The operation offers three phases of support to companies:

Stage I: Collaborative RD&I Needs Analysis.
Stage 1 will be based on a 2-day engagement with the enterprise and will result in either an R&D based business diagnostic or innovation assessment and in each case an action plan which accesses the current level of manufacturing technology and techniques within the company; the demands of clients and customers vis-à-vis the company’s products; the levels of leadership and support within the company for change; and the capability to collaborate in an additive manufacturing project. At the end of this process the company will be presented with a R&D report which encapsulates their current needs and problems and suggests possible solutions.  At least 6 hours of support will be given in each case.

The aim of the analysis will be to understand the issues that the company in question faces at both strategic and operational levels, but especially from a technology perspective and how the operation can help to deliver the transformational and market changes identified above for that company. An innovation review, analysis and underpinning data set will be jointly developed by the operation and enterprise detailing:

–       Current level of manufacturing technology and techniques within the company;

–       Demands of clients and customers vis-à-vis the company’s products;

–       Clear understanding of RD&I challenge and the ability of the operation to address it through an effective collaboration

–       Analysis of why this RD&I need cannot be met by the private sector and has not been addressed by this route.

–       Outline understanding of the market opportunities (e.g. size, opportunities, challenges) in addition to route to market (e.g. either through established supply chains or new market opportunities). Details of investments required outside of the scope of the operation will also be collected.

–       Predicted economic impact (e.g. cost of non-action, investment required, forecast business grown in revenue, margin and employees).

–       Levels of leadership and support within the company for change;

–       Capability to collaborate in an additive manufacturing project;

–       Alignment with specific objectives of SO1.2 for respective EW or WWV operation and contribution to output indicators

–       Contribution the CCTs.

–       Risks associated with the project.

At the end of this process the company will be presented with a report which encapsulates their current needs and problems and suggest possible solutions from other ERDF operations, for example ASTUTE 2020 and SMART Innovation.

Stage II: Technology Prototype Project.

Taking the results of Stage I, Stage II will consist of a detailed and specific project plan with the aim of introducing to the company production ready prototypes using advanced manufacturing and materials for new products, processes and services. Depending upon the needs of each company and their capacity, each project will run between 6-24 weeks.  Stage II will focus on either introducing new processes using additive manufacturing technologies for existing products, or the testing and evaluation of processes and materials for potential new product concepts.

Stage III: Technology Adoption.

At the end of Stage II, each company will have a production quality prototype produced through new to the firm manufacturing processes, technologies and materials. Stage III will be critical in two ways in advancing the prototype in readiness for either the commercialisation of the new product or the adoption of the technology/manufacturing process.

Please contact Phil Catherwood for more information.