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Chance for SMEs to learn how to access funding

º£½ÇÖ±²¥ is hosting a special event for local businesses to find how they can access funding to get product ideas off the ground.

The ‘Meet the Technology Strategy Board’ event is being held at the University’s Darlington campus on Thursday 7 November and is aimed at Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) who are looking for support for innovative new products or services. SMEs from across the region are being encouraged to register for the free event to see how the Technology Strategy Board can help their company grow.

The Technology Strategy Board is a public body set up to accelerate economic growth by stimulating and supporting business-led innovation.

It can help businesses in numerous ways including funding programmes, Knowledge Transfer Networks and international programmes.

At the event, businesses will also learn how to get involved in European Research and Development and how to seek commercial partners overseas.

Leading figures from the Technology Strategy Board, º£½ÇÖ±²¥, Enterprise Europe Network and Clive Owen Accountants will be speaking at the event and there will be workshops on:

• applying for Innovation Vouchers and Smart grants • applying for Eurostars funding, aimed at making it easier for SMEs to access R&D support • obtaining tax relief on patented products (Patent Box) and R&D tax credit entitlements.

There will also be information about a number of national public sector projects.

Participants will be given information on application processes for these projects to make it easier for SMEs to engage with them.

Professor Cliff Hardcastle, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Business Engagement), said: 'We’re delighted to be hosting this event which will showcase and explain the many funding mechanisms available to SMEs.

'It’s a great chance for businesses to find out about how they can access both national and European funding.

'There will also be ample opportunity for participants to network and take part in collaborative discussions.

'We hope that as many SMEs as possible sign up to take part in this event to find out how they can help drive forward enterprise in the North-East.'

To find out more about the event contact een@tees.ac.uk

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For more information on the event click here.