Does your business need help with the development of a new product or service?

Commercialising a new idea can be a daunting and confusing task.  The Transport iNet, in conjunction with GRACE, are holding a commercialisation workshop that will provide you with the support you need to help turn your innovative new ideas into a sustainable business.

Innovation Advisors from the Transport iNet will provide details of the practical and financial support available to help early stage companies and SMEs develop new products and access new markets. Support includes market assessment services and grant funding towards initial development costs.

Experts from GRACE will provide details of the specific assistance available for companies whose innovations link to GNSS Applications, including the prestigious Galileo Masters Competition.  Further details of the competition, including information on previous winners, can be found at the GRACE and Galileo Masters Websites

The event will also include presentations from tax and IP specialists, as well as companies who have themselves successfully commercialised new technologies. 

During the afternoon, a ‘surgery’ session will take place, allowing attendees to receive dedicated 1-2-1 advice and guidance from the experts on hand, and take the first steps towards turning their ideas into reality.

For further information on this event, and to register your place

Download Derbyshire Knowledge Exchange document

An exciting and extensive programme of activities is scheduled for the day, which includes:

• iRail 2012 Business Breakfast (by invitation only)
• iRail 2012 Student STEM Challenge
• iRail 2012 Distinguished Lecture

The third annual iRail Distinguished Lecture is presented by Professor Andrew McNaughton, Chief Engineer of High Speed 2. Professor McNaughton has been engaged in railway construction, operation and management since 1973. He is Professor of Engineering at Imperial College, London. Professor of Rail Engineering at Nottingham University and Professor of Civil Engineering at Southampton University.

Since 2009 Professor McNaughton has been Chief Engineer of High Speed Two Ltd, developing the principles, network and specific route design for high speed rail in Great Britain.

For further information see iRail 2012 Leaflet

SERT explores key themes contributing to efficient transport including vehicle lightweighting, energy efficient powertrains and intelligent mobility as an aid to efficient vehicle movements in a congested transport network.

This year SERT has been combined with Cenex’s Green Vehicle Congress (GVC) to deliver a single unified event, for UK and international technology developers communities, dedicated to exploring the innovation opportunities associated with energy efficient transport. The event has a strong automotive focus but in partnership with the Transport KTN, SERT@GVC seeks to explore cross cutting opportunities in rail and marine. SERT@GVC, is also supported by the Midlands Transport iNet and the Materials Knowledge Transfer Network.

For more information and to register

Sam Clarke and John Frodsham with SME representatives

The group of nine representatives from SMEs covering a wide range of transport sectors made the trip to Ipswich, Suffolk on 9th February 2012 to meet the buying and product development teams of Oyster Marine. This event was a rare chance for knowledge and expertise transfer, as well as being an excellent opportunity to network with experts from across industry, whilst generating ideas which could change the future of their businesses.

John Frodsham, Transport iNet Director, said: “Since the re-structuring of many support services, including Business Link, the opportunity for impartial, face-to-face advice has become more important for SMEs wanting to grow. Feedback from this event supports this requirement and demand from regional companies so we’re pleased that new connections have been made between the East Midland’s companies and Oyster Marine.”

Jon Hilton, MD at Northamptonshire based Flybrid Systems and attendee of the event, added: “Flybrid Systems doesn’t currently target the marine industry but it became clear during the day that there are a lot of similarities between the type of work we do for our motor racing clients and the work that would be required for a prestige yacht builder like Oyster Marine. These are low volume, high value products that require great attention to detail and perfect quality, which sounds just like our sort of thing!”

Stephen Ollier, MD of Pentaxia in Derby, commented: “The Transport iNet is invaluable to small companies like ourselves; we wouldn’t have the resources to reach such a range of potential customers without its support. This event was an example of the unique networking opportunities it enables us to attend whilst helping some funding for innovative projects – this often makes the difference between a good idea going ahead or gathering dust somewhere.”

About Transport iNet

The Transport iNet is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) with the aim of increasing the level of innovation in the East Midlands, thus helping to improve business competitiveness, margins, sustainability and growth. It enables specific sectors to work together, share ideas, technologies, intelligence, innovation and create a link between industry and the academic community. Further information contact us on 01509 635270 or email us at info@transport-inet.org.uk.

At the Master Class you will learn how to use the innovation management techniques that were developed to deliver 26 projects in the intensive 12-month ‘Grand Challenge’ programme. The Technology Strategy Board championed this with industry to spur new thinking and new ideas in order to deliver a major leap forward in high-performance technology
- Transport KTN and Axillium

Download the Transport KTN Innovation Master Class summary

Request an invite to the Master Class

Download TSB Competition document Low Carbon Vehicles: The road to market

Positioned on the Manufacturing Showcase Stand, Sam Clarke from the Transport iNet and a team of advisors from the Manufacturing Advisory Service, SEMTA, TBAT Innovation and the British Marine Federation spoke to delegates who were interested in growing their business.

Sam Clarke, Transport iNet innovation advisor, said: “The London Boat Show was a great way to meet new nationwide SMEs and make new contacts in the East Midlands. Events and workshops from the Transport iNet are particularly important as they allow us to tell ambitious companies about our services at a time when a number of sources of advice, such as Business Link, have been e re-shaped.”

The Transport iNet is located at the Systems Engineering Innovation Centre (SEIC) on Loughborough University campus and our work is funded via the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).The aim of Transport iNet is to increase the level of innovation in the East Midlands helping to improve business competitiveness, margins, sustainability and growth. It allows individual sectors to work together, share ideas, technologies, intelligence, innovation and create a link between industry and the academic community.

The event, due to take place on 8th February 2012, will give delegates the chance to build contacts at Oyster Marine and learn more about the running of the successful company. Representatives from each SME will then meet a procurement team from Oyster as a further networking opportunity.

Sam Clarke, Transport iNet Innovation Advisor, said: “Following the reduction in many support functions, including Business Link, the impartial and face to face advice we can provide has become more important for SMEs wanting to grow in a difficult climate. We have used our own contacts and industry knowledge to organise this event which will hope will bring real and measurable value to the companies we work with.

“These companies are from a range of sectors so this event is also useful for transfer of knowledge and expertise as well as being an important opportunity to network with industry experts who could change the future of their business.”

“Introducing growing companies to leaders such as Oyster Marine is a fantastic way of making introductions to industry professionals, potential suppliers and buyers.”
- Sam Clarke, Transport iNet Innovation Advisor

The Transport iNet is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) with the aim of increasing the level of innovation in the East Midlands, thus helping to improve business competitiveness, margins, sustainability and growth.

It enables specific sectors to work together, share ideas, technologies, intelligence, innovation and create a link between industry and the academic community.

The aim of the event was to highlight the emerging technologies being developed in the region, and provide a forum for discussion around how to make money from these new innovations.

Presentations from speakers including George Gillespie of MIRA, John Miles of ARUP and Mark Dumville of Nottingham Scientific Ltd outlined the current and anticipated challenges, and explained why Intelligent Mobility and enabling technologies are so important.

The event discussed innovations in sustainable mobility and possible solutions such as intelligent routing to make public transport more efficient. The afternoon workshops led by Logica focussed on exploring inter-modal opportunities and the commercialisation of emerging technologies.

There are significant pressures on the transport sector and this forum was the ideal opportunity to talk about reducing congestion and environmental impact, and increasing capacity and convenience.
– John Frodsham, event exhibitor and Director of the Transport iNet

“The effective development and deployment of intelligent mobility systems has the potential to bring significant societal and business benefit. This event demonstrated the strength and regional knowledge that is working to identify ways forward to ensure that the UK maximises that potential and makes intelligent mobility a commercial reality.”

Points raised at the event will be used to develop further activities coordinated on a national level.

The Transport iNet, based at Loughborough University, is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).  The aim of the iNets is to increase the level of innovation in the East Midlands helping to improve business competitiveness, margins, sustainability and growth. It allows individual sectors to work together, share ideas, technologies, intelligence, innovation and create a link between industry and the academic community.