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UWE Bristol launches £1m Digital Innovation Fund
Businesses are invited to apply for a share of a £1m pot designed to help firms innovate in the face of challenges posed by the pandemic.
UWE Bristol’s Digital Innovation Fund offers grants of between £10,000 and £40,000 to small and medium-sized (SMEs) companies in the West of England, representing any sector.
The scheme, funded by the European Regional Development Fund, will support eligible businesses with innovation grants to fund 35 per cent of project costs.
Pro vice chancellor for research and enterprise professor Martin Boddy said the university is proud to support SMEs across the region meet the challenges that have arisen from Covid-19.
“Any SME in the area that is undertaking a digital innovation or research and development project should consider applying,” said Boddy.
“We are offering a sliding scale of grants, from £10,000 to £40,000, so hopefully there is a funding option for a range of businesses – from startups and micro-enterprises, to more established organisations. The application process is straightforward and UWE Bristol staff are available to provide hands-on support through a series of confidential one to one drop-in sessions.
“The Digital Innovation Fund follows on from previous successful grant funding schemes run by the university, which has given £2m of grants to thriving businesses in the West of England, creating over 150 new jobs and over 100 new products and services. We are looking forward to this new fund delivering similar benefits to the local economy and helping individual SMEs to innovate and grow.
“In a time of unprecedented change, UWE Bristol is proud of the role it can play to support the region’s SMEs in responding to the pandemic and financial crisis.”
The deadline for applications is July 8. Find out more information via www.digitalinnovationfund.co.uk/.
Main photo supplied by UWE Bristol
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