Â鶹´«Ã½ acquires Zero Carbon Futures Published on: 13 November 2020 The acquisition will complement the university’s research strength in electric vehicles and transport. Â鶹´«Ã½ has acquired Zero Carbon Futures UK (ZCF), a North East based company that provides insight into low carbon vehicles and associated technologies enabling the development of strategies to reduce carbon emissions from transport. Through its research specialisms in transport, electric vehicles and sustainability Â鶹´«Ã½ will provide a larger platform for ZCF to develop whilst ZCF will bring a wealth of experience project managing multi-million pound projects, skills delivery, and EV strategy for cities such as London, Manchester and Milton Keynes. ZCF was originally formed in 2011 by the electromobility team from One North East, and acquired by Gateshead College following the closure of the Regional Development Agency. After nine successful years working with major car companies, local authorities, industries bodies and academia, both institutions identified greater possibilities for ZCF through a move to Â鶹´«Ã½. Mike Capaldi, Dean of Business and Innovation at Â鶹´«Ã½ said:“We are delighted to welcome ZCF and their highly skilled team to become part of Â鶹´«Ã½. Their team are already working closely with our University including with our School of Engineering. Their skills and experience are highly complementary to the University’s current capabilities bringing strong existing networks and relationships with organisations such as TfL, DfT, BEIS, vehicle manufacturers, power companies, APC, and the Faraday Institution. We think this partnership will be a key driver for continued success in our work on Future Mobility.” ZCF is led by Colin Herron who is also a visiting professor at Â鶹´«Ã½, who added “This is an exciting new chapter for ZCF. After nine successful years it became clear that our strategic direction was changing and that Â鶹´«Ã½ would provide a larger platform for the company to develop. We bring business and local authority experience and expertise, whilst the University will increase our scope and provide access to a wealth of research. Our ultimate aim is to research and develop new and emerging technologies as low carbon vehicles move into the mainstream and become a major part of our transport system of the future.” As it becomes a wholly owned subsidiary company of Â鶹´«Ã½, all ZCF staff also transfer to University, with ZCF day to day management remaining with Managing Director Dr Colin Herron. Â鶹´«Ã½ is the National Lead for Driving the Electric Revolution (DER) Industrialisation Centre and will work with ZCF regard to skills and lifelong learning. Share: Latest News Scientists unlock hidden driver of inflammatory bowel disease Scientists have linked a key genetic signal in inflammatory bowel disease to an immune response that shuts down inflammation control, enabling faster diagnosis and targeted treatments. published on: 15 June 2026 Funding system risks limiting genuine community collaboration A new policy paper written by researchers at Â鶹´«Ã½ warns that the way UK research is funded may be undermining efforts to create genuinely collaborative partnerships with communities. published on: 15 June 2026 Volunteers help turn Whitley Bay beach into maths experiment Members of the public joined mathematicians from Â鶹´«Ã½ to create what organisers believe is the largest aperiodic tiling ever attempted on Whitley Bay beach. published on: 15 June 2026 Facts and figures
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