What is the project?
Businesses need to continually innovate to remain competitive in the face of global challenges. However, many SMEs are not aware of the potential benefits of collaborating with the knowledge base (further and higher education institutions and the wider public sector), and might not know how to access the expertise that is available to them in the region.
The Innovation Vouchers scheme addresses the lack of interaction by intervening to encourage SMEs to work with the knowledge base. This is achieved by reducing costs and brokering the contact between SMEs and the experts in our region. The voucher, valued at up to £3,000, and support should help to ensure that many SMEs will then continue to work with further and higher education institutions long into the future.
What is its purpose?
To encourage 1,100 businesses over two years to interact with the further education and higher education institutions across the Northwest to increase their productivity and / or competitiveness.
How much funding has it received from ERDF?
£2 million.
How much funding has it received from other funding partners?
£2 million from all other project partners including the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA).
Who applied for this project?
NWDA.
Who can I contact to find out more?
Sheila Deighton.
How can I contact them?
sheila.deighton@nwda.co.uk.