Lux Biotech based in Neath Port Talbot, has won nearly £50,000 of grant funding from Innovate UK and the Welsh Government.
Lux Biotech has won a share of Innovate UK and Welsh Governments’ £1.5million funding pool for New innovators in net zero industry, South West Wales. Supported by the University’s Applied Research for Circular Solutions (ARCS) team, Dr Chris Charles successfully bid for funding to support the growth of his biotechnology company.
Photo: Myhrden (left), Chris (right)
“We are thrilled to receive this funding from Innovate UK, it will allow us to take on new staff and grow the business within Wales. Lux Biotech is all about using waste to treat pollution, and the support from ARCS has helped us to find new partners, inside and outside the University, who can make stuff happen.”
Dr Chris Charles, Founder, Lux Biotech
The company utilises effluents that would otherwise need treatment into feedstock for bacteria-focused biotechnology, which is then used for large-scale water treatment. The novel approach is carbon-negative and can help reduce prominent greenhouse gas emissions associated with sewerage and water treatment plants. Using waste as a starting point means the product is more cost-effective too.
“It has been great to work with Chris, he had a clear vision of what his company needed, and we brought a circular economy lens to help him find solutions, and funding! It’s fantastic to see his hard work pay off, we’re pleased to have played a part in making it happen.”
Myhrden Major, Research and Innovation Fellow, Swansea University
Identifying and applying for funding is one of the key skills of research-based academics, and the ARCS team helped to find the opportunity and refine the application. The funding is from Innovate UK’s Launchpad programme, which aims to provide packages of targeted support that enable ambitious UK-registered micro and small businesses to develop highly innovative ideas that have a clear route to commercialisation and business growth. Innovate UK has worked with the Welsh Government to deliver this programme, which offers grants from £25,000 - £50,000 and additional business support for companies in South West Wales to grow their innovation activities in net zero industry.