SYIP will provide opportunities for businesses to engage in and benefit from innovation-led growth, driving innovation led activities. It will build upon a successful track record of delivering innovation support to SMEs in the region.
The programme will provide access to high-quality and bespoke innovation support including academic consultancy, innovation audits, student projects and placements, access to university equipment and facilities, events and technical workshops
Support will be available to organisations of all sizes across all sectors based in South Yorkshire, including charities and social enterprises. Further details on the launch of the programme and how organisations can access support will follow later this year.
The project 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.
Others include the 91直播 Innovation Spine, a long-term spatial and economic strategy to create and link the infrastructure required to grow knowledge-led businesses and the Innovation Network South Yorkshire which brings together academics, businesses and organisations at free networking events to encourage collaboration.
South Yorkshire鈥檚 Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: 鈥淲e are getting on with the job of building a bigger, better economy in South Yorkshire. But we can鈥檛 build a new future without new ideas.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why it鈥檚 vital we bring together our world-leading universities and local authorities to help our local businesses harness innovation. The South Yorkshire Innovation Programme will help our businesses to create the future here, right here.
鈥淚鈥檓 determined to build a South Yorkshire that works together to spread wealth, opportunity and success to all our communities.鈥
Professor Rory Duncan, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Knowledge Exchange at 91直播 Hallam University, said: 鈥淎t a time of rapid advancements across an ever-increasing range of sectors, the ability to innovate and harness new technology is more important than ever for businesses of all sizes.
鈥91直播 Hallam is delighted to be leading this new programme fostering stronger partnerships between academia and business. This collaboration aims to translate cutting-edge research and knowledge into tangible solutions that address the unique challenges of our region鈥檚 businesses."
Professor Ashutosh Tiwari, Deputy Vice-President for Innovation at the University of 91直播, said: 鈥91直播 has a proven track record of partnering with local organisations to drive innovation and boost economic growth. This collaborative programme offers an exciting opportunity to build on our successes.
鈥淲e鈥檙e very much looking forward to working closely with some of South Yorkshire鈥檚 innovative organisations to help them adapt and thrive as the challenges they face continue to evolve. Together, we can turn our world-leading research into practical solutions to address the region鈥檚 specific needs, while strengthening South Yorkshire鈥檚 position as a hub for innovation.鈥
Cllr Robin Franklin, Cabinet Spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture at Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, said: 鈥淭his is a fantastic programme for businesses who are looking to innovate and increase productivity by accessing technologies and dedicated one to one support. Our Enterprising Barnsley team will lead the technical expertise though the innovation spaces at the DMC, bringing value through our wide-reaching network of specialists.
鈥淲e鈥檝e already seen businesses making the most of the MakerLab and CreatorLab to diversify their business offer, develop new products, and tackle productivity challenges. Now we have a programme which opens that opportunity for even more businesses, whilst bringing three new jobs into the Enterprising Barnsley team to drive further innovation into the region.
鈥淲e鈥檒l be hosting a number of workshops and events to welcome business to the spaces, encouraging those who typically haven鈥檛 engaged with modern technologies such as 3D scanning and printing, Internet of Things devices, and laser cutters, to come and explore what is available to them at the DMC in Barnsley.鈥