New fully-funded programme to support SMEs

The University of Brighton is seeking a supplier to develop a web portal that will enable SMEs and project staff to work collaboratively as part of the project.

10 February 2021

The University is leading on a £600,000 ERDF funded programme called Research, Innovation Sussex Excellence (RISE). Working in collaboration with the University of Sussex and West Sussex County Council, the programme has been created to support SMEs with enhanced access to innovation support, designed to unlock sustainable productivity growth through the adoption and enhancement of new products, services or processes.

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The RISE programme will be formally launched to businesses in May 2021, specifically to SMEs based is in the Coast 2 Capital area that would like to:

  • Introduce new or significantly improved products (goods or services) or processes
  • Re-engage in innovation projects not yet complete, scaled back, or abandoned
  • Create new and significantly improved forms of organisation, business structures or practices, marketing concepts or strategies
  • Invest in research and development, training, acquisition of external knowledge or machinery and equipment to support innovation.

The new portal will be utilised as an interactive tool to host innovation tools, resources and networking activity to support SME to become more innovative active. The portal will go live in May 2021, and we are now advertising our tender for a web developer to help us achieve our goals in delivering this key part of the RISE project. 

The RISE programme is receiving up to £603,514 of funding from the European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 in England. Grant Reference:04R20P04387