£5k up for grabs to help Northants organisations thrive

Northamptonshire businesses are being given a fresh opportunity to receive up to £5,000 funding from the University of Northampton to boost growth and develop ideas.

The University of Northampton Business Innovation Grant (BIIG) enables organisations in the county to work with the institution’s academics and facilities, with the aim of developing new products, processes, services, gaining new insights or generally developing business.

Charlotte Patrick, Key Sector and Knowledge Transfer Manager at the University, said: “Applications are welcomed from all businesses in Northamptonshire. You could be looking to improve productivity processes as a manufacturing or logistics company or perhaps enhance a technical function in your family owned business or manage waste created by your food manufacturing processes.

“We have a huge breadth of expertise here at the University, from engineering to marketing, tourism to cyber security, waste to polymers – and we want to use our knowledge to better businesses in the county.”

Successful applicants will receive a grant of up to £5,000, redeemable within the University, to help develop new products, processes, services, gain new insights and help develop business.

The package could include part-funded graduate support to develop ideas and academic time; funded academic consultancy to help develop ideas and access to the University’s industry forums, business support webinars and dedicated business adviser programme.

There’s a raft of expertise at the University in the following areas, which could be tapped by businesses via the fund:

• Health & wellbeing
• Ageing society
• Dementia
• Heritage
• Special educational needs
• Social enterprise
• Laboratory space
• Cyber security
• Polymers & coatings
• Supply chains
• Entrepreneurship
• China & emerging economics
• Corporate Social Responsibility
• User-centred design
• Management of wastes & resources
• Lift technology
• High performance engineering
• Internet of Things
• AI & robotics

The deadline for applications is Thursday 25 March.

For more details and a copy of the expression of interest form, please email charlotte.patrick@northampton.ac.uk