ABOUT THE FLOOD INNOVATION CENTRE
Led by:
REDUCING THE HUMBER’S LONG-TERM FLOOD RISK
Protecting our community whilst boosting business
In the Humber region, flood risk poses an immediate danger to 32,500 businesses, 197,000 residential properties and 115,000 hectares of land. As a threat that impacts every sector, it’s essential that we turn flood risk into an opportunity that the region can thrive from.
We offer a range of funded services to help eligible business and community organisations prepare for rising flood risk, including free flood surveys and support to develop new products and services in flood resilience.
Stimulating SME research, development and innovation
Since the devastating impact of the 2007 Hull floods, which affected homes and businesses across the Humber with fatal consequences, the University of Hull has been working hard to develop leading research and knowledge in flood resilience.
Located at the University, the Energy and Environment Institute includes an interdisciplinary team living and working in areas that face significant flood risk.
Recognising the need for an innovation centre targeted specifically at enhancing the resilience of the people, property and businesses of the Humber, the team at the Energy and Environment Institute developed the £3million Flood Innovation Centre project to stimulate flood innovation amongst regional SMEs. The project is receiving up to £1.65m of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (and in London the intermediate body Greater London Authority) is the Managing Authority for European Regional Development Fund. Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations. The ERDF funding has been matched with a £1.29 million contribution from the University of Hull and the Aviva Foundation.
After securing the contract, the Flood Innovation Centre was set up to drive innovation and support different approaches and solutions to flood resilience. Working in the local community, with businesses, schools and education providers, the Flood Innovation Centre is helping to establish the Humber as a centre of excellence for developments in flood innovation.
OTHER UNIVERSITY OF HULL SUPPORT
The University of Hull has spearheaded a range of collaborations that are driving economic growth, particularly in the areas of flood resilience and low carbon. We have a family of brands that are providing expert support and assistance to businesses, as well as conducting world-leading research.
ARK
The proposed ARK National Flood Resilience Centre will provide realistic environments to enable businesses, specialists and communities to build flood resilience through collaborative training and research across the UK.
AIC
The Aura Innovation Centre (AIC) is helping Humber SMEs progress low-carbon innovation by shaping and defining ideas through to accessing specialist funded support.
SparkFund
SparkFund is an innovation, research and development support and grants programme to help improve services to develop exciting new products for SMEs across the Humber and North Yorkshire.
THYME
The THYME project aims to build on the region’s world-class bio-economy assets to drive increased productivity for companies operating in the sector, in the North of England.
