Friday 15 January 2016
44 Jobs Created with Continued Growth Forecast for 2016
44 Jobs Created with Continued Growth Forecast for 2016
As Cumbria’s successful technology commercialisation programme, Innovus, has created a very impressive 44 new jobs linked to projects it has supported. Operated by NNL and The University of Manchester’s Dalton Nuclear Institute, the Innovus programme is transforming the culture of research and development in Cumbria and inspiring clients to continually seek out the next innovation that will become the future of their business. Launched in 2013, Innovus reaches out to individuals, researchers and small and large businesses, wherever they’re based, to seek out solutions to decommissioning challenges on the Sellafield site. With support from the Regional Growth Fund, Innovus works with innovative Cumbrian businesses by helping them develop and sell the solutions that will overcome industry challenges. Innovus is forecasting more jobs and growth in 2016 as a result of continued success and benefits from new initiatives like Game Changers, a partnership with Sellafield Ltd. Through Game Changers, Innovus and Sellafield Ltd work with Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs), Universities and larger companies nationwide to unlock the potential for game-changing innovation . £5,000 is available for each successful applicant to develop and discuss their idea with follow on support and funding available too. As with all Innovus projects, a vital aspect of Game Changers funding is that the inventor retains ownership of the idea making sure their company gains the maximum benefit from it. Businesses will have the opportunity to find out more about specific challenges and how to apply for funding and support at an event taking place on 2nd March at the Rheged Centre in Penrith. The event is being staged in collaboration with Innovate UK. If you would like to view some of the innovation already taking place within the nuclear sector there is also a ‘Technology Supply Chain in Action’ event taking place on 11th February at Energus in Workington. Booking for both is through the www.innovus.org.uk website. Please see the ‘Events’ section on the homepage.
Commenting on Innovus, NNL’s Adrian Davis-Johnston, Manager of the Innovus programme said: “Innovus is the perfect vehicle for Sellafield Ltd to reach its target audience, with great routes into the SME and supply chain communities as well as academia and the national laboratory. Innovus has quickly built a reputation for promoting great new technologies.” Sellafield Ltd Managing Director Paul Foster said: “Every day at Sellafield we are using world-class innovation to overcome the huge challenges on the site. This has already resulted in huge progress in the clean-up of the legacy ponds and silos – our number one priority. To sustain this, we must be sure we are exploiting every available avenue to innovation. Game Changers offers us a direct route to the individuals and organisations that can help us make the breakthroughs we need to successfully complete the mission.”Game Changers is open for business.
For more information about Game Changers, please contact:
Simon Walker
07415 631277
Adrian Davis-Johnston
07889 992123