The Tees Valley Investment Zone Research and Innovation programme is designed to support businesses operating in, or looking to grow within, the digital and creative industries.
To be eligible, your business should:
- be based in the Tees Valley, or planning to establish activity in the region
- operate within digital and creative industries, or have a clear and growing digital or creative focus
- be developing a new idea, product, service or process, or improving an existing one with a clear route to growth
- be open to collaboration with Teesside University to explore research, innovation or technical challenges.
We recognise that not all businesses are purely digital or creative. Where digital or creative activity is part of a wider business, support may still be available if there is a clear opportunity to develop this into a meaningful area of growth.
Projects should demonstrate a clear innovation focus and a defined outcome, such as creating new capability, opening up new markets, or developing a new income stream. You may be at an early stage, testing a concept, or more established and looking to scale. The programme supports a range of innovation needs, from initial feasibility through to applied research and development.
Support is available to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as larger organisations. The level and type of support will vary depending on the size of the business, the nature of the project, and how intellectual property (IP) is managed.
If your business or project is not a direct fit, we can help identify alternative routes to support.
If you are unsure whether your business or idea is eligible, please don't hesitate to get in touch. A short conversation can help determine the best route for support and give you access to a range of potential solutions to your business challenge.
Getting started doesn't need to be complicated.
We know that applying for funding or innovation support can sometimes feel time-consuming or unclear. Our approach is designed to keep things straightforward, practical and focused on your business.
You won't be expected to complete long forms or navigate the process alone. Instead, we start with a conversation to understand your idea, your challenges and what you're trying to achieve.
From there, our team will guide you through the next steps, helping you shape your project, identify the right type of support and understand what information is needed. We'll work with you to make sure everything is clear, proportionate and aligned to your goals.
What the process looks like
The process is simple and designed to move at your pace.
- Start the conversation
Get in touch to discuss your idea or challenge. This can be informal and exploratory.
- Explore your options
We'll help you identify the most suitable type of support, whether that's a short-term research project, innovation funding or a collaborative opportunity.
- Shape your project
If there's a good fit, we'll work with you to define the scope, outcomes and approach. This ensures your project is focused, realistic and delivers value.
- Agree the details
We'll guide you through any required documentation. This is kept as simple and proportionate as possible.
- Get started
Once everything is agreed, your project can begin with support from our academic and technical teams.
If you're not sure where to start, that's exactly what we're here for. A short conversation is often all it takes to get things moving.
