SME Innovation Initiative

Do you have a business idea that you want to develop with the help of experts in order to try and access additional external funding? Does this business idea involve the use of satellite data or satellite-enabled services?

The South Coast Centre of Excellence in Satellite Applications SME Innovation Initiative is a funding scheme designed to support businesses in the region who are working with satellite data to develop a new product or service. Through the initiative, you can claim up to £5,000 of advice and expertise to develop this idea and produce a written funding proposal for a UK or EU funding call. The funding can be used to develop Industrial Research, a Technical Feasibility Study or Experimental Development.

As industrial partner, you must be willing to make a cash or in-kind contribution to the academic partner which at least matches the value of the funding allocated work but by working with one of our experts on your novel idea, your project idea will be identified and then progressed into a formal application for external funding in the hope of generating further funding to support your innovation or research activity and support the growth of your business.

Eligibility

To qualify for the South Coast CoE SME Initiative you must:

  • be starting up or running a micro, small or medium-sized UK business
  • be located in the South Coast region.
  • be willing and able to match in cash or in-kind to the value of the funding allocated

Please note that funding will be granted to the expert who works with you on your idea, and funding will only be allocated on submission of a written funding proposal for a UK or EU funding call.

 

Funding Calls will open on the following dates:

November 1st 2017

January 1st 2018

Closing dates for applications are the last day of the same month.

Application and other useful information:

SCCoE-Model_FUNDING_Innovation-Initiative-SME_Eligible-and-ineligible-costs_templatev.001-1

SCCoE_Model_FUNDING_Innovation Initiative SMEs_Application Form_Templatev.001

SCCoE_Model_FUNDING_Innovation Initiative SME_Financial Documentation Requirements_Templatev.001

Please email sccoe@port.ac.uk for more information.

Space to Accelerate

Does your start-up idea or business use downstream space-based technologies such as position, navigation, timing, imaging or sensing?

Would you like access to discounted office space and free business training, coaching, advice and guidance on developing your product or service and getting it to market?

In collaboration with the UK Space Agency, we’re offering 6 downstream space businesses all this and more on the Space 2 Accelerate incubation programme.

What you get

If your application is successful, you’ll get:

Who can apply?

To apply, your idea or business needs to be in the downstream space sector in an area such as navigation, timing, imaging or sensing. For information on other areas visit https://www.port.ac.uk/business/space-2-accelerate

How to apply

Apply now by emailing space2accelerate@port.ac.uk. We’ll then send you a link to an online tool to assess your suitability for the programme.

The deadline for applications is 31 October 2018.

If you are successful, you will need to take up your discounted full desk membership at the University’s Innovation Centre when you start the programme.

 

Sprint for space

Space technology and data has huge potential for commercial use. How can your business exploit these opportunities for growth?

SPRINT (Space Research and Innovation Network for Technology) is a space sector high-growth programme for SMEs to:

  • Innovate and develop technologies for the space sector.
  • Enter the growing space sector with existing and new products.
  • Use technologies or data from space to innovate products for your market.

How can you benefit?

Sprint gives funded access to the expertise and equipment of leading UK universities to support your new product and market programmes. It will support 150 projects over three years starting in April 2018. It will be delivered by five universities: Leicester; Open University, Southampton, Surrey and Edinburgh and can support businesses across the UK.

Projects can include:

  • Materials and equipment for any aspect of the sector supply chain.
  • Satellite sensor systems.
  • Innovative processing and visualisation of satellite -derived data.
  • Application of satellite-derived data in ANY industry or sector.
  • Proof of concept studies.
  • Exploring entry to the space sector.

Did you Know?

  • Growing plants in a spacecraft led to devices that eliminated bacteria, viruses and moulds from air, surfaces and even laundry.
  • Satellites help pinpoint the optimum sites for hydro-electric turbines.
  • Space technology is used in hi-tech medical diagnostic equipment.
  • NASA helped a company develop a kiln to turn waste plastic into petroleum products.
  • GPS is crucial to development of autonomous vehicles.
  • Technology from astronauts suits has helped women suffering from postpartum haemorrhage.

SPRINT programme general enquiries:

William Wells

e: ww88@le.ac.uk

t: 0116 223 1376