Innovation roadshow is heading to Bristol for first time

The first Innovation Roadshow of its kind is to visit Bristol.

Innovaction Global, which advises companies on how to unlock governmental grants to help with the costs of innovation, will be providing free workshops.

These are open to companies at any stage of R&D and technology development which regard innovation as their commercial future.

Monika Dabrowska, the founder director of Innovaction Global, which has supported 350 companies to date, will be sharing key insights and tips for writing grant applications.

Taking place on Tuesday, 4 June, from 10am, at Future Space, Filton Road, Stoke Gifford, the 90-minute workshop also looks at how to prepare a successful proposal to Innovate UK, the UK’s national innovation agency which supports business-led innovation across all sectors and technologies.

Monika said: “There are companies in and around Bristol, particularly R&D start-ups and early-stage businesses, which have no idea grants are available and that their project costs can be offset by between 45% to 100% if their application for grant funding is successful.

“It is a hard truth that the majority of new businesses fail within 36 months, often because the financial burn rate is so high – research and development, with staff, premises and equipment, and the inevitable mistakes without professional oversight, is far more cash intensive than many people realise.

“Some of those businesses may well have gone on to flourish with commercially viable products, services or processes had they sought and received grant funding and subsequent project monitoring.

“Innovaction Global’s Roadshow is the first of its kind in the South – it means local companies have the convenience of attending our free sessions on their doorstep.”

Four other stops are in Guildford, Oxford, Southampton and near Portsmouth.

Monika, who is also a Monitoring Service Provider for Innovate UK, said: “Tens of millions of pounds of grant funding are available to UK companies – the government encourages applications because successful businesses create revenue, jobs and taxes, more than covering the initial outlay from the public purse.”