EU and Innovation Funding Support

SMEs that would like help understanding and fully appreciating the benefits of applying for European or national R&D funding to develop and support their business growth potential could find EEDA's EU and Innovation Funding Support Service very useful.

Through our dedicated team of innovation and grant funding specialists, we are able to help SMEs in the East of England to:

• Identify the most appropriate R&D and innovation opportunities;
• Align your strategic drivers and business rationale to R&D opportunities;
• Participate in projects that add real value to your business;
• Shape your funding applications to maximise impact and exploitation potential;
• Find regional partners and consortia for first-time 'players';
• Understand the rules and regulations of regional, national and European R&D programmes.

How it works

We are able to offer up to 3-days dedicated support to SMEs seeking to participate in European or national R&D or innovation-led projects. This support is free to all SMEs in the East of England (EEDA region) and we will:

• Share knowledge and contacts to ensure we maximise opportunities;
• Provide guidance and mentoring to strengthen proposals;
• Encourage participation in national and European R&D and innovation projects;
• Help to foster a climate of 'R&D & innovation' in SMEs new to funding programmes;
• Run 'Information Days' to bring 'players', both experienced and first-timers, together and to share news of forthcoming grant funding opportunities as programmes evolve;
• Link with other regional initiatives such as the Enterprise Europe Network or 'Understanding Finance for Business' to ensure no opportunities are missed;
• Remain independent and impartial at all times.

Information Events

TUV NEL Ltd, on behalf of the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), will be hosting two events in early March 2011 to help technology-based businesses, from the east of England, to understand, and appreciate, the benefits of applying for R&D grants.

Details regarding the events and support available can be found here.

Next steps

For free and impartial support please contact our EU and Innovation Funding Support Helpline on 01355 272 345. All discussions regarding potential funding opportunities are carried out in strictest confidence.

Alternatively, you can contact the team by e-mail fundingsupport@tuvnel.com for further details on the support available and how we can help your business identify suitable funding schemes to enhance your R&D and innovation potential.