The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
Daera) Has Awarded £2 Million in Funding to Four Suppliers to
Progress to Phase 2 of the Small Business Research Initiative
Sbri), Aimed at Tackling the Growth of Blue-green Algae in Lough
Neagh and Other Affected Waterbodies.
Phase 2, Launched on Monday 18 August, Takes Forward the Work of
the Five Suppliers Selected via Open Competition During Phase 1.
Phase 2, Which Will Build on the Proof of Concept Work Undertaken
in Phase 1, Is Fully Funded by Daera and Is Being Delivered in
Partnership with the Strategic Investment Board Sib), Which
Continues to Manage the Competition Process on Daera's Behalf.
During Phase 2, Suppliers Will Be Required To:
- Demonstrate the Effective Treatment of Harmful Algal Bloom
Hab) Scums.
- Show Measurable Reduction or Suppression of Excessive Hab
Growth.
- Prove That Their Solutions Can Operate at Scale.
- Ensure That Their Interventions Do Not Contribute to Further
Environmental Degradation or Negatively Impact the Wider
Ecosystem or Drinking Water Quality in Lough Neagh and Its
Catchment.
Following an Inception Meeting with the Four Successful
Suppliers, Minister Muir Commented: I Am Pleased to
Welcome the Four Successful Suppliers Progressing to Phase 2 of
the In-lough Mitigation of Blue-green Algae Sbri, Supported by
Funding from My Department.
Phase 1 Has Delivered Encouraging Results, Further
Research and Development Is However Essential to Validate These
Models at Scale and Ensure Their Commercial Viability.
The Environmental Challenges Facing Lough Neagh Cannot Be
Resolved by Any Single Organisation or Sector. A Collaborative,
Science-led, and Sustained Approach Is Required - One That Unites
Communities, Government, Industry, and Environmental
Experts.
Whilst This Further Research Is Taking Place, I Am
Committed to Taking Forward the Lough Neagh Action Plan at Pace.
Restoring the Lough and Improving Water Quality Across Northern
Ireland Requires Sustained Effort and Investment. My Vision Is
for a Healthy, Resilient Environment with Consistently High Water
Standards. I Remain Fully Committed to Taking Decisive Action to
Protect and Enhance Our Waterways.”
Suppliers Selected for Phase 2 Are:
- Queen's University Belfast Qub)
- Wholeschool Software Ltd & Biild.Ai
- Varicon Aqua Solutions Ltd
- Clear Water Systems Ltd
Phase 2 Is Expected to Run Until March 2027.
Notes to Editors:
1. Sbri Structure:
- Phase 1: Five Suppliers Were Awarded a Total of £450,000 in
September 2024 Open Competition Jointly Funded by Daera and the
Department for the Economy via the Sbri Challenge Fund) to
Develop Proof-of-concept Solutions.
- Phase 2: Four Suppliers from Phase 1 Awarded up to Million to
Progress to Phase 2 and Further Develop and Pilot Their Concepts.
2. The Competition Is Managed by Sib on Behalf of Daera, Which
Remains the Contracting Authority.
3. At the Conclusion of the Sbri, Daera May Choose to Procure One
or More of the Developed Solutions Through a Separate Public
Procurement Process. There Is No Obligation to Do So, and Any
Future Procurement Will Be Open to Competition.
