Helping local businesses to innovate and expand

More than 380 businesses have been supported through EU-funded Business Technology Centres at the University of Exeter, with regional growth benefits estimated at more than £2 million.

The University of Exeter won funding from the European Regional Development Fund to set up two technology centres aimed at providing research support, advice and access to facilities and leading academics to small and medium-sized companies in the south-west of England.

The Centre for Additive Layer Manufacturing (CALM) and the Centre for Alternative Materials and Remanufacturing (CALMARE) helped companies test new products and materials using university facilities, get advice about manufacturing, and make improvements to their operation processes.

These projects have strengthened links between the University of Exeter and local businesses, led to academics and entrepreneurs working collaboratively on joint research projects, and helped businesses to grow and create jobs – with CALM alone producing estimated regional growth of more than £2 million.

CALMARE has supported businesses to operate in a more sustainable way and has led to the creation of at least 13 new products in the past two years and seven patents or intellectual property devices, with many more new products further advanced in the development cycle.

Professor Mark Goodwin, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Innovation and External Engagement), says that “European Union funding has been crucial to help the University of Exeter support initiatives that facilitate the interaction of business and higher education. This has brought huge benefits to local companies and the regional economy.”

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