UN SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Overview

In addition to our contributions in research and teaching, we are incredibly proud of our track record in supporting business in Lincolnshire and beyond. During the academic year 21/22, we supported 237 businesses to improve their productivity and efficiency, introduce new innovations, and grow their business through our business support programmes led by academics and professional services staff.

Investing in the Region

Funded by the European Union, we invest in infrastructure and services for Greater Lincolnshire businesses, driving productivity, innovation, and growth, and leading a series of activities totalling approximately £7 million over the four-year period, ending in June 2023. Activity included supporting individuals with ambitions to start a business and those in their early stages as well engaging our own academics in a wide range of disciplines and specialisms, which enabled businesses an unprecedented opportunity to tap into this wealth of sector specific knowledge to drive forward a new idea, product, or service. We also aimed to inject higher level skills into the workforce, delivering pioneering research, skills provision, and knowledge exchange. These activities have delivered more than 1,000 business assists.

A More Productive Lincolnshire

The Productivity Programme was co-developed in partnership with Lincolnshire County Council and the Lincoln Science and Innovation Park, engaging more than 750 businesses over the last four years. Its focus was to use funding to support businesses in implementing and enabling productivity improvements and building engagement that led to enhanced levels of productivity within the SME community. This programme also provided fully funded access to University expertise, technical support, and academic know-how.

In order to support high-growth SMEs in the Greater Lincolnshire area, this project established a core group of investors, based at the Lincoln Science and Innovation Park. These investors formed working relationships with other business angel groups and venture capital funds in the wider region, helping more than 90 SMEs refine their equity investment proposals and strategies to increase local investment.

Expanding our Impact

The Productivity Hubs programme, established in 2020, has assisted more than 260 SMEs, providing an intensive programme of support for high-growth potential business ideas to help develop a more dynamic and innovative business base. Greater Lincolnshire Productivity Hubs extended the reach of the current business support infrastructure in the region and supported areas with specific clusters of businesses that had innovation and growth potential, such as Scunthorpe, Boston, and Grimsby.