The Dairy UK guide to sourcing
the finance, equipment, products, training and knowledge
for innovation
The Dairy UK guide to sourcing
the finance, equipment, products, training and knowledge
for innovation
Innovation & Technology Counsellors
The first point of contact for any company based in Wales who wishes to find
out about the full range of schemes that is available, and the ones that
are most relevant to you, is an Innovation and Technology Counsellor.
Their objective is to provide resources to deliver free, independent and impartial, innovation and technology advice to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). This allows SMEs to gain access to the best services whether at local, national or international level that will help them to find solutions to their technological problems. The service also assists in stimulating awareness of new technologies relevant to their clients and helps them develop networks with other companies and institutions within their locality.
Some of the specialist activities include:-
ITC Network, Welsh Assembly Government,
Plas Glyndwr, Kingsway, Cardiff CF10 3AH
E-mail: ITCnetwork@wales.gsi.gov.uk
Phone: 0845 010 3300
Finance Wales encourages small and medium-sized businesses
in Wales to realise their true potential for innovation and growth. Its aim
is to
encourage innovation
and entrepreneurship by offering financial solutions on a commercial basis.
http://www.financewales.co.uk/
You can apply if:
Oakleigh House, Park Place, Cardiff
CF10 3DQ
E-mail: info@financewales.co.uk
Phone: 029 2033 8100
Fax: 029 2033 8101
The Welsh Assembly Government (through the Department of Enterprise, Innovation
and Networks) can provide help with supporting innovation, exporting overseas
and finding new customers, developing funding packages to enable businesses
to start up, expand, modernise or develop new products and processes and
finding cost-effective suppliers.
http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/businessandeconomy/help/?lang=en
To find your local Welsh Assembly Government office please see the end of this section.
Agri-Food Partnership
The Agri-Food Partnership, working through nine Action Groups, draws together
all of the interest groups in the food chain to build on the industry's existing
market strengths. This includes help for farmers, fishermen and other primary
producers to improve their businesses through training, support for product
development and access to market information and new technology.
http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/food_and_market_development/Welsh_agri_food/Agrifoodptnrshp/?lang=en
SMARTCymru
http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/businessandeconomy/finance/smartcymru/?lang=en
In Wales, funding and support for research, development and exploitation of
technically innovative products and processes is available through SMARTCymru.
It is a research and development scheme from the Welsh Assembly Government
that provides easy access to funding and is open to all innovators based in
Wales.
There are four phases involved in the scheme:
and
Phase 1 - Technical Feasibility
SMARTCymru helps with the production of a feasibility report, which determines whether an innovative concept can be turned into a commercially viable new product or process, and includes market research and patent checks. The criteria are:
Phase 2 - Industrial Research
This involves support for the development of a working model of the product or process to determine whether it would be commercially viable. The criteria are:
Phase 3 – Pre-competitive Development
This involves support for the final preparations before going to market, moving from a model to the development of a pre-production prototype. The criteria are:
Phase 4 - Exploitation
This provides the funding and guidance for testing and certification, registration, marketing and promotion needed for launch. The criteria are:
How to apply
Contact details
Helpdesk: 0845 010 3300
E-mail: SMARTCymru@wales.gsi.gov.uk
Innovation and Technology Counsellors (see next entry):
ITC Network, Welsh Assembly Government,
Plas Glyndwr, Kingsway, Cardiff CF10 3AH
E-mail: ITCnetwork@wales.gsi.gov.uk
Phone: 0845 010 3300
Food Network Wales is
a collaboration of three food centres, The Food Technology Centre (Coleg
Menai), Food Centre Wales (Horeb) and the Food Industry
Centre
at UWIC (Cardiff). See next entry for more information.
http://www.foodnetworkwales.com/
Each centre has come together, with the support of the Welsh Assembly Government, to help and develop food producers businesses. Each centre is dedicated to encouraging the development of the agri-food sector and offers technical and practical support on all aspects of food production from farm to fork.
Knowledge will be shared via conferences and workshops that will happen throughout the year, dates of which will be on the site, plus relevant case studies and research that the network and the individual centres have carried out.
Food Centres of Excellence
http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/food_and_market_development/Welsh_agri_food/food_centres/?lang=en
These are dedicated to encouraging the development of the agri-food sector
and they aim to provide technical and practical support on all aspects of
food production, including new product development, legislation, factory
workplace design, quality assurance, new systems and procedures, hygiene,
food safety, marketing.
Coleg Menai
http://www.menai.ac.uk/
Einir Williams, Food Technology Centre, Lon Penmynydd, Llangefni, Anglesey
LL77 7HY
Phone: 01248 383345
Food Centre Wales (Horeb)
John Davies,Horeb Business Park, Llandysul, Ceredigion SA44 4JG
Phone: 01559 362230
University
of Wales Institute Cardiff
David Lloyd, Food Industry Centre, Food Research and Consultancy Unit, Colchester
Avenue, Cardiff CF23 9XR
Phone: 029 2041 6409
CETIC WALES
http://www.ceticwales.com/
The 18 Centres of Excellence for Technology and Industrial Collaboration are industry-focused research groups that are supported to enhance technology
transfer to industry and are funded by the National Assembly for Wales, the
Welsh Development Agency and the European Regional Development Fund Objective
1.
http://www.ceticwales.com/centre/
Each Centre of Excellence has a dedicated commercial manager to help deliver commercially successful product and process solutions to businesses.
A key objective of the programme is to ensure greater help for small and
medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Wherever possible, financial assistance
will be made available to eligible smaller companies to subsidise the cost
of collaboration with the centres.
The 18 Centres
cover a range of disciplines. To find the one that is most relevant to
you please click on this link.
Know-How Wales
Know-How Wales is funded by the Welsh Assembly and provides free, comprehensive
and independent advice to businesses in Wales on innovation. It promotes
the expertise and technology that is available in, and through, the universities
and colleges in Wales and encourages the formation of effective collaborations
between business and academic partners. It can also provide access to a wide
range of innovation and R&D programmes and opportunities for introductions
to potential future commercial partners.
E-mail: caroline.bird@wales.gsi.gov.uk
Phone: 01443 845534
The Wales Innovation Relay Centre
http://www.walesrelay.co.uk/main.cfm
The Wales Innovation Relay Centre (WIRC) is the Welsh arm of the European-wide
IRC network, created to stimulate transitional technology transfer and
promote innovative services. Hosted and part-funded by the Welsh Assembly
Government,
it forms part of the Technology and Innovation group of the Enterprise,
Innovation and Networks Division and works closely with regional business
development
managers in other key areas.
Each Relay Centre helps organisations in its local geographic area obtain and exchange the technical information they need to innovate by using an electronic bulletin board to 'relay' technology opportunities from one part of Europe to another.
WIRC also helps Welsh organisations apply for R&D funding from the European Commission under the Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development.
c/o Welsh Assembly Government, Department
of Enterprise, Innovation and Networks, Plas Glynd?r, Kingsway, Cardiff, CF10
3AH
E-mail: sue.boyd@wales.gsi.gov.uk
Phone: 029 2082 8863 Fax: 029 2036 8229
Assembly Investment
Grant (AIG)
http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/businessandeconomy/finance/investment/AIG/?lang=en
The AIG is a discretionary, fast-track scheme delivered by the Welsh Assembly
Government specifically to help small and medium-sized companies
throughout Wales make new commercially-viable capital investments
in their business.
Capital investment projects undertaken by small and medium size businesses can receive support through AIG whether it be for start up, expansion, or restructuring your business.
The maximum sum will be between 7.5% and 50% of the eligible expenditure. The upper limit depends on the size and location of the project. It will always be the minimum amount needed for the project to go ahead.
E-mail: North Wales RSA.NWales@Wales.gsi.gov.uk
E-mail: South West Wales RSA.SWWales@Wales.gsi.gov.uk
E-mail: South East Wales RSA.SEWales@Wales.gsi.gov.uk
Phone: 08454 10 10 10
The Knowledge Exploitation Fund (KEF)
http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/businessandeconomy/help/innovation/academia/KEF/?lang=en
The Knowledge Exploitation Fund provides financial assistance to enable
Higher and Further Education Institutions in Wales to create a culture
of entrepreneurship
and innovation, develop the skills of staff and students within their
institutions, and facilitate the transfer of knowledge to industry.
Supported by the Welsh Assembly Government and European Union Structural Funds, KEF seeks to build upon collaborative R&D undertaken between Welsh universities and private industry, and to enhance the knowledge transfer between established centres of expertise in Higher and Further Education and knowledge-led businesses.
Phone: Pat Jones
on 01639 864976
E-mail: pat.jones@wales.gsi.gov.uk
The Wales Innovators Network (WIN) is a free support service devised
specifically for individual innovators and inventors and offers a range
of professional
advice, practical support and commercial connections to help with the
commercialisation of their ideas. It also supports liaison with the Welsh
Assembly Government
and other appropriate organisations for the benefit of its members.
http://www.win4wales.com/
E-mail: win@wales.gsi.gov.uk
Phone: 02920 368272
WELSH ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT OFFICES
http://new.wales.gov.uk/about/departments/dein/contact/?lang=en
To find your nearest Welsh Assembly Government office please click on this link.