More than £800,000 in Collaborative Projects Fund grants is now available to North East manufacturing businesses following the launch of a £5.1million project by the University of Sunderland.
The Sustainable Advanced Manufacturing (SAM) project is a multi-million pound scheme to support small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises (SMEs) across the North East LEP region, aiming to create jobs and unlock growth.
The pioneering initiative will enable businesses to become more productive and sustainable by supporting projects that develop their products, processes and technology.
Claire Defty, Project Manager indicated: “The North East is a region of entrepreneurs and innovators and these grants will support them to deliver business growth from their ideas and concepts.
“The grant element enables companies to access support for equipment and helps address other barriers to developing and implementing a new product or process.”
Grant applications are invited from North East manufacturing SMEs looking for investment to support:
- New technology development and/or use by the firm
- New product validation (tests/consultancy/prototypes)
- Process improvement
- Research and development
Claire Defty, SAM Project Manager (red dress) talks to guests during the launch event at The Business Centre in Sunderland Picture: DAVID WOOD
Lee Patrickson attends the SAM (Sustainable Advanced Manufacturing) launch event at The Business Centre in Sunderland. SAM (Sustainable Advanced Manufacturing) is an ERDF Project managed by The University of Sunderland. The aim of the project is to support product / process and technology developments within the SME Manufacturing base in the North East LEP area. Picture: DAVID WOOD
Applications from SME consortiums are particularly encouraged. It is anticipated that most awards will be between £5,000 and £35,000 per project.
Anyone interested in a grant can find out more information on the SAM website – www.samprojectuos.co.uk
