What is it doing?

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What is it doing?

Key sectors are being supported which offer future growth potential including:

For details of businesses within each of these and to find out more about activities supported through associated business networks please follow the links shown above.

Increasingly, joint activity is helping these sectors access emerging markets such as India and China, and more established markets such as Canada and Europe. For more information on international opportunities click here.

Business support

New Ideas Programme

There is now support available for those wishing to start or develop a new business that involves the commercialisation of new design, know-how, technology or scientific ideas.

New Ideas Programme details 

For further information about what is on offer and how to access this support please click on the link above or contact Peter Cook on 01245 702423 (Email: peter.cook@exdra.co.uk).

Developing Innovative Businesses Programme

For innovative businesses in their early stages of trading (first three years) there are also similar packages of support now available through the Essex Innovation Network, subject to certain criteria.

Developing Innovative Businesses Programme details 

For further information please click on the link above or contact Peter Cook on 01245 702423 (Email: peter.cook@exdra.co.uk).

Business incubation space

In addition to this support, the Essex Innovation Network is also working with a series of partners to develop new incubation space focused purely on offering a supportive environment to early stage innovative businesses. The first of a network of these is up and running at Ongar, the Essex Technology & Innovation Centre.

Further facilities in the network will be available in the near future in Southend, Colchester and Harlow. Others will follow in Chelmsford and Basildon.

Essex i-labs

For businesses wishing to unlock the creativity within their organisations, a series of “i-lab” facilities are available through the network. The “i-labs” use the latest creative thinking software and offer a stimulating environment for idea generation, strategy development and teambuilding.

For information on the availability of these in Colchester, Thurrock and Southend, follow the following links:

http://www.essex.ac.uk/ilabs/
www.hassenbrook.org.uk
www.essex.ac.uk/southend/ilab/index.asp

Funding advice

For small and medium sized businesses looking for financial support to share the risk in undertaking research and development in new technologies, the Essex Innovation Network can help to access regional funding available for this purpose. For more information about the support available please contact Peter Cook on 01245 702423
(Email: Peter.cook@exdra.co.uk).

Developing education links

A significant portfolio of work is being undertaken to support the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators. Stretching from the Science Alive project in Harlow, to the Young Enterprise Summer School in Colchester, and from the i-lab at Hassenbrook School in Stanford-le-Hope to the international twinning of Essex Science, Technology and Engineering Colleges with counterparts in China, a range of projects are being supported to encourage interest in careers in science, technology, engineering and design.