Research News Last updated 12 June
Creative freelancers and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across the West Midlands can now apply for up to 拢10,000 of funding to develop innovative ideas through collaborative Research and Development (R&D).
Smaller companies and freelancers can struggle to access R&D grants, something that CreaTech Frontiers, the new creative industries cluster for the West Midlands, is hoping to challenge.
CreaTech Frontiers is made up of five collaborators: 探花直播 (BCU), University of 探花直播, Coventry University, University of Warwick and the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Professor Lamberto Coccioli, Director of CreaTech Frontiers, said: 鈥淲e are thrilled to launch our first call to fund innovative ideas and projects only four months after the start of the CreaTech Frontiers programme.
鈥淲e hope to receive an enthusiastic response from creative companies and freelancers all across the West Midlands and we especially encourage first-time applicants with original and untested concepts.鈥�
A funding pot of 拢250,000 is being made available this summer, which will also give freelancers and SMEs access to academic R&D expertise, mentoring and training, and use world-class research and development labs to create new content, products and services.鈥�
This is the first round of funding, with a minimum of 拢1.8 million expected to be awarded over five years.
鈥淭his is a rare opportunity for freelancers, micro-businesses, and SMEs across the West Midlands to take creative risks, test bold ideas, and unlock the full potential of research and development,鈥� said Kath Fuller, COO of TechWM, and board member of CreaTech Frontiers.
鈥淎t TechWM, we see the transformative power of R&D every day 鈥� driving business growth, attracting investment, and opening new routes to market.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檇 especially love to see ideas that pioneer sustainable products and services, helping to shape the future of the West Midlands鈥� dynamic innovation ecosystem and CreaTech sector.鈥�
The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is backing the project as part of ambitions for the region to be .
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: 鈥淲e鈥檝e got a young, diverse region full of bold thinkers and creative minds who are really pushing the limits of what鈥檚 possible with technology.
鈥淚 want them to take advantage of these grants and the amazing research and innovation coming out of our world class universities, so they can turn their great ideas into global success stories. And as we do that, we鈥檙e creating exciting new jobs and showing the world what the West Midlands is made of.鈥�
Deadline for applications is Monday 4 August. .