ECCI start-up uFraction8 awarded €50k

ECCI supported start-up uFraction8 has been awarded a H2020 SME Instrument Phase 1 grant to the value of €50,000.

The award will help the sustainable bioprocessing specialists - who have designed an energy efficient and sustainable alternative to industrial centrifuges - to undertake pre-revenue activities. These include strengthening their IP position, developing a supply chain and understanding the regulatory framework and market for their innovative low carbon technology.

Competition for the award is notoriously tough - only the most convincing and excellent proposals get funded after a thorough evaluation by multinational panels of technology, business and finance experts.

Chief Operating Officer Monika Tomecka is a Falkirk-based biologist who led the company to the global finals of ClimateLaunchpad 2017. She and Managing Director Brian Miller battled through multiple stages to bid successfully for the highly competitive grant, drawing on expertise from mentors and experts - including their Climate-KIC mentor and peers at ECCI.

At the end of the six month period of de-risking activity, they will produce a feasibility and business plan and bid for the €2.5 million H2020 SME Instrument Phase 2 grant, which funds commercialisation and technical research and development.

uFraction8 is currently part of the Climate-KIC Accelerator Stage 2 programme at ECCI - the EU-funded business support programme which offers entrepreneurs coaching, workshops and funding of up to 60,000 euros to take their markets by storm. ECCI currently supports 23 start-ups through Climate-KIC business growth programmes.

uFraction Managing Director Brian Miller said: “This is a highly sought-after grant with a low success rate, so it’s a great achievement for us.

"We’re excited to take this next step to getting out there into the marketplace and making a difference.”

"We’re really grateful to Scottish Enterprise, the Enterprise Europe Network and our Climate-KIC mentor who really helped us to refine our plans."

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