Early Stage Technology Support – Innovate

The Innovate programme is a unique opportunity for early-stage environmental technology and service businesses to benefit from free, intensive support when they most need it. If innovative technology is fundamental to your business, then we can help you maximise its commercial potential.

This service is ideal for ventures between pre-seed and early stage, which are developing technology in telecoms, IT, life science, energy, electronics and industry. It is a 12-month programme of support; during which time our highly experienced advisers will help your business to attract investment, minimise risk and get to market faster.

The journey from lab to commercial reality can take time. Some of the most innovative technologies and products never get there at all, simply because of a lack of knowledge about markets and marketing. The Innovate programme is proven to speed up this journey; giving clear insight into customer needs, planning a direct route to market, and presenting a compelling case to investors.

Our experienced design advisers lead and support carefully selected groups to implement a series of design projects that will quickly move their business forward; getting them to market earlier, and with better products and services. Support comes through a mixture of workshops and direct support, and is provided free of charge. The only direct cost is design consultancy fees, with many businesses seeing substantial returns on design investment.

The Innovate programme starts with a free Technology Venture workshop which demonstrates how design can make your business a better investment prospect. Those companies selected for the Innovate programme then begin an intensive three-day workshop, enabling you to explore potential design opportunities and prepare a detailed plan to implement your projects.

Over the following 12 months, your design adviser will support you through each stage of your projects’ progression.

As your projects develop, so will your skills. Participating in the Innovate programme will provide your company with the skills required to:

• Set strategic objectives based on design opportunities
• Identify and plan design projects with available resources
• Manage and measure the impact of each design project

Innovate offers you the opportunity to use design to commercialise your technology and turn your business into a better investment opportunity.