Technology hub opening a passage to India for start-ups

Technology hub Innovation Birmingham Campus has struck a new collaboration which aims to improve international trade links between start-up businesses in the UK and India.

The hub is partnering with not-for-profit innovation and research centre RE-Rise UK and its virtual incubator and accelerator service.

The first phase of the alliance is set to run until September 2018, and will see the focus on providing start-up businesses with international access to support and mentoring programmes.

RE-Rise UK’s existing operations in Delhi is targeting innovative technology-based projects looking to benefit from stronger links between the UK and India.

Venkat Raman, founder of RE-Rise UK, said: “Under this partnership, Innovation Birmingham and RE-Rise UK will enjoy the opportunity to leverage world class programming and build great companies in the global incubation market.”

Start-ups currently nurtured by the RE-Rise Foundation receive business support, mentoring and incubation across a variety of sectors from solar and wind power to the Internet of Things and gaming.

The partnership provides Indian SMEs with opportunities to acquire a place on a relevant support programme delivered at the Innovation Birmingham Campus.

Cliff Dennett, Head of Business Development at Innovation Birmingham said: “Collaboration between two established business support networks for SMEs presents valuable opportunities for business growth.

“The international dimension to this partnership means that both sets of companies have the chance to penetrate markets that may have been out of reach previously. I look forward to developing the relationship between the organisations as we strive to establish and nurture successful growth companies.”

Both organisations will provide up to nine months of free co-working space, mentoring and access to commercial partners, events, PR support and regional innovators and entrepreneurs.

The Birmingham campus said that for start-ups based there, the partnership presented an opportunity to gain more knowledge of the Indian market, as RE-Rise would provide an assessment of sector-specific opportunities across the sub-continent.

It will also offer help with trade visits, accommodation arrangements, set-up and recruitment services as well as visa advice.