Sixteen small firms from around the North East have been given backing to develop ideas that could help society deal with the Covid-19 crisis.
The North East LEP asked the region’s business community for answers to Coronavirus-related problems through Challenge North East, a new open innovation programme.
The programme received more than 60 business ideas and now 16 of those firms have received up to £5,000 to develop their ideas. The project has focusses on delivering safe in-person events and safely adapting in-home services.
Some of the SMEs involved pivoted to adapt existing products and services to address Covid-19-related challenges, while others built new solutions based on their areas of capability and expertise.
The finalists will now pitch their ideas to a panel at the end of March to win up to £40,000 in further funding. All 16 companies will be given support and guidance to further their ideas.
Sarah Cox, programme director of Challenge North East, said: “It’s been fantastic to see the strength of the ideas that have come through from such a diverse group of businesses.
“There are some really innovative solutions that have the potential for multiple applications. Particularly impressive is the way many of the solutions offer economic and also social benefits, helping some of our most vulnerable communities.
“We have also been heartened by level of engagement from large regional organisations and our challenge supporters who helped us understand the problems they are facing and and their willingness to support SMEs as they develop and test solutions with real-world applications.”
Most Read
The Challenge North East programme is being delivered by the Innovation SuperNetwork, Digital Catapult North East Tees Valley and Sunderland Software City. Funding has come from the Government’s Local Growth Fund.
Alison Freer, innovation manager at Innovation SuperNetwork, said: “Challenge North East is very much a collaborative effort with our delivery partners and challenge supporters, pooling respective strengths and experience to champion the creativity and hard work of SMEs.
“The level of innovation demonstrated by the businesses involved has been inspiring. We are delighted to play our part in helping participants to develop their solutions in response to Covid disruption and find new market opportunities in doing so.”
Alan Welby, director of innovation at the North East LEP, said: “Covid-19 has been incredibly disruptive and had forced us to entirely change the way we live our lives.
“Challenge North East champions innovative solutions to this by drawing on the vast amount of talent and expertise in our region. By tapping into the potential of our people and organisations, we will find the solutions we need to rise to the challenges of these trying times.”