WIREDGOV

Collaborative industrial research projects are designed to encourage companies and institutions to work together, boost the level of business investment in R&D and bring new or improved products, processes and services to the market.
To date the A4B (Academic Expertise of Business) programme has allocated £7.4m in support of 35 collaborative industrial research projects.

The funding has enabled higher and further education institutions in Wales to increase the size and scale of collaborative projects by drawing in large companies and supply chains from Wales and further afield. It has also been instrumental in leveraging further funding for high profile projects.

Recently funded projects include the ground breaking work led by Swansea University to develop respiratory aids which mimic the performance of healthy lungs. Industrial partners include Swansea-based companies Haemair Ltd, Haemaflow Ltd, DTR Medical Ltd, and Staffordshire-based EGS Technologies Ltd.

Other examples of high profile projects include the ‘Grassohol’ project at Aberystwyth University, which brings together farmers, technology companies, fuel companies and researchers to develop a new sustainable method of producing bio-fuel from perennial ryegrass.

Edwina Hart Minister for Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science, said the A4B programme is one of a number of Welsh Government initiatives to help businesses become more innovative and competitive.

“We need to ensure Wales maximises the economic impact of its academic institutions and collaboration with industry is the key. A4B funding has been essential in facilitating a range of highly innovative projects that are geared to address areas of significant strategic importance to the Welsh knowledge economy.”

This latest bidding round is specifically focussed on academic institutions in convergence areas and all projects have to involve at least two industrial partners and clearly illustrate the potential benefits for business.

The maximum funding available for each project is £300,000 and bids should reflect the Welsh Government’s R&D priority sectors, be commercially focussed and meet a specific market demand or opportunity.

The deadline for electronic applications for funding is October 7 and October 21 for hard copy. Please contact Julie Cunnington-Hill, Knowledge Transfer Manager on 0300 061 6053, or e-mail Julie.cunnington-hill@wales.gsi.gov.uk.

Collaborative Industrial Research Projects form part of the wider EU backed Academic Expertise for Business (A4B) programme. It is one element of  a raft of innovation support available through the Welsh Government that includes advice from innovation specialists on areas ranging from new product development, design or manufacturing  to commercialisation and management of intellectual property, as well as access to funding such as innovation vouchers.

Businesses are also able to identify specific academic expertise and locate potential collaborative projects online using the EU funded Expertise Wales website.