Brighton business innovators shine BRITE

Local business leaders, researchers and policymakers came together at the Plus X Brighton Innovation Hub in Moulsecoomb, to mark the achievements of the BRITE (Brighton Research Innovation Technology Exchange) project, a year since its launch.

BRITE  is a three-year partnership between the University of Brighton and Plus X Brighton, offering over £10.5m of financial support to Sussex-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), along with access to university experts and world-class product development facilities.

In its first year, BRITE has provided more than 700 hours of support to 64 innovative businesses, helping them conduct research and development by collaborating with researchers from the university and entering new markets.

L to R: Paul Rostas, Co-CEO Plus x Brighton, Professor Rusi Jaspal, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Research and Knowledge Exchange, Dr Shona Campbell, Associate Director of Research and Knowledge Exchange, Mat Hunter, Co-CEO Plus X Brighton and Joanna Havers, Head of Economic Development

The event staged at Plus X Brighton in early November highlighted a diverse array of innovative businesses, including: 

• 3AI, creators of AI tool, ALBA, an intelligence system aiming to create democratic investment opportunities
• Bare Cacao, a caffeine-free and mineral-rich alternative to coffee
• Beobia, an eco-pod business that uses insects to turn food waste into plant fertiliser and sustainable pet food, winner of the People’s Choice Award at the Barclays Entrepreneur Awards 2021

• Hatsumi, a healthcare VR experience improving patient-doctor communication through a better understanding of pain
• Gomi, creators of portable speakers made from plastic bags and powered by repurposed e-bike batteries
• Make Real, award-winning immersive learning experiences through AI
• MarinaTex, creators of a home compostable alternative to plastic film made from fish algae
• Naurt, hyper-accurate GPS technology cited by Forbes as one-to-watch
• Percept Imagery - alternative reality that allows customers to digitally try on new clothes
• Votch - sustainable vegan watch brand which plants a tree in Madagascar for every purchase

Samantha Harland, Innovation Programme Manager, Plus X Brighton and Judith Badger, Head of BRITE project, University of Brighton

Judith Badger, Head of Project for the University of Brighton said: “It’s been wonderful to see our innovation programmes be put to use in such a variety of creative and inspirational ways at this critical time. The university has an established history of working with businesses and we’re convinced that through the BRITE project, a dynamic partnership between the university and Plus X, businesses will be able to continue to embrace the opportunity to keep innovating and growing.”

Samantha Harland, BRITE Programme Manager said: “Despite the trials of the pandemic, it’s been inspiring to see the entrepreneurship that businesses on the BRITE programme have committed to. The collaboration we’ve seen in the Plus X building has led to new partnerships with results ranging from the weird and wonderful, to cutting-edge technology. Brighton’s proving to be a real hub for innovation in the UK.”

Jack Maddalena, CEO and co-founder of BRITE business Naurt said: “When we joined in 2020, it was just Nicolas (Naurt’s co-founder) and I. Since then, we’ve secured 500k in funding, grown to a team of 16 people, and moved into our own studio space in the Plus X building. Being a member of BRITE has been a key factor in our success so far – the collaboration with all involved in the programme has been, and will continue to be a real gift for our business.”

Find out more about BRITE at www.briteinnovation.co.uk.

Brighton Research Innovation Technology Exchange (BRITE) is a £10.5 million, three-year collaborative project, led by Plus X Brighton with the University of Brighton as delivery partner. It has received up to £5.5 million funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.