Innovative businesses are to benefit from a wealth of support and opportunities over this financial year, as outlined in the Technology Strategy Board’s (TSB) 2014-15 Delivery Plan.
The Delivery Plan sets out TSB’s priorities for accelerating innovation across the UK by providing support for innovation to lay the foundations for economic growth. Plans include:
- Continuation of support for SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) and the launch of a new, UK-wide SME growth programme providing a package of skills, mentoring and coaching support to help innovative micro and small companies to grow their businesses and attract potential investors.
- Development of a new online platform to help showcase innovative companies to potential investors.
- Five new Launchpad funding competitions, providing support to SMEs in geographical clusters.
- Providing specialist advisors to help business to take advantage of the EU’s €79bn Horizon 2020 innovation and research programme
- Technology Strategy Board leading a consortium bid to deliver the Enterprise Europe Network in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and the opening of a permanent office in Brussels to champion British innovation abroad.
- The creation of two new Catapult centres designed to accelerate innovation in energy and precision medicine, which will take the total number of Catapult centres to nine.
- Establishing the Energy Catalyst – a funding programme to support early-stage innovations through to commercial viability, following the model successful Catalysts for the biomedical, agri-tech and industrial biotechnology sectors.
Chief executive, Iain Gray, (left) explained:
“The 2014-15 Delivery Plan raises the Technology Strategy Board’s ambitions to a higher level, enhancing support for UK companies through a range of targeted programmes, opening up lucrative pathways into Europe and expanding facilities and opportunities for businesses to collaborate and innovate still further.”
The Minister for Universities and Science, David Willetts, said:
“We are global leaders in innovation and the Technology Strategy Board plays a crucial role in maintaining this, ensuring that great British ideas can be transformed into great British products.
“Innovation is booming in this country, and it is part of our long-term economic plan to invest in ambitious entrepreneurs and businesses, to help them grow and succeed in the global race.”
For further information visit Technology Strategy Board
See the infographics outlining plans for each of our priority areas.