Well, the short answer is – there’s a Government funded body for that.
The fact is, that it’s a substantial beastie with a quite bewildering array of technology and research organisations; all desperate for a slice of the significant available government funding, secured by developing technology based solutions for UK industry to commercialise. Whilst aerospace, IT and pharmaceuticals take advantage, these resources remain massively underutilised in the largest UK manufacturing sector of all – our food Industry. SMEs in particular, the engine room of our future economic growth are missing out.
Why? Two things spring to my mind – awareness and perceived ease of access. If you’re reading this, that’s the first one ticked. For the second, read on ….
One of the key organisations is Innovate UK who seem particularly attuned to connecting ideas, knowledge, expertise, skills and research infrastructure with business. Working in collaboration with research funding councils, business and academia, Innovate UK provides support to UK companies of all sizes to stimulate business led innovation.
Innovate have established 9 UK Catapults. Each Catapult specialises in a different area of technology spanning gene therapy to renewable energy. All working to solve problems and develop solutions whether it’s products, processes, around sustainability, process optimisation, efficiency or automation. They work with companies and the research base to develop new products and services, and provide training to accelerate commercial success and payback. They’ll also help you to secure funding to support your own investment.
I talked to Rosa Wilkinson, Communications Director of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult . A not for profit organisation which has a really relevant offering to the food sector. She advised that to engage with them it’s as simple as:
- Calling one of their 7 centres.
- Getting connected with a Business Development Manager.
- Starting an exploratory discussion about your needs or aspirations (or both) – possibly including a site visit.
- Together, developing a proposition – including costing.
If it qualifies your technology project could get matched government funding or one of a number of grants available under various schemes and subject to certain eligibility criteria. If you need more there is a published Guide for Small Businesses on the British Chambers of Commerce website.
Formed by Innovate back in 2015 the Knowledge Transfer Network Network (KTN) is also a very worthwhile organisation to engage with. KTN helps organisations interested in innovation access the practical expert information, funding and connections needed to bring business ambitions to reality. With sector specific experts to support businesses of all sizes; enabling them to optimise innovation investment and grant funding.
KTN also provide some great FREE to download resources to help businesses to identify their innovation opportunities – try the innovation canvas . It comes with full instructions and expertise on hand for you to call on if you need help.
So, go create your business strategy to include transformational and technology driven innovation. In the words of Dean Kamen – an American engineer, inventor, and businessman:
‘Every once in a while, a new technology, an old problem, and a big idea turn into an innovation.’
If your interested in exploring funding for innovation or have a great idea to develop, contact me for a free non obligation discussion.