Discover your potential Develop your business Deliver real change
Access university level expertise for your business, subsidised by an Innovation Voucher.
The University of Gloucestershire has been awarded funding to support local employers seeking to achieve significant change and growth in their business. The Innovation Voucher Scheme aims to encourage start-up, micro, small or medium-sized businesses located in the county to take advantage of the opportunity to gain new knowledge to help them innovate, develop and grow.
What is an Innovation Voucher?
The voucher offering has been designed to build strong links between businesses and knowledge providers, to encourage business growth and increase innovative activity. The vouchers can be used to support a variety of collaborative innovation projects in Gloucestershire and beyond. An innovation voucher will enable your business to purchase subsidised academic and research support from the University of Gloucestershire to develop, expand and investigate new business opportunities. Innovation vouchers offer financial support to business for projects ranging from £1,000 to £10,000 and will subsidise a percentage of the cost of each project if match funding is required.
Funding has been awarded under new schemes developed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Technology Strategy Board (TSB) and GFirst.
How can an Innovation Voucher be used?
Innovation is about change, about doing things differently, or doing different things. We are interested in any innovative approach to the specific challenge you identify.
Innovation can take many different forms – but is generally understood to reach beyond ‘business as usual’ type activities. It could mean finding more cost effective ways of doing things, adding additional dimensions to existing business products or services or accessing new markets. It could also provide information and expertise on new materials, products and services; improve business processes or offer research to find a solution to a specific business problem. An innovation project will add value to the business, helping it to improve competitiveness
and profitability.
In summary a voucher could cover the following innovative support activities:
• Consultancy from academic specialists;
• Research and Development;
• Use of specialist Facilities / Equipment;
• Technical validation of a technology;
• Innovation or technology audits;
• CPD / short courses for business’ employees
• Design, prototyping and testing of new products, services or processes;
• Specialist academic networking / events.
Example projects have enabled businesses to:
• Find more cost effective ways of doing things
• Add new dimensions to current products or services
• Find new ways to access a market, existing or new
• Access information and expertise on new materials, products or processes
• Tap in to research to find a solution to a specific business problem
Interested?
If you would like further details about the Innovation Voucher offer or how the university might be able to help you improve your business performance, develop knowledge, or grow your workforce please contact the Business Services Team on 01242 714104 or email business@glos.ac.uk.