South West College has revealed details of a £2.9 million project aimed at helping small businesses accelerate sustainable and renewable ideas.
The Centre for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technologies (CREST) will provide specialist technology and know-how to help firms develop new ‘clean and green’ products and technologies.
CREST will operate from a new purpose-built facility at the Enniskillen Technology and Skills Centre Campus and provide access to prototyping support, advanced Research and Development laboratories and state-of-the-art demonstration and testing facilities.
Led by South West College, CREST will operate across a network of specialist innovation colleges including Institute of Technology Sligo, Cavan Innovation and Technology Centre and Dumfries & Galloway College in Scotland.
South West College director Malachy McAleer said: “Many small companies need different innovation support from those currently available and the physical facilities and equipment to carry out R&D. CREST is about granting these firms access to powerful technology and resources to develop, test and commercialise their ideas.
“The CREST project positions the college as an engine for the development of smart and innovative technologies with the aim of helping to secure a genuine leadership position for local companies in the global market. It will boost industry and innovation in the region and completes a suite of innovation centres adding to our current STEM, product design and media centres.”
Expanding on existing areas of specialism within South West College, CREST provides a new focus in the emerging skills areas of environmental sustainability, engineering, product design and prototyping.
Lorraine McCourt, from the Special EU Programmes Body, welcomed the project saying: “One of the key aims of the INTERREG IVA Programme is to support innovation in business in order to boost the competitiveness of small and medium sized enterprises. In today’s business environment it is crucial for businesses to have access to excellent R&D facilities and technology. By making these available to businesses, the CREST project will enable local companies to test their ideas and projects for a fraction of the risk.”
Work on the £1 million Enniskillen CREST facility is due to begin shortly and it is expected to be completed by spring 2014. It is hoped that up to 150 businesses will be supported in the development of new R&D CREST projects in the first phase of activity.