Entrepreneurial Futures (2024 – 2025)

Nurturing, embedding and accelerating an entrepreneurial culture in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
Isles of scilly
Entrepreneurial Futures was a major new initiative that supported businesses and communities in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly through a £5.6 million investment from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The project aimed to inspire innovation and drive economic growth by connecting businesses with the region’s further and higher education institutions through research and development-led activities.
Focusing on research priorities in support of key sectors for the county’s economy, the ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ delivered activities around net zero, clean energy, agri-robotics, immersive technologies and coastal communities.
The initiative involved leading experts from the University working with businesses and other stakeholders across the region, providing them with access to advice, support, industry-leading facilities and academic collaboration.
Entrepreneurial Futures
 
Project title
Entrepreneurial Futures. Nurturing, embedding and accelerating an entrepreneurial culture in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly: an agile approach from higher and further education providers
Funding body
:
Funding amount and duration
£5.6 million, 2024 – 2025
¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ PI
 Professor Will Blake
Location
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (IoS), UK
Project partners
¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ, University of Exeter (lead), Falmouth University, Duchy College

We are proud to be involved in the Entrepreneurial Futures project, a cornerstone of regional development and innovation aimed at empowering Cornwall and Isles of Scilly businesses and communities. By fostering transdisciplinary research collaboration, we harness diverse academic expertise to tackle the intricate challenges of entrepreneurship in rapidly evolving markets. Through practical applications and real-world impact, we pave the way for local businesses to navigate and flourish in dynamic landscapes, ultimately benefiting both communities and industries.

Will BlakeProfessor Will Blake
Professor of Catchment Science, Director of the Sustainable Earth Institute

 

Our project strands

Focusing on major research priorities for the region, the project included sector support in the following strands with expertise from Plymouth.

Sustainability Hub
Net Zero
Working with businesses to deliver research and development-led approaches to achieving net zero
Celtic Sea floating offshore wind
Clean Energy
Modelling and simulation to develop innovative approaches to floating offshore wind (FLOW)
ELMS-Exchange event
Agri-tech
Supporting agricultural businesses to use research, technology and data to develop sustainable farming practices
Immersive Media Lab
Immersive Technologies
Inspiring businesses to leverage immersive technologies through expert guidance and collaborative research
Coastal communities
Coastal Communities
Investigating a fairer funding model for South West England
 

Entrepreneurial Futures central project team

 

Across the wider project partnership

The multi-faceted programme covered other major research priorities:
  • H

    Geo-resources

  • H

    Robotics/Automation

  • H

    Agri-food

  • H

    Biodiversity

  • H

    Business Circularity

Facilities to support an entrepreneurial ecosystem:
  • a new environmental living laboratory at Duchy College that will enable businesses, communities, academia and learners to explore different technologies, products, services and processes used in environmental land management
  • a pioneering geotracer facility at the University of Exeter to trace river/marine pollution, land contamination and groundwater sources – a capability opening up new areas of development and innovation that can be tackled in county.
Research Foundation projects aimed to address fundamental issues associated with entrepreneurial growth in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly – identifying root cause and potential solutions, and providing advice to government and policy makers.
Specifically:
  • ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ’s work on coastal communities
  • University of Exeter focusing on localised digital skills mapping and labour market and housing issues.
Support for Cornwall and Isles of Scilly-based businesses and organisations:
  • academic/research time
  • access to world-class facilities to assist with business-led research development and innovation (RD&I) projects
  • internship opportunities to assist with a specific RD&I project
  • workshops and dissemination events to actively engage and support enterprise and innovation.
 
 

Project funders

 

Project partners

 
Tamar Bridge looking towards Cornwall

Explore our research

Find out about our internationally renowned research and expertise at the ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ.
Research and expertise