East Midlands Investment Zone’s first year of delivery accelerates technology innovation

The East Midlands Investment Zone (EMIZ) has completed its first year of place-based grants supporting businesses at the forefront of the UK’s green industrial future. Over £500,000 in funding was awarded to a cohort of 15 ‘fast start’ pilot projects – each pairing businesses with university-based researchers to accelerate the development of profitable, low-emission technologies.

The fast start projects were part of the first phase in EMIZ’s ten-year, £160 million commitment from Government to transform the East Midlands into an engine for innovation-led growth. The programme offers a blend of financial incentives – including grants, business rate retention, and tax relief—designed to support business innovation in sectors that are central to the net zero transition.

The East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) awarded grants across EMIZ’s four priority sectors: zero emissions propulsion, clean energy, green construction, and sustainable advanced manufacturing. These sectors were chosen based on the region’s industrial strengths, world-leading research capacity, and alignment with emerging clean technology markets for their potential to deliver high-growth outcomes.

The inaugural projects support growth across the East Midlands region, with over half of the businesses based outside Nottingham and Derby. All projects were delivered in collaboration with researchers from one of the region’s academic partners: the University of Nottingham, University of Derby, or Nottingham Trent University.

Technology roadmaps for each sector are in development, an effort led by the University of Nottingham, in partnership with sector specialists. These roadmaps will identify the areas where the East Midlands has competitive advantage and guide EMIZ investments, including how future grant funded projects are decided. The roadmaps are set to be published summer 2025 as part of the EMIZ Investment Strategy.

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said: “The East Midlands has been a powerhouse for technological innovation in technology since the industrial revolution. As Mayor, I am honouring and building on that legacy by investing £160 million into the East Midlands Investment Zone, which is making and sustaining crucial links between research and actual business practice.

“During the first year of the programme, we have seen huge progress across growth sectors such clean energy, green construction, and sustainable manufacturing. This translates into exciting, skilled, and well-paid jobs for the people of the East Midlands.

“Today shows what is possible when government backs local organisations and give them the tools they need to succeed. This is how we make our region the best place in the UK for businesses to start, scale, and stay.”

Minister of State for Building Safety, Fire and Local Growth, Alex Norris MP, said: “The East Midlands has an incredible industrial history. Now we want to build an amazing future for the region, realising its potential and putting it at the heart of our mission to grow the national economy.

“Visiting the Zero Carbon Innovation Centre in Nottingham this week, I saw first-hand the amazing work already underway to build on the area’s strengths in green technology and advanced manufacturing.

“And the East Midlands Investment Zone, backed by government funding, is supporting brilliant projects across the region, giving them the tools they need to create jobs and drive growth.”

Professor Jane Norman, President and Vice Chancellor, University of Nottingham, said: “These projects show the East Midlands at its best – bringing together ambition, research excellence, and industrial know-how to unlock new opportunities.

“At the University of Nottingham, we’re not just solving technical challenges, we’re helping define the region’s future. That’s what it means to be not just good at something, but good for something.”

The East Midlands Investment Zone programme is overseen by the East Midlands Combined County Authority, and complements a suite of regional initiatives, including the East Midlands Freeport and the forthcoming EMIZ Investment Strategy and Local Growth Plan, both due later this year.

Example Projects:

• Vibration Energy Harvesting – A collaboration between Unipart Rail and the University of Derby, this project is developing a device that will convert some of the unwanted/adverse vibration energy, experienced by rail passengers on transit, to useful electrical energy.

• Enabling Electric Propulsion through Power Electronics – A collaboration between The Thinking Pod innovations (TTPi) and the University of Nottingham, this project focused on developing low weight, high efficiency power converters for hydrogen fuel cell applications such as electric trucks, hydrogen powered electrical aerospace or electricity grid storage.

• Hydrogen Shunting Locomotive – A collaboration between the University of Derby and Clayton Equipment Ltd, this study assessed the potential for converting an existing diesel-hybrid shunting locomotive into a fuel cell hybrid shunting locomotive. The results show that a hydrogen-powered locomotive is a future-proof alternative and a sustainable, economically viable solution in the medium to long term.

• Intelligent Digital Twins for Sustainable Industry – A collaboration between Bloc Digital and the University of Derby, the “Intelligent Digital Twins” project used advanced AI to improve virtual models for engineering of physical objects, helping industries make better decisions. It successfully predicted when to maintain aircraft, enhancing their lifespan and opening new business opportunities for Bloc Digital.

If you are interested in learning more about the future of the grant programme, and whether you are eligible, please get in touch with Ben Sumner, Innovation Clusters Director at the University of Nottingham at: ben.sumner@nottingham.ac.uk.

Find out more about the East Midlands Investment Zone here.