product from fishing nets, ropes or component materials (FNRCs)? Are you a start-up or established company that would like advice on how to take your innovation to the next level? Circular Ocean may be able to guide you on the next steps!

Circular Ocean will provide support to eligible individuals and companies via email and 1:1 Skype consultations, in addition to a series of monthly open webinars covering topics including Business Models, Research & Development, Marketing, Branding and Crowdfunding based on solid examples related to FNRCs. The first in our webinar series is scheduled for Tuesday, December 19^th, click here for details and registration.

What can we offer?

• Developing new eco-innovative services, products or technology concepts that incorporate waste FNRCs
• Identify new market opportunities
• Identify opportunities to reduce costs through environmental improvements
• Explore opportunities related to material efficiency and low carbon products, technologies and services
• Greening of existing services, products and technologies that utilise waste FNRCs
• Networking opportunities with other SMEs and experts
• Cross-border facilitation to encourage business development, knowledge transfer and partnership creation
• Links to other Circular Ocean partner research and networks in Scotland, Ireland, Norway, Denmark and Greenland

Our Mentors

The Centre for Sustainable Design (CfSD) consultancy service is based on support provided to over 600 eco-innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with experience spanning over 25 years’ working on eco-innovation. Advice is industry focused, offering multi-disciplinary innovation skills and access to entrepreneurs, innovators and businesses across established regional, national and international networks. The CfSD business guide to eco-innovation has had over 60,000 downloads to date, demonstrating their reputation as leaders in the field.

Terms

• To be eligible for free consultancy support you will need to be based in the Northern Periphery and Arctic region (Greenland; Faroe Islands; Iceland; west coast of Republic of Ireland; northern areas of Scotland; Norway; Sweden; Finland; and Northern Ireland (except for Belfast))
• If you are an established company, you must have less than 250 employees
• The consultancy support is available until September 2018

How to Apply?

Interested parties should send a short description on (new) concepts, specifying the nature of the assistance required to mcharter@uca.ac.uk . All information will be treated as confidential.

The Centre for Sustainable Design ®, University for the Creative Arts, Farnham Campus, Falkner Rd, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7DS UK