Small businesses received a boost in the budget with the announcement that a further £20m will be invested in a programme designed to encourage public sector bodies to invest in innovative new technology. The Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI), which is overseen by the Government-backed Technology Strategy Board, offers innovative businesses opportunities to win contracts to develop and commercialise technology-based solutions to public sector needs.

The programme is designed to benefit both business and public bodies. Business gains the opportunity to develop and potentially sell their product to the public sector organisation and the organisation gains access to smart and often small businesses with the ability to offer up dynamic solutions to the challenges that they face. The additional investment of £20m will enable more public sector organisations, such as Government departments, to run competitions that lead to businesses being offered contracts to develop innovative new technology.

Iain Gray, Chief Executive of the Technology Strategy Board, said:

“We want to ensure that public sector procurement activity in the UK helps to stimulate the mass of innovative potential in business, especially small business. There is a huge untapped resource that we really want public sector bodies to access, in the form of strong growing and innovative businesses , who when given a chance can offer up the right technology-enabled solutions to many public sector needs and challenges. “

Mark Glover, Head of SBRI at the Technology Strategy Board said:

“The SBRI programme has been going from strength to strength since its launch last year and the decision to allocate further spending in this area is testimony to the inherent need for the programme and the increasing political will for Government departments to find solutions to their own challenges by supporting innovation and innovative businesses. In 2010 we plan to run design competitions in sectors that will promote low carbon economic growth, the life sciences and security.”

The SBRI initiative, which was launched last year, is already proving to be a success with many programmes already coming to fruition. For example, the £17m Retrofit for the Future Competition, where 87 organisations including registered social landlords and architects have secured contracts to demonstrate environmentally friendly refits on social housing and the £2.75m Energy Efficient Whitehall project, where a number of Government departments are taking part in a pilot project where new energy efficiency technology will be demonstrated in Whitehall buildings. Ends

Companies and other organisations seeking further information about these and other funding competitions should visit the competitions page of the Technology Strategy Board website – www.innovateuk.org, email competitions@tsb.gov.uk or phone the Competitions Helpline on 0300 321 4357.

Additional contact: Nick Sheppard. Tel: 07824 599644 nick.sheppard@tsb.gov.uk