
by Gráinne Connolly
Mid Ulster District Council has recently commissioned the InnoTech Centre at South West College to deliver a ‘Mid Ulster Engineering Innovation Programme’.
It's designed to help ambitious engineering businesses accelerate their growth and innovation prospects.
The Programme will assist a number of engineering businesses in the Mid Ulster District to develop new products and/or services in order to enhance job creation, business competitiveness, performance and sustainability.
Chair of Mid Ulster District Council, Councillor Kim Ashton, welcomed the Programme,
“The Engineering Innovation Programme is designed to support innovation in our local engineering sector which contributes strongly to Mid Ulster’s overall economic performance.
"It will provide an opportunity for engineering businesses to access free support to enable them to capitalise on innovative ideas to enhance their future competitiveness to drive productivity and job creation.”
Dr Jill Cush, Innovation Manager at the InnoTech Centre, said the Programme would support participating engineering firms with the resources needed to transform innovative ideas into profitable gain.
“This Programme is focused on advancing the potential of Mid Ulster’s engineering businesses seeking to innovate and the InnoTech Centre is in a unique position to help them do this.
"It will enable clients to access our world-class resources and expert staff to improve current design and manufacturing technology, product development, design prototyping as well as cutting-edge facilities and ongoing professional mentoring.”
The Programme is now open for applications; places on the Programme are limited and will be awarded as part of a competitive process subject to an assessment process.