MORE than £2million has been made available to improve the efficiency of small and medium sized businesses in Cumbria.

Around 70 businesses gathered for the launch event of the money, which comes from the European Regional Development Fund.

The money is aimed at sparking eco-innovation – research which might result in collaborations between the University of Cumbria and commerce.

Eligible innovative SME businesses will have access to a programme of events which will include more detailed forums, lectures and residential workshops.

Funds are also available for placement of researchers into businesses where there are ideas for innovation which will lower greenhouse gases.

The launch included a taster Open Innovation Forum run by Kieran Brocklebank, head of innovation at United Utilities.

"We know SME’s – big and small – have ideas which could take off if they had some support to make it happen," Annette Suddes from the University of Cumbria said. "This could be in the form of a short term placement where a student works exclusively on a project or a longer term scheme delivered by the University of Cumbria or one of our partner universities."