Build a sustainable business | Manchester Metropolitan University

Greater Manchester Electrochemical Hydrogen Cluster

Greater Manchester Electrochemical Hydrogen Cluster (GMEHC) aims to speed up the development and adoption of electrochemical hydrogen technology.

Through GMEHC, we help firms access expert knowledge, research and facilities to develop new products and technologies, create new supply chains, build collaborations and train their staff.

Hydrogen has the potential to become a leading source of energy — it can be used for heating, powering vehicles and industrial processes.

As it’s cleaner and more efficient than fossil fuels, it could have a major role to play in reaching Net Zero environmental targets.

Support is available for:

research and development — open to businesses of all sizes, who will take part in one of up to 15 projects, lasting between three and 15 months
capacity building — aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), who need support with market analysis, developing products and services, and preparing for change

Companies will need to submit an expression of interest to join the programme.

Costs

The scheme is funded by Innovate UK. SMEs working on capacity-building projects will not have to pay to take part. Companies involved in research and development work will be expected to contribute in kind to project costs, due to UK state subsidy rules.

How GMEHC can help your business

Access world-leading expertise

Research teams are internationally recognised for their specialist knowledge.

Get technical insights

Understand the potential of electrochemical hydrogen technologies for your business.

Build networks within a specialised field

Develop relationships with potential suppliers, customers and partners.

Develop new products or services

Design and prototype commercial offers based on hydrogen fuel sources.

Work with us

The projects being backed are undertaking world-leading research to address some of the biggest challenges we face.

Andy Burnham

Mayor of Greater Manchester

The projects being backed are undertaking world-leading research to address some of the biggest challenges we face.

Andy Burnham

Mayor of Greater Manchester

Working with business

GMEHC is a consortium of four research bodies led by Manchester Met, where the Manchester Fuel Cell Innovation Centre is based.

Our partners are the University of Manchester, the National Physical Laboratory and the Henry Royce Institute.

Funded by Innovate UK, GMEHC will run initially until at least April 2025.

National Physical Laboratory

University of Manchester

Henry Royce Institute

What to do next

A limited number of places are available for businesses that wish to work with GMEHC.

For more information, please get in touch.

You can also complete the initial expression of interest form. The consortium will contact you if it needs more information or after it has reviewed your application.

Contact us

If you have questions about the support available, please get in touch.

GMEHC@mmu.ac.uk

Applicant details

Organisation name

Applicant name

Applicant job title

Email address

Organisation website

Organisation address

Street address

Postal code

Type of organisation

Microbusiness

Fewer than 10 employees

Small or medium sized enterprise

Between 11 and 500 employees

Large organisation

More than 500 employees

Investigation details

Your challenge

Describe the measurement or research and development challenge you have.

You should include:

the overall objective
why this is important
what outputs and intellectual property (if any) you hope will be generated
why this project should be done now

Provide a link to any relevant public domain information.

To be considered, your project will need to:

advance electrochemical and hydrogen technologies
have the ability to exploit the innovation created
address the net-zero and sustainable materials agenda

We particularly welcome applications from Greater Manchester-based SMEs.

We expect successful applicants to work with GMEHC to produce published case studies. The case studies will highlight the types of projects supported and the positive outcomes delivered. They will not include commercially sensitive information.

By applying, you acknowledge that the data shared will be used by the partners in administering the programme.

Data Protection

The Manchester Metropolitan University ('the University') is the Data Controller for the personal data you disclose via this form. We are one of the members of the Greater Manchester Electrochemical Hydrogen Cluster consortium, each of which acts as an independent controller. We will use the data provided to contact you about your project proposal, opportunities to work with consortium partners, or access to specialist facilities, and workshop and events. We rely upon the public task lawful basis to use your information for these purposes. Your information will be shared with the other members of the consortium as required, if your project will benefit from their expertise and facilities.  If you have consented to receive our marketing communications we will also use your personal data to send you targeted information about relevant services and benefits which we think will be of interest. You can withdraw your consent to receiving any, or all, of the above communications at any point by emailing enterprisemarketing@mmu.ac.uk. Unless you unsubscribe, we will retain your information up to 31 April 2035. We do this to satisfy the audit requirements of our funders. For further information about us, how we process your personal data and your rights, please view our privacy notice.

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