Investment and support unveiled for creative and green tech South West businesses

Creative tech and green tech businesses in the South West are set for a boost this Autumn with two new programmes of specialist support being launched by SETsquared.

The support will hone in on critical business needs such as raising investment, developing scalable and profitable business plans, and identifying and applying for appropriate funding for all-important research and development (R&D).

The programmes are supported by the Barclays Eagle Labs Ecosystem Partnership Programme, funded by UK Government, with further backing from the West of England Combined Authority, MyWorld, and the University of Exeter.

Places on the programmes will be fully funded, and participating businesses will also benefit from the backing of centres of excellence in each sector.

The Creative Tech Programme will be a collaboration between SETsquared and MyWorld, a global centre for creative technology research and innovation, which brings together 13 diverse, world-leading partners across academia and industry to stimulate innovation, growth and societal change in the industry and region.

The programme will support creative tech founders to become investor-ready and better engage with Angels and VCs. The Green Futures Programme will be led by Exeter Innovation at the University of Exeter and will work closely with Green Futures Solutions, a global centre of excellence.

The Green Futures focus at the University of Exeter reflects its concentration of expertise with over 1,500 research and education specialists who are committed to tackling the climate emergency through the circular economy, life cycle analysis and the built environment to name a few.

The Green Futures Programme will support regional ventures to tap into Exeter’s expertise and explore and develop opportunities to build relationships that attract collaborative R&D funding. In addition, each programme will help address skills and workforce gaps through signposting to existing skills programmes in the region.

Serena Giaminardi, Interim Programme Director, SETsquared, commented: “Whilst we have strong digital clusters in Bath and Bristol, which is ranked as a top ten tech city, there is a local challenge around supporting creative tech SMEs to secure private sector investment to support their growth.”

“Equally, we know that innovation will be key to meeting Net Zero targets. There are strong clusters of green tech businesses in the South West, but they need funding to continue their R&D and university-grade research in order to bring these innovations to the market where they can have an impact.”

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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