Imperial Innovations: low carbon seed fund launched

Press release from Imperial Innovations

Seed funding available

Imperial Innovations Group plc (AIM: IVO), one of the leading technology transfer and commercialisation companies in the UK, today announces a new £2 million fund, The Low Carbon Seed Fund, which has been established through £1 million from Imperial Innovations that was funded by a grant from Shell Foundation and through £1 million from The Carbon Trust. 

The fund will invest in early stage UK companies which aim to develop clean or alternative energy technologies, including wind power, solar power, tidal power, fuel cells, biofuels and new materials.

As part of the agreement, Imperial Innovations will use its expertise to select potential opportunities that will fulfil the fund’s investment criteria and will prepare investment proposals for the fund’s selection.  Investments will range between £50,000 and £250,000 and will usually be made at the seed or first stage financing rounds.

Susan Searle, CEO of Imperial Innovations said: “The launch of The Low Carbon Seed Fund is a very exciting opportunity for companies, in the Imperial Innovations spin-out portfolio and the wider renewable energy sector, that are seeking investment.  We are delighted to work with two such highly regarded organisations and look forward to managing the pipeline of investment propositions.”

Chris West, Deputy Director of Shell Foundation said: “Despite the overall abundance of investment in the low carbon sector, there is a gap in the availability of skills and capital to support innovative growth-orientated companies at seed funding stage.  Shell Foundation is pleased to partner with Imperial Innovations and The Carbon Trust in an effort to fill this gap. We look forward to working with Naiem Hussain of Imperial Innovations, in his role as fund services manager.”

 

Jonathan Bryers, Partner at Carbon Trust Investments, said: “The Low Carbon Seed Fund is an extension of the ongoing investment activities of the Carbon Trust.  We have been investing in early stage clean technologies for more than four years, demonstrating that this sector offers significant business and investment opportunities. This fund will invest at seed funding stage into exciting clean energy technology companies with commercial potential and will be a natural investor for companies emerging from the Carbon Trust Incubator Programme.  Taking these ideas from prototype to mass market is essential if we are to create a low carbon economy in the UK.”

For more information contact:

Imperial Innovations
Susan Searle
Chief Executive Officer
Tel: +44 20 7594 6591
Lucy Ahfong
Marketing Officer
Tel: +44 20 7594 6644
 
The Shell Foundation
Simon Bishop
[email protected]
Tel: +44 20 7934 2097
 
The Carbon Trust
The Carbon Trust press office
Tel: +44 20 7544 3100