Funding news - 01/02/2012
Niche Innovation Scheme (West Midlands)
The Niche Innovation Scheme (NIS), led by Coventry University Enterprises, aims to encourage partnership work between companies and research organisations to enable them to access technical expertise that might otherwise be beyond their budget.
Niche vehicles are defined as any vehicle produced at a volume of less than 5,000 units per year.
The NIS offers research and development grants of £4,000 to £20,000 for small and medium enterprises to create new products for niche vehicles, which will contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions.
Grants may be used to cover the cost of purchasing services from established research partners such as universities or technology organisations to develop new and innovative products.
Mike Dickison, director of the niche vehicle programme in Coventry University's Low Carbon Vehicle Grand Challenge, said:
"The niche vehicle sector is a vital part of the part of the automotive landscape in the UK and particularly in the West Midlands. It includes many internationally-recognised, high-value brands and their suppliers, so it's critical that the niche manufacturers continue to innovate and develop new products, especially to meet the demands of the lower carbon economy.
"The Niche Innovation Scheme will provide essential support to those SMEs to allow them access to world-class expertise, and to encourage them to pioneer the kind of new technologies that the volume players will adopt in the future. Their value and contribution to the industry as a whole should not be underestimated."
Applications may be made at any time.
Click here to visit the Niche Vehicle Network website (opens in new window).
Source: Business Birmingham, 27/01/2012