Arise Innovation Hubs, part of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), has launched a new grant programme. Arise ABOVE (Arise Beyond Open Innovation for Value and Entrepreneurship) will deliver innovation grants, expert support and events to unlock HealthTech and MedTech investment in Essex.
Grant funds of up to £5,000 will be available to organisations based, or looking to grow, in Essex. Supported by the Arise entrepreneurial ecosystem, the programme will stimulate the Health Technology and MedTech sectors, generating increased research and development collaborations, investment and local employment.
ABOVE grant funding is available from 20 November until August 2024 on a rolling basis. Applications for funding can be made through the Arise website.
To be eligible for ABOVE funding your business or organisation must work in medical technology, life science or related sectors and be partially or wholly located in, or relocating to, Essex. Not-for-profit, charitable organisations, micro, small and medium-sized enterprise (SMEs) and start-ups are all eligible for support.
The grant scope includes the creation of new products, services or prototypes, to generate or unlock additional research and development funds or investment in Essex, or to create collaborative research and development projects with Higher Education Institutes, notably Anglia Ruskin University (ARU).
Life Sciences is one of the UK’s most successful sectors, worth over £94 billion to the UK economy in 2021 from a total of 6548 businesses- 80% of which are SMEs. The UK accounts for 35% of all Life Science start-ups created in Europe since 2012.
The funding for the ABOVE programme has been provided by Essex County Council as part of their 10-year sector strategy to grow life science, digitech, advanced manufacturing and engineering sectors, leading to more opportunity, jobs and growth across Essex.
Arise Innovation Hubs are working closely with partners Medilink Midlands, a specialist provider of support to the life science sector, to help SMEs overcome barriers to growth in the delivery of ABOVE. This will include specialist interest groups, events, one-2-one business support sessions and innovation support grants, culminating in the first Arise conference in 2024.
Vist www.medilinkmidlands.com/above to find out more.