Innovation roadshow set to stop in Fareham, Oxford, Bristol, Guildford and Soton

Innovaction Global is set to host its first ever innovation roadshow this summer.

The firm, which advises companies on securing governmental grants to help with the costs of innovation, will be providing free workshops at five stops across the South.

They’re open to businesses at any stage of R&D and technology development which regard innovation as their commercial future.

First stop is Fareham Innovation Centre, home to 57 technology-led companies and located by Solent Airport at Lee-on-the-Solent near Gosport.

Monika Dabrowska, founder and director of Innovaction Global, will be sharing key insights and tips for writing grant applications.

Taking place at 10am on Tuesday 14 May, the 90-minute Fareham 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 the South, particularly R&D startups and early-stage businesses, which have no idea that grants are available and that their project costs can be offset by between 45 and 100 per cent if their application for grant funding is successful.

“It’s 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 – are 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.”

Oxford is the second stop, on Tuesday 21 May at the BioEscalator – Oxford University’s biotech incubator which provides lab space and entrepreneurial support for high growth startups.

Third stop is Bristol, Tuesday 4 June at Future Space, Filton Road, Stoke Gifford.

Fourth is Guildford, Tuesday 11 June at Surrey Technology Centre, 40 Occam Road.

The fifth and final stop will be Southampton’s National Oceanography Centre on European Way, Tuesday 18 June.

All workshops on the tour start at 10am.

Monika, who’s also a monitoring service provider for Innovate UK, added: “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.”

Innovaction Global has helped many businesses with grant writing support.

Among their past clients is CarbonQuota, a company looking to decarbonise the packaging and print sector.

It was awarded an Innovate UK Smart grant of £170,000, helping to generate up to 50 full-time equivalent jobs this decade.

Another is GG Care, which is developing assistive technology for people with dementia using an app.

It secured a £50,000 grant and could result in up to 55 jobs being created.