Member Article

Cable visits Sussex Innovation Centre

Businesses in Brighton received a visit from Business Secretary, Vince Cable on Thursday, to see how firms received support from the Sussex Innovation Centre (SInC).

Entrepreneurs are offered in-house support from SInC to help fledgling technology and innovation firms in their start up stages, and Dr Cable met with three beneficiaries of the centre.

Representatives from Plessey Semi-Conductors, which manufactures products such as heart rate monitors for cars, electric car charging firm, Elektromotive, and sensor technology business Deteq all met with the Business Secretary.

Set up in the 1960s, SInC, which is a subsidiary of the University of Sussex, has a current base of approximately 80 entrepreneurs, growing companies and start-ups on its books.

It offers business incubation, commercialisation of technology and entrepreneurial ideas as well as business mentoring.

The centre, which boasts a cumulative revenue of over £250m, employs hundreds of people from the community and spearheads development in the “Sussex Academic Corridor”, which is a scheme that works with the public, academic and business sectors.

Vince Cable commented: “The Sussex Innovation Centre is an important hub for start-up businesses to develop their technologies and can provide the firms with the benefits of close working with the University of Sussex.

“It is a melting pot of new ideas and provides small businesses with the kind of practical support they need to succeed.

“The centre is a real asset for the local economy. It is home to some truly innovative businesses that are creating hundreds of jobs for the local community and will help keep us at the forefront when it comes to developing new technologies.

“The SInC is a great example of what can be achieved when academia and ambitious, innovative young companies come together.”

SInC’s director, Mike Herd, added: “Innovation, both in new products and business models, is vital to creating economic growth in a recovery.

“The Sussex Innovation Centre is seeing a high demand for its specialist business support from new innovators, entrepreneurs and research academics.

“The Centre provides the environment and resources that can give a new entrepreneur the confidence to realise the potential of their idea.”

SInC management teams met with Dr. Cable and representatives of the University to discuss innovation and business start-ups, and the Business Minister went on to meet with the local enterprise partnership, Coast to Capital.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .