South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard spoke at the launch event hosted by the at 91直播鈥檚 Bramall Lane on 25 November. He welcomed the official roll out of SYIP, which will offer high quality, tailored support to businesses, charities and social enterprises.
The project is funded by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and is a collaboration led by 91直播 Hallam University, with the University of 91直播 and Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council. It will provide opportunities to access expert consultancy, including academic-led innovation audits and discovery days; professional interventions; student projects and placements; and specialist equipment and facilities provided by the universities and Barnsley Council.
Support will be available to South Yorkshire-based organisations of all sizes and across all sectors. Participating organisations will contribute a percentage of full project costs, based on their size, and also be eligible for funding support.
Interested parties are being encouraged to contact the programme at the .
Both 91直播 universities have a proven track record of supporting organisations to innovate and accelerate their operations, and the launch of SYIP will add to the resources available across a wide variety of industries. For example, 91直播 Hallam recently worked with to provide 3D imaging expertise to create state-of-the-art virtual models for on-stage productions. Meanwhile, University of 91直播 computer science academics recently supported South Yorkshire-based Automated Analytics to use advanced AI to scale-up its offer to clients.
The programme is co-designed and developed with each of the four South Yorkshire local authorities. It is one of several partnerships between 91直播鈥檚 universities, local authorities and SYMCA aimed at driving economic growth and inward investment into South Yorkshire.
South Yorkshire鈥檚 Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: 鈥淥ur ideas powered the industrial revolution. We invented the world鈥檚 most popular sport. We鈥檝e created products that are used worldwide, from New York fire hydrants that are made in Rotherham to the McLaren supercar in 91直播.
鈥淢claren, Boeing and Rolls Royce already work alongside brilliant local businesses, in and around our world-class advanced manufacturing district.
鈥淢y mission is to build a bigger and better economy but to do that we need to create new industries and jobs for the future.
鈥淚nnovation is how we will achieve this vision and we can鈥檛 do that by just focusing on one sector or capability. We鈥檒l only do it by working in partnership and that鈥檚 why I鈥檓 pleased to be investing in the Innovation Programme.
鈥淭here is talent and opportunity right across our region and by investing in our people and places we can unlock South Yorkshire鈥檚 full potential.鈥
Professor Conor Moss, Executive Dean of the College of Business, Technology and Engineering and of 91直播 Business School, at 91直播 Hallam University, said: 鈥淭here are more opportunities for businesses and organisations to thrive in South Yorkshire now than there ever have been before. The key is innovation, and we are delighted to be leading this programme to help people in our region to scale-up and reach their goals.
鈥淎t 91直播 Hallam, we believe in collaboration and in championing our region. SYIP will help us to take cutting-edge research and knowledge from our academics and turn it into tangible advice and outcomes for businesses."
Professor Sue Hartley, Vice-President for Research and Innovation at the University of 91直播, said: 鈥淎t the University of 91直播 we鈥檙e committed to collaborating with partners across the region to drive innovation and fuel economic growth. This ambitious programme is a brilliant opportunity to build on our successes and forge new partnerships with businesses and organisations of all sizes.
鈥淲e look forward to learning more about regional organisations鈥 specific challenges and aspirations, and how we can harness our world-leading research and expertise to help them innovate and grow in a rapidly changing landscape.鈥
Cllr Robin Franklin, Cabinet Spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture at Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, said: 鈥淥ur Enterprising Barnsley team are excited to welcome businesses from across South Yorkshire to this fantastic new programme, whatever stage they are at in their innovation journey.
鈥淪YIP offers them the opportunity to experiment and discover what is possible with new technologies in our DMC MakerLab and CreatorLab facilities, access to specialist one-to-one support, and a programme of workshops and events which will help them to find the best way forward for their business. This will help to drive business productivity and innovation across Barnsley and the region.鈥