High demand as first firms land Investment Zone Innovation Vouchers

A first wave of innovative businesses is primed to benefit from a new programme supported by Teesside University which is helping Tees Valley firms to expand and develop new projects.

The Tees Valley Investment Zone Innovation Voucher will see £1.5m invested to help our region’s digital and creative businesses test, build, pilot and scale up projects over the next eight months.

The seven-figure support has seen no fewer than 155 expressions of interest from companies.

The programme is one of the first initiatives of the £160m Tees Valley Investment Zone, which is nationally unique in backing digital and creative businesses with the research, support, skills and infrastructure they need to innovate, scale and compete internationally.

Surghive, a Teesside-based surgical technology company, is building digital training infrastructure for the future of robotic surgery.

It has been awarded a £40,000 Innovation Voucher to support the next phase of development of its digital surgical training platform to make high-quality training more accessible.

Dr Rachael Coates, Co-founder and CEO of Surghive, said: “The voucher allows us to accelerate development of a critical part of the Surghive ecosystem.

“We have already developed immersive robotic surgery training, but the app creates the digital layer around that training by connecting surgeons with learning, competency requirements, relevant opportunities and, ultimately, personalised recommendations.

“For an early-stage technology company, the support enables us to bring forward development significantly and, importantly, build the right technical foundations now so the platform can scale as our national and international activity grows.”

The company is working with surgeons, training organisations, universities, NHS stakeholders and robotic surgery manufacturers as it prepares for wider pilot deployment.

Dr Coates added: “Ultimately, our ambition is to build a globally significant surgical technology company headquartered and growing from the Tees Valley, with technology developed here supporting surgeons and surgical teams across the NHS and around the world.”

Another firm which has received voucher backing is Middlesbrough-based Unasys Ltd.

The engineering technology firm has supported major UK and international energy and process industry projects for more than 25 years.

A £112,000 Innovation Acceleration voucher will allow its team to support the development, integration and commercialisation of new AI capabilities within its digital asset management platform.

Director Michael Flynn said: “This will help Unasys improve productivity, reduce project delivery costs and create new recurring revenues through software licensing and SaaS (Software as a Service).”

Middlesbrough-based Many Cats Studio, which helps break down barriers for more people to enjoy games and gaming, is also primed to benefit from the voucher programme.

Chris Goodyear, CEO of Many Cats Studio, said: "Being selected to receive the funding offers a major boost in the ways Many Cats Studios can show our expertise – and shows the whole industry why accessibility is important for their projects.

“The funding provided a unique opportunity to develop innovation from within the team, something which would have taken us longer without the support.”

The Innovation Voucher programme is led by Teesside University and supports ambitious digital and creative businesses in the Tees Valley to explore, develop and accelerate innovative ideas to contribute to business growth.

It can help firms test feasibility, build prototypes, pilot innovations, strengthen routes to market and prepare for commercial rollout.

The voucher programme forms part of the wider Tees Valley Investment Zone – the UK’s only Investment Zone dedicated to accelerating the digital and creative sectors.

Led by Tees Valley Combined Authority in partnership with Teesside University and backed by UK Government, the programme is designed to help businesses grow, attract investment, develop talent and strengthen the region’s position as a leading destination for innovation.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “We’ve got brilliant digital and creative businesses right across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool – and the demand for these vouchers shows just how much ambition is out there.

“The Investment Zone needs to be backing growing firms, helping them turn good ideas into real products and services, and making sure more high-quality jobs and supply chain opportunities are created here.

“We already have real strength in digital, tech and creative industries, and this funding is about building on that brilliance so more companies can grow to compete nationally and internationally.”

Professor Stephen Cummings, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Knowledge Exchange) at Teesside University, said: “We are delighted to support this first cohort of businesses through the Tees Valley Investment Zone Innovation Voucher programme.

“We look forward to working with ambitious founders on a wide range of exciting innovation projects, helping them develop new digital and creative products and services that have the potential to drive growth, create opportunities and strengthen the region’s innovation ecosystem.”

Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke, TVCA Cabinet Member for Finance, Organisational Improvement and Business Growth, added: “Middlesbrough has a huge role to play in this, with Teesside University, our businesses and our town’s digital and creative talent helping to drive new ideas forward.

“We want to make it easier for local firms to get the support, expertise and confidence they need to grow. That means backing our strengths, connecting businesses with research and skills, and making sure the benefits are felt by people and communities across the whole Tees Valley.”

The Investment Zone is expected to help create more than 2,000 jobs and potentially unlock £175m of investment over the next decade, with support aimed at helping start-ups, SMEs and established firms innovate, scale and compete in fast-growing markets.

Find out more about the Tees Valley Investment Zone, the Innovation Voucher programme and how your business could benefit below.

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• Tees Valley
• Teesside University
• Tees Valley Investment Zone
• Innovation Vouchers