Access University Expertise
Variable, typically 3-6 month projects
Connect with our academic experts, to help you to develop bespoke innovative solutions for the specific challenges faced by your business.
Through a rolling programme of funding calls for one-to-one SME R&D projects we can help you:
- source leading academic expertise to support the development of an area in your business, with agreed outputs
- access additional R&D funding for longer more complex projects
- receive expert strategic advice to support a new or improved product or service in areas such as: brand development, prototype development, product/service testing and/or design, strategy development or market assessment.
Potential outcomes for business
- Introduction of new or improved processes, products and services
- Increased revenue
- Reduced costs
Working with the university helped us to expand our original remit and shape a coherent project. Our collaboration has been characterised by academic rigour, a clear commitment to our commercial goals and good humour that has made the project tremendous fun!
Product Foundry
Seven week programme
This programme will support you in the development of physical products through hands-on prototyping. Each week, participants develop products with a range of digital fabrication tools working with an expert team to build effective product prototypes.
The programme consists of:
- Weekly sessions of 4 hours running one morning a week, delivered by product design experts from Plus X and the University of Brighton, covering core prototyping and design activities for new product development including innovations in manufacturing, distribution or sustainability
- access to the Plus X Brighton workshop outside of structured sessions to work on your product - no membership to Plus X or fee required
- product development support from university product design and workshop experts.
Potential outcomes for business
- Development of an existing or new product
- Creation of product prototypes ready testing
The workshop is a great place to work, not just for the facilities: the team and other workshop users means that it is an inspiring and creative place, a great environment to develop prototypes, and get deep into production.
Pioneers
Intensive two day programme - next cohort starting in November 2022
This programme supports and develops business owners and leaders in the Coast to Capital region to create positive impact with industry partners.
The programme consists of:
- 12 hours of support over 2 days from state-of-the-art innovation hub, Plus X Brighton
- Connect with like-minded entrepreneurs and innovators
- Tap into a network of experts and mentors to support challenges
No Plus X membership or fee is required for this programme.
Potential outcomes for business
- IP advice and best practice
- Improved sustainability and CSR
- Advice, inspiration and support to develop, launch or scale a product or service
INSPIRE
Five month programme - programme completed.
This unique programme has been created using world leading innovation research, and has been informed by and developed with SMEs, enabling them to:
- Identify partners with the best strategic fit for innovation projects
- Develop knowledge of innovation business concepts, and skills in the management of open innovation
- Receive one-to-one coaching support to develop and deliver a bespoke innovation action plan
- Create, apply and track sustainable innovation practices within the business using unique tools
- Explore feasibility and prototyping stages of development of new technologies and products, in preparation for commercialisation
- Develop new, or significantly improved, processes and/or products (goods or services)
- Re-engage with innovation projects not yet complete, scaled back, or abandoned
- Explore new and significantly improved forms of organisation, business structures or practices, and marketing strategies and concepts.
Potential outcomes for business
- Identify partners with the best strategic fit for innovation projects
- Develop new skills and approaches to professionally manage innovation
- Create a tailored innovation action plan
- Increase revenue
- Reduce costs
- Introduce new or improved processes, products and services
- Generate new customers
- Explore new markets
- Use of innovation hub and access to facilities to bring employees, supply chain or business clients together.
The INSPIRE tool is fantastically useful and user-friendly.
Profitnet
12 month programme - programme completed.
Profitnet is a peer-to-peer programme, created by innovation expertise at the University of Brighton, designed to enable organisations to learn from each other through expertly facilitated confidential group sessions.
To date, over 1,300 businesses have taken part in Profitnet, helping businesses achieve a significant impact on their profit, turnover and employment.
Profitnet's strength comes from the group's ability to tap into the business expertise within it. Member led and expertly facilitated - every meeting focuses on real business challenges.
The programme consists of 12 monthly meetings which include:
- Development of company strategy
- Peer-to-peer action learning sets dealing with real day-to-day challenges
- Using Action Learning to problem solve business challenges
- Opportunity to reflect, plan and commit to an action plan - time to work on your business, not in it
- Support to enable business growth and development
- Access to university resources, including internships, student placements, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships and training and development.
Profitnet is just like having your own board of non-executive directors. You can discuss whatever you want - over the years the input I’ve had has been absolutely vital as a sounding board for plans, ideas and challenges.
Potential outcomes for business
- Increase productivity growth
- Increase revenue and reduce costs
- Introduce new or improved processes, products and services
- Generate new customers and explore new markets
- Use of innovation hub and access to facilities to bring employees, supply chain or business clients together.
I have gained so much from attending Profitnet over the past two years and I’m now in a very different position with the business. I couldn’t have got here without all the support.
Masterclasses
Masterclass workshops - programme completed.
A series of masterclasses are run throughout the year covering a range of topics, designed to support SMEs in their innovation journey. Masterclasses are develop by the University of Brighton and Plus X Brighton, and all focus on innovation.
You'll get to learn from thought leaders in your field, ask experts your questions, and hear about real-life success stories from other businesses.
Potential outcomes for business
- Access to a range of innovation specialists
- Intensive, deep dive into innovation methods to help recovery
- Take away tools that you can implement straight away.