IFB Partner, Middlesex University, has launched the Nature + Innovation Accelerator (N+IA), a new programme designed to support companies to become nature positive, to develop profitable business models leveraging environmental innovations.
The Accelerator is driven by Professor Robyn Owen, Dr Amy Burnett, and IFB Knowledge Exchange Fellow, Dougal Fleming who also co-facilitates the programme. It aims to help small and medium-sized enterprises working in the green economy to strengthen their business models, demonstrate environmental impact, and access finance. The initiative has received seed funding from Innovate UK and the Natural Environment Research Council through the IFB Programme.
The N+IA provides a structured syllabus across three key stages — innovation, commercialisation, and deployment — combining face-to-face and online sessions, expert mentoring, bespoke workshops, and investor showcase events.
Participating companies receive guidance on areas including environmental impact measurement, financial planning, intellectual property development, and scaling strategies. The ideal participating company is one working to restore natural habitats, and can help national parks or wildlife trust work in marine environments, terrestrial or riparian solutions. We are seeking co-funding partners who can launch this business engagement programme across a catchment, landscape or micro climate to hone in on environmental relevance, market potential, scalability, technical capability, and willingness to collaborate.
Since its launch, the accelerator has supported two cohorts of 28 companies in 2024 and 2025, building an alumni network of credible environmental ventures ranging from sustainable packaging and materials to data-driven environmental technologies.
Dougal said -
“We now want to target this initiative to improve specific ecosystems. We have a growing community of investable, resilient businesses that embed nature restoration directly into their commercial models, delivering environmental, social, and economic impact, and we want more. Many National Parks and Wildlife Trusts know the full value of their work through the lends of natural capital. We at Middlesex Uni want to take the most supportive companies and those predisposed to help do this work and bake in their commercial success through the Nature Positive Innovation Accelerator (N+IA). This could be focused on a sector like agriculture, transport or tourism, it could also be focused on restoring a river, improving habitats or purifying the air.”
If you are interested in finding out more then please get in contact with Dougal.