SMALL businesses can bid for up to £3,000 in vouchers to develop innovative ideas with research experts from the University of Chester.
A new funding scheme aimed at encouraging and supporting collaborative innovation with the business community has been launched by the institution.
Up to 15 business innovation vouchers are available and they will offer clients a discount on services provided by the university, effectively entitling them to either £1,000 off a project valued at £5,000 or £3,000 off a project valued at £10,000.
Vouchers will be allocated to successful applicants usually for consultancy or technical services projects, but they could also be used for small contract research and development contracts. The university has successfully undertaken a wide range of projects with businesses including:
The university’s Hot Room and Department of Corporate Business and Enterprise working on a marketing project for a local food business.
The Informatics Centre producing a website for a dance studio enabling it to process online bookings and payments.
The Environmental Quality and Food Safety Research Unit providing a local food processing company with expertise on shelf life, labelling, food preservation and nutritional analysis.
The Harlequin Project producing a training DVD for a local commercial organisation.
Applications for vouchers are welcome from any UK-based company but priority will be given to small and medium enterprises and other organisations that have not previously worked with the university.
Submissions received will be considered on a monthly basis by the Innovation Voucher Selection Group, chaired by the executive dean of research Professor Neville Ford.
For more information, email innovationvouchers@chester.ac.uk or call 01244 511481.
