The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority approved £4.24m of Innovation Zone funding for a new business support programme, Innovate, Grow, Accelerate and Partner (IGAP), led by AIRTO member LYVA Labs.
The five-year initiative will help early-stage and scaling businesses to develop and commercialise cutting-edge health and life sciences technologies.
Delivered through three workstreams – incubator, accelerator, and challenge fund – IGAP will plug gaps in early-stage investment, providing vital technical, financial, and business support for local start-ups, spinouts, and SMEs.
- The incubator will offer tailored support for 40 early-stage businesses, helping innovators move from concept to investment-ready enterprises in fields like life sciences, clean tech, and deep tech health.
- The accelerator will focus on scaling 50 high-growth potential businesses that have already developed a minimum viable product, providing expert guidance on commercialisation, scale-up, and investment readiness.
- The £1m ‘Clean Tech for Health’ Challenge Fund will offer up to £100,000 each to at least 10 businesses tackling major public health and net zero challenges.
