Project to Enhance Local Businesses Development

A new £4.6m project being run by the University of Nottingham is to provide SME’s with access to free research, innovation and productivity support.

Driving Research & Innovation is a three-year collaborative programme involving the Precision Manufacturing Centre, Chemistry Innovation Laboratory and Food Innovation Centre at the university, which will provide support to 240 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire regions.

£2.3m funding is being awarded to the University via the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), using funds secured by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), with an additional £2.3m being invested in the project by the University.

Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations.

The project is available to SME businesses from all sectors, and as a collaboration between three centres includes a focus on food and drink, chemistry using businesses, and engineering and manufacturing. Driving Research and Innovation will help businesses improve their innovation culture, competitiveness and productivity through utilising the knowledge, skills and technology accessible to SMEs through the University.

The innovation and productivity challenges of every business will be addressed through collaborative R&D projects to produce new products, processes and services, interactive workshops, dissemination events, and one-to-one consultancy designed to help businesses innovate, explore new ideas and grow.