Innovate UK's Innovate Local East comes to Norwich
A big thank you to all the businesses and regional stakeholders that joined for Innovate Local: East of England hosted in partnership with Connected Innovation at the John Innes Conference Centre Norwich Research Park.
The day was filled with inspirational businesses across various sectors talking about their innovation journeys, their successes, and the support they received from the region to overcome their challenges.
Through the sessions on Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, Agri-Tech and Food Tech innovators, financing and skills, to name but a few (more details below), SMEs connected with local support providers and each other to exchange knowledge to support their growth.
This blog recaps the event signposting to the wide-ranging support available to SMEs, both regionally and nationally, through Innovate UK and its partner organisations.
A shared vision for the region
The work Innovate UK are doing in the region is co-created with what is now Connected Innovation, based within Norfolk county council, underpinned by the Innovate UK New Anglia Local Action Plan.
Growing at pace
The team at Innovate UK Business Growth provides dedicated support for innovation-driven businesses from all sectors who want to grow at pace. Email contact@innovateukedge.ukri.org to get advice and support.
Working with universities
Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) bring together forward-thinking businesses and organisations, academics, and graduates to solve complex innovation challenges, which help our economy, society, and environment. Find out if Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnerships are right for you and your business.
Beyond grant funding
Innovate UK helps businesses to access funding at all stages of innovation through its Innovation Loans programme. Find out more about Innovate UK Innovation Loans.
Connected Innovation
Partnering with Innovate UK, Connected Innovation fosters collaboration across the East of England’s innovation ecosystem by connecting academia, public, and private sectors. The programme drives innovation, strengthens relationships, and unlocks support and investment opportunities for businesses in Norfolk and Suffolk. Find out more about Connected Innovation.
Talent & Skills
Innovate UK No Limits provides a solution for addressing the UK’s Talent and Skills gap; from developing talent and discovering new opportunities through to building skills and securing investment, it brings the best initiatives from innovative organisations across the UK. Visit the Innovate UK No Limits Platform.
Pathways for Agri-Tech and Food Tech innovators
There are current funding opportunities available for growing innovation activities in the Agri-tech and food technology cluster in Eastern England (including Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership area, Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Norfolk and Suffolk):
Launchpad support
The Agri-tech and food technology Launchpad, developed in partnership with Innovate UK, Greater Lincolnshire LEP, and local councils, aims to drive innovation in food production and sustainability.
Innovate UK has funded 12 projects so far, spanning crop yield improvements, harvesting automation, and health-focused food production, with two led by former Young Innovators programme participants.
Launchpad Round 3 offers UK-registered businesses a share of up to £2.5 million for projects advancing innovation in the agri-tech and food technology cluster in Eastern England.
Competition opens: Monday 23 Sept 2024
Competition closes: Wednesday 6 Nov 2024, 11:00am
Agri-tech and food technology, Eastern England – Round 3 CR&D
Agri-tech and food technology, Eastern England – Round 2 MFA
A one-stop shop for all innovation support
Innovate UK’s Innovation Hub is a dedicated website for all public funding and support in one place, summarised and easy to find, to save you time and effort.
About Innovate UK – Innovate Local
Hosted and co-created with regional partners and stakeholders, Innovate Local is an annual event in the region aimed specifically at SMEs, offering targeted support.
The Innovate Local programme is now in its sixth year and provides an unprecedented opportunity for businesses to find out more about the products and services offered through Innovate UK and our partners, which can really help guide and transform businesses.
About Innovate UK
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is the UK’s innovation agency. It works to create a better future by inspiring, involving and investing in businesses developing life-changing innovations. Its mission is to help companies to grow through their development and commercialisation of new products, processes, and services, supported by an outstanding innovation ecosystem that is agile, inclusive and easy to navigate.