Email News December 2014
Welcome to the December 2014 Email Newsletter from Marine South East
If you would like to submit an article for consideration please email the text and a suitable image or logo to sj@mseuk.org
Posted 2014-11-26 09:02:31
Innovation Vouchers for Smaller Businesses
Innovation vouchers are now open to all kinds of smaller businesses following a recent announcement from Innovate UK (formerly the Technology Strategy Board).
Businesses can claim up to £5,000 towards the cost of expert advice. The grants are available to SMEs and start-up businesses.
The funding aims at encouraging businesses to seek out fresh knowledge that can help businesses grow and develop into new areas.
This could include advice on a innovative idea, learning more about using design within your business or how to make the most of intellectual property.
The first round of applications for Innovation Vouchers opened in November. Businesses can apply if they meet the following simple tests:
* You need specialist help to meet a business challenge
* It's the first time you have worked with the knowledge supplier
For more information please visit:
https://vouchers.innovateuk.org/
Posted 2014-11-26 09:15:46
MSE to partner in EU 'Columbus' project
'Columbus' a project looking at ways to improve the management and transfer of marine and maritime knowledge to support emerging 'blue-growth' activities has been successful in winning European funding.
Subject to final contract negotiations, this three year EU project will bring together 27 partners from across Europe; including Marine South East.
The key objective of Columbus is to ensure that applicable knowledge generated through EC-funded science and technology research can be transfered effectively to advance the governance of the marine and maritime sectors whilst improving the competiveness of European companies and unlocking the potential of the oceans to create jobs and growth in Europe.
Marine South East will be leading the development of targeted 'Knowledge Transfer Plans' involving stakeholders from policy organisations, industry, the science base and society.
More information on the project will be circulated once the details are finalised
Posted 2014-11-28 12:36:40
Funding for innovation in the marine and maritime industry
Innovate UK is investing £7.5 million together with DSTL in a collaborative research and development competition for businesses looking to develop an innovative idea in the marine and maritime industry.
The aim is to stimulate innovation in technologies that will enable greater efficiencies in the production, management and use of energy on board a vessel.
Project must be led by a business and be collaborative with at least one other partner. Successful business can expect to receive 50-60% of their project costs.
This is a two-stage competition that opens for applicants on 12 January 2015. The deadline for expressions of interest is at noon on 11 March 2015.
Full details can be found at:
https://interact.innovateuk.org/competition-display-page/-/asset_publisher/RqEt2AKmEBhi/content/managing-energy-on-marine-vessels
A Briefing Event and Webinar will take place on 22nd January 2015; follow the link to register:
https://connect.innovateuk.org/web/technologystrategyboard/events-view/-/events/19532905?p_p_auth=QFiSr6mx
Posted 2014-11-27 12:38:37
MSE working on Scottish Enterprise funded project
Since September Marine South East has been working with the Technopolis Group on a Scottish Enterprise funded project to map Advanced Manufacturing solutions for energy related applications in harsh environments.
This pilot is looking at the value chains of Offshore Oil and Gas; Unconventional Oil and Gas; Marine Renewables; and Blue Water Mining with the objective of complementing Scotland's strengths in these established/developing markets with similar/related strengths across the EU.
One of the key activities is to compile an inventory of infrastructure including university research groups, research centres, key companies, clusters and networks across the EU which have the potential to become part of a smart specialisation platform (SSP) for advanced manufacturing (ADMA). Work has been ongoing to identify organisations and companies and was completed at the end of November.
The detailed snapshot it provides will be used at a workshop being organised by Scottish Europa on the 8th December in Brussels. This will assess the key areas of common opportunity that exist, (i.e. where the 'match' is strongest) and the barriers which appear to inhibit regions and industry from finding each other (learn/connect).
Attendees will then focus on pathways and funding mechanisms which may be used to develop greater collaboration and co-operation between the regions by demonstrating and upscaling methods of working together.
The project is due to be completed by the end of 2014; for further information please contact Jonathan Williams jw@mseuk.org
Posted 2014-11-28 13:04:20
MSE wins funding for ANTS
Marine South East has been successful in winning funding through the National Oceanography Centre's 'Autonomous Technology Competition'.
Simple-minded robot vessels are increasingly being used to gather information on the oceans. The measurements they make add to our knowledge of how the seas work. For example, data gathered by these robots on horizontal and vertical currents help scientists to understand the distribution and growth of plankton, the food for fish and marine mammals. Such robots have also helped industry track the fate of oil spills undersea.
Looking to the future industry and scientists need sea-going robots to work in cleverer ways. The ANTS project will give these robots the ability to do more than follow simple tracks irrespective of the information contained in the measurements they are making. For now, much of the creative thinking will be done on-shore, and then communicated to the robots at sea.
The ANTS project is part of A Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) competition to develop software capable of controlling fleets of cutting edge autonomous marine robots. £1.5 million is being made available to UK businesses to develop the software which will enable fleets of autonomous marine robots to work together and to be controlled from a central point.
Posted 2014-11-28 12:46:54
Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR) Supplier Briefing hosted by Matrix SCM, 5th December 2014, Portsmouth
Ben Ainslie Racing is changing the way it buys Products and Services so that all items can be bought through a web based technology platform called SProc.Net provided by Matrix SCM.
To introduce this change, BAR is holding a briefing with suppliers to discuss the aim and vision of the partnership with Matrix as well as outlining what they intend to buy in their pursuit of winning the America's Cup. They will also discuss how businesses can enter the program and continue or begin to provide products and services to BAR.
For more information visit:
http://bar-demand.sproc.net/
or to attend the event visit:
http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ben-ainslie-racing-bar-supplier-briefing-hosted-by-matrix-scm-tickets-13868263349
Posted 2014-11-28 13:21:01
Expand your business potential with a KTP, 11th December 2014, Whiteley
Join the University of Southampton, Solent University and the University of Portsmouth for a breakfast event at the Solent Hotel, Whitely to find out how to expand your business potential with Knowledge Transfer Partnership. Thursday 11th December 2014, 8.30-10.00am.
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, KTPs, have long been acknowledged as the most successful method for Business to collaborate with Universities. Companies who have participated in the scheme have reported on average:
* An increase of over £220,000 in annual profits before tax
* The creation of three new jobs
* An increase in skills of existing staff
During the morning you will have the opportunity to hear from three companies who have completed KTPs with our universities and learn about the benefits they have gained.
The event will also include a presentation from Dr Neil Grice, Regional KTP Adviser, on funding available for business through InnovateUK.
To find out more and book your place, please visit
https://ktpbusinesspotential.eventbrite.co.uk
