Solent LEP launch new round of Innovation Programme Fund
To maintain and strengthen the excellence and impact of the business and research community in the Solent, the LEP has announced that it is opening up a further round of the Innovation Programme Fund.
Up to £3m of capital funding will be available in 2016/17 for proposals that seek to invest in new technologies, equipment, infrastructure, facilities and estates that are ready to deliver during the current financial year.
The Solent LEP are keen for the Solent region to lead the UK charge for further innovation. The area is already home to nationally and internationally renowned Universities and research centres, with planned investments valued at over £100m in the areas of marine and maritime, photonics, digital, computer science and autonomous systems; forensics and cyber-security; advanced materials; life sciences immunology and intelligent infrastructure.
The £3m funding competition further reinforces the LEPs commitment to supporting innovation and follows previous investments to bring forward the UKs first dedicated Centre for Cancer Immunology, a £25m state of the art facility Southampton, and the £11m Future Technology Centre in Portsmouth, enabling the University to work more closely with business to develop creative answers to global challenges. Both new centres are currently under construction and scheduled to open in 2017.
The LEP is specifically seeking to invest between £250,000 and £3m, in the form of grant, loan or equity in capital projects which unlock further private sector investment in the area over the next year.
Applications from organisations of all sizes and sectors are welcome and the LEP is keen to encourage "smart manufacturing" projects, enabling production to increase through the use of digital technology, as well as projects that support development of new technology.
The first of two closing dates for applications under this new round is 31st October 2016 and further information on how to apply for the fund is available at the following link:
http://solentlep.org.uk/uploads/documents/Round_2_2016-17_Innovation_Fund_-_October_2016final.pdf
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