Millions invested in Yorkshire’s brightest academic talent
MORE than £2m has been invested in fellowships across the region through Yorkshire Forward’s Enterprise Fellowship Programme.
A total of 65 fellowships have been awarded as part of the programme, which is designed to assist cutting edge innovation in the region by helping university researchers create businesses based on their research.
Fellowships have been awarded to applicants from universities across the region working within the three key disciplines bioscience, chemicals and healthcare technologies.
Successful applicants will benefit from funding support of up to £10,000 to develop their science and assistance is available to find investors and signpost other funding sources.
In addition to the financial help, the programme offers a unique package of support to fellows for one year featuring a support scheme with specialist commercial expertise, project management facilities and a tailored science and business development programme.
The scheme, which began awarding fellowships in March 2008, will run for 30 months. When it ends it’s hoped a host of new businesses will have been established providing everything from medical devices to new drugs.
Jim Farmery, assistant director of business at Yorkshire Forward, said: “Yorkshire Forward encourages innovation and entrepreneurship at all levels across the region.
“The Yorkshire Enterprise Fellowship is designed to ease the route to commercial success for young scientists by providing them with an opportunity to change their bright ideas into marketable products.”
