Entrants are being sought for a competition to win funding for capital equipment that will help businesses in the East of England’s lifesciences and healthcare sector.

The competition is being run as a pilot by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) and will offer entrants the chance to win a grant of between £100,000 and £400,000 for a specific project.

Organisations or consortiums are invited to enter and apply for a grant to purchase key capital equipment that is required by small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the region, which is not readily available to them. The aim is that the equipment will help SMEs to commercialise their research and development and get products to the market place.

The equipment would be based at a key location within the East of England, such as a regional enterprise centre, innovation centre or science park, so that it would be easily accessible to businesses who would like to use it.

Mark Wathen, EEDA’s programme manager for lifesciences and healthcare, said: “EEDA is keen to encourage further collaboration between the region’s research base and industry. Through this competition we hope to help accelerate the rate of commercialisation of research and development by helping businesses, operating in the biosciences and healthcare sector, to bring innovative products to market more quickly, thus increasing the likelihood of success.

“Our enterprise hubs and science parks are helping to encourage and support greater collaboration, as well as helping to foster ‘open innovation’ between businesses, universities and research institutes. This pilot competition will test the demand and need for additional infrastructure in the region to support commercialisation activity and will provide further investment to support innovative businesses.”

The competition is open to any research organisation or not-for-profit network or organisation (specialising in innovation) based in the East of England. Grants will be supplied for either part or all of the project costs up to £400,000.

Entries will be assessed by independent assessors from the lifesciences and healthcare sector and EEDA’s enterprise directorate. Value for money and strategic added value to the lifesciences and healthcare sector will be considered when assessing applications.

The deadline for entries is 5pm on 31 March 2008.


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For more information and application form visit EEDA’s website at
www.eeda.org.uk/enterprisehubs.asp