News » Science

NORFOLK FIRM SCOOPS AWARD FOR INNOVATIVE IDEAS

A Colney based company has won backing from the Department of Trade and Industry's Small Business Service (SBS).

	(Left) Hazel Hole MBE, Deputy Director, Small Business Service East presenting the Smart Award to Jiahui Zhu, Selecgen, Colney.

At a ceremony on Wednesday 10 March, 17 SBS Smart awards and 13 Grants for Research and Development were presented. As well as the one from Norfolk there were 14 from Cambridgeshire, six from Suffolk, four from Essex, four from Hertfordshire and one from Bedfordshire. All will receive a substantial financial boost from the government for their innovative approach to solving practical problems.

The SMART Award winner based in Norfolk was Selecgen Ltd who will carry out clinical research to find genes or markers related with diseases.

These are the final Smart awards to be presented. From 1 June 2003 the scheme was phased out to be replaced in England by the Grant for Research and Development Programme. This will provide money to help individuals, and small and medium-sized businesses research and develop technologically innovative products and processes.

Phil Mercer, Regional Director SBS East, said:

"The East of England is at the forefront of developing innovative and imaginative business ideas, and we want to continue to help the right companies to implement these ideas and successfully grow their businesses. This year we have already awarded £9.5 million to 150 projects in order to help foster this entrepreneurial spirit throughout the region."

"I would like to congratulate all of the award winners on their success and to encourage others to come forward to apply for the newly available Research and Development Grants".

Hazel Hole, MBE, Deputy Director, SBS East presented the awards.

Advisors from Business Links, which offer guidance on how to apply for DTI grants are present at each awards ceremony. After the formal presentations, new winners are invited to attend the Smart Club for the East of England (SCEE) a group of former Smart recipients, advisors and financiers which meets regularly to swap ideas.

Under the new Grant for Research and Development money is given for four types of project:

• Micro Projects - simple low cost development projects lasting no longer than 12 months. Up to £20,000 is available to businesses with fewer than 10 employees
• Research Projects - planned research or critical investigation lasting between 6 and 18 months. Up to £75,000 is available to businesses with fewer than 50 employees
• Development Projects - shaping of industrial research into a pre-production prototype of a technologically innovative product or industrial process. Up to £200,000 is available for businesses with fewer than 250 employees
• Exceptional Projects - technology developments which have higher costs. These projects are likely to generate much wider economic benefits and must be recognised as of 'strategic ' importance for a technology or industrial sector. Up to £500,000 is available to businesses with fewer than 250 employees.

Posted: 16th Mar 2004