A project that will help increase the competitiveness of local Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the chemical industry is to receive 3.9 million euros (£3.4 million).
The economic development project, known as LabFact, will unite leading research centres in the Channel area, including the University of Sussex, in supporting and training SMEs on clean and environmentally-friendly ways to manufacture fine chemicals.
Through a series of development courses and consultation services, SMEs in the South of England and North of France will learn production techniques which will help unlock new, low cost and low waste manufacturing opportunities in the industry.
Professor Mark Bagley, who leads the team at the University of Sussex, said: “The chemical sector is hugely important to both the French and UK economy, and we are all excited to have the opportunity to share our knowledge through this significant project, with such strong financial backing.
“Sussex brings expertise in microwave-assisted synthesis, flow processing, drug discovery and array synthesis to help innovate manufacturing for the future.
“We are especially pleased that the LabFact project has a focus on working with SMEs to develop more efficient and sustainable methods of production in the chemical industry, benefiting both the economy and environment in the Channel area.”
The programme will support four new PhD studentships at the University of Sussex and new mechanochemistry and photochemistry reactors to add to existing instrumental technology.
Seven partners from the UK and France will be involved in the LabFact project, including the University of Sussex’s Chemistry department. The team members are: Professor Mark Bagley, Professor John Spencer, Professor Brian Cox, Dr Eddy Viseux and Dr John Turner.
The overall project budget will total 5.7 million euros, with 69% funded by the Interreg FCE programme, representing a European Development Fund budget of 3.9 million euros.