A fully funded business innovation project launches this week to help West Sussex small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to innovate and access expertise from the universities of Brighton and Sussex.

The three-year project, Research, Innovation in Sussex Excellence (RISE), has been awarded funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and West Sussex County Council to stimulate innovation-led growth, by providing targeted and intensive support for businesses.

The University’s Director of Innovation and Business Partnerships, Dr Sue Baxter, said: “RISE represents a great opportunity for University of Sussex to share innovation from research with local business - supporting their growth and demonstrating the relevance of our research to building our local economy”.

SMEs will be given access to innovation expertise to support their business innovation growth. Support will be given in the form of innovation diagnostics, workshops and a bespoke development programme to help them take their business in a new direction.

Eligible businesses will work with business Innovation Advisors to identify bespoke business needs and opportunities ­– identifying and removing barriers to innovation.

RISE is fully subsidised, providing completely free access to innovation advisors and research expertise, that can help businesses with their research and development work. This approach opens the door for more collaboration between universities and small and medium-sized enterprises in the region. The project could widen access to cutting edge technologies, skills and approaches, helping businesses to progress and grow.

Lorraine Bell, Head of Project (RISE), said: “RISE is about increasing business investment in research and innovation regionally through the development of partnerships and synergies between SMEs and the region’s two main research universities, Brighton and Sussex.”

RISE is being led by the University of Brighton, in partnership with the University of Sussex (delivery partner) and West Sussex County Council (strategic partner).

Visit www.rise-innovation.uk to find out more, or you can contact Lorraine Bell, Head of Project (RISE) at RISE@brighton.ac.uk.

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