Please see below for article from Medilink EM Patron, AdamsonJones on the support which is available to life science SMEs to innovate out of the COVID-19 pandemic
There are many organisations offering business support to help UK SMEs through these challenging times. Here, we highlight some key organisations that provide support for innovation, from funding and research to academic expertise and market access support.
Throughout lockdown we have remained in touch with numerous manufacturers and start-ups. Many SMEs are talking about innovation that will be needed to resolve issues caused by Covid-19 or to peruse new opportunities that may arise as countries adjust to the new normal.
Support is available to UK SMEs for a wide variety of technology areas to help assist in growth and productivity improvements and the development of new products, processes and services. If you need assistance with any such projects the following organisations may be able to help.
- Innovate UK is offering a coronavirus business innovation support package, which includes continuity grants, loans for existing award holders and additional business advisory support services.
- Medilink UK has created a Covid-19 hub for its members in the health technology and life sciences sectors to connect and collaborate on innovations driven by the pandemic. There is also a regularly updated Coronavirus Resource Library to keep companies informed of the latest developments with priority products required by the NHS, business support schemes and coronavirus funding.
- Europe Enterprise Network (EEN) is working with Innovate UK to deliver a new package of support to help high-growth SMEs to survive during the COVID-19 pandemic and to thrive afterwards. Support is available for 2,000 innovative SMEs over the next two years.
- BioCity is a life science and business incubator with 5 science parks across the UK. BioCity’s business accelerator programme is designed specifically for life science entrepreneurs and offers business support worth £100k, including £50k convertible loan to the most promising ventures.
- The iNet at Loughborough University can provide both financial and non-financial support via its PROSPER and SPRING programmes to help Leicestershire-based SMEs improve growth and productivity or develop innovations.
Further information and summary details of the programmes can be accessed via our website by clicking the ‘SUPPORT FOR INNOVATION’ link below. If you’d like to speak to a patent attorney or trademark attorney about protecting your innovation, please contact us on 0115 947 7977.
For details of relief provided by the UK and European intellectual property offices to IP owners affected by Covid-19, please visit the Covid-19 updates page.
We wish all our clients and contacts well as they adjust to the new operating conditions.
AdamsonJones