A growing force for regional development

InCrops is a regional knowledge transfer project focused on new biorenewables and low carbon products from plants and plant-derived products. Based at the University of East Anglia (UEA) and run by a not-for-profit company wholly owned by UEA, it has supported over 270 businesses and enabled the creation of more than 50 new jobs and 15 new start-ups.
Project results are impressive. Against its first goal, InCrops has boosted the rate of translation of ideas into innovation region-wide. Over 30 successful innovation-related initiatives have taken place in businesses supported by InCrops, and more than 10 businesses have integrated new products, process or services.For knowledge transfer, the InCrops Enterprise Hub established a team of specialist Business Innovation Managers to bridge the gap between R&D, business and regional growth. The project is supported by 13 academic and research organisations across the region and has set up collaborative relationships with other knowledge bases in the UK and internationally. Since 2009, 40 businesses have been supported in new collaborations with the knowledge base.Moreover, the project has had a broad impact in terms of promoting low carbon economic growth. It has supported around 170 SMEs in the following sectors: bio-energy; algal technologies; bio-based materials; food, feed and agriculture; and sustainable construction materials.InCrops is expected to be sustainable beyond the project's end, helped by its trading arm, NeueAg Ltd, and the Adapt Low Carbon Group. Created in January 2012, the latter will develop links to innovation funding and the built environment.






