Growth Horizons - supporting SME innovation

This meeting develops the theme of presenting the research activities in the Faculty of Engineering and Technology (FET) at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU). Critically, this meeting introduces the “Growth Horizons” project, a collaborative innovation support project for SMEs in the Liverpool City Region (LCR). The project encourages SMEs to tap in to the knowledge, expertise, and facilities of the project’s university partners. The meeting will be an excellent opportunity for regional companies to meet the personnel delivering this project at LJMU and explore the potential for engaging with the project to help develop their products, manufacturing processes and management, logistics and, ultimately future competitiveness and profitability.

The Growth Horizons project is collaboration between the University of Liverpool, LJMU and Edge Hill University. It is funded by UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), and has received £3.7 million from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority as the lead authority; with the key aim of increasing R&D spend in the region through increased innovation activity.

The meeting will introduce the dedicated innovation support team based in LJMU FET, who will describe how companies can participate in the project, across several technology areas, such as the fourth industrial revolution, low carbon technologies, creative and digital, and maritime, transport and logistic skills, united in their industry-focused approach of helping industry solve their everyday challenges.

A range of interventions can be developed, ranging from short student led projects to support and participation in funded collaborative R&D projects and knowledge transfer partnerships. These will be illustrated by the presentation of a number of case studies.