Ideas Lab

Through the Ideas Lab, we offered residents:

• bespoke business support and mentoring
• office space in our award-winning hub
• access to our networks and events
• regular legal clinics with Lab sponsors Shepherd and Wedderburn
• the chance to work with NERC-funded PhD researchers

Ideas Lab impact

In the first two years of the programme alone:

• 60% of residents secured investment
• 13 new products or services created
• 9 partnerships with academic institutions
• 7 new jobs were created
• 5 awards won by residents
• 4 international collaborations
• 1 NERC-funded student placement

Who took part?

A diverse and talented bunch, our ‘Ideas Labbers’ represented a range of exciting innovations. Supported projects included capturing solar/wind energy from roads, and a device that cuts down petrol usage in vehicles. The common denominator was their potential to boost Scotland’s progress towards a low carbon economy.

Each resident fought off stiff competition to secure a base at ECCI and get their business off the ground.

“Being part of ECCI’s Ideas Lab has helped us accelerate the development of our company, with turnover and employment increasing at an unprecedented rate.” Ideas Lab resident, Town Rock Energy

Current business support

The Ideas Lab may have closed its doors, but we haven’t stopped supporting low carbon start-ups. We still deliver coaching, business support and office space to innovative climate enterprises through our Climate-KIC programme.