MOTIVATING MERSEYSIDE BUSINESS TO INNOVATE PROJECT

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MOTIVATING MERSEYSIDE BUSINESS TO INNOVATE
PROJECT - Geoff Birkett -
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Aim

• To increase innovation activity in the Merseyside
  business community
• By
• Stimulating small and medium sized businesses to
  become more innovative
• Providing support to develop new products and
  processes using new and existing technologies
• Creating the necessary environment for success

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Partners

• Northwest Development Agency
• Business Link for Greater Merseyside
• Liverpool John Moores University
• University of Liverpool
• West Midlands Enterprise

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Outputs

• 180 Companies
• 80 Diagnostic Audits
• 40 Idea Evaluations
• 15 Business Mentoring

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Client Handling
Awareness Raising
Initial Visit
Registration
Diagnostic Audit
Mentor
Other Support
Idea Evaluation
Action Plan
Research Opportunities including FP6 Application
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Manufacturing vs Service

• Manufacturing 63
• Service 37

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Size

• Employees Project Merseyside
• lt5 46 88.2
• 6 10 21 6.0
• 11 50 27 5.0
• 51 100 5 0.5
• 100 1 0.3

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Size

• Turnover () Project Merseyside
• lt400k 44 72
• 400k - 1.5m 31 19
• Over 1.5m 25 9

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Support Required

• New Ideas 75
• Prototype 33
• Market Research 51
• Funding 54
• Market Entry 50
• Business Strategy 50
• General Business Advice 27
• Technical Assistance 94

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Technical Assistance

• Advice 82
• Development 46
• Research 21

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What

• Timescale 1st September 2003 31st August 2006
• 2 Years completed of 3 Year Project
• 3 Person Project Team
• 180 Companies assisted
• 60 Diagnostic Audits completed
• 30 Ideas evaluated
• 23 Mentoring sessions
• 7 Universities have supported project
• 4 Loan/Venture Capital funds assisted project
• 50 Private/Public sector organisations assisted
  project

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Success Factors

• Project Team
• Right balance of abilities
• Confidential
• Independent from other organisations
• Primary aim to assist companies
• Willing to help
• Partners
• Work as a team
• Excellent business/academic interface
• Willing to share knowledge and information
• Involve others within organisation
• Project
• Complements rather than conflicts
• Adds value to existing activities
• Involves wider business support community
• Perceived to be successful