Why should your startup be a part of an innovation ecosystem?

Innovation lies at the heart of scientific progress, and in today's fast-paced world, the researchers behind startups are playing a pivotal role in driving groundbreaking discoveries and technological advancements.

Science innovation centres such as AberInnovation provide the ideal bridge between the process of testing products and taking them to market for entrepreneurs and researchers.

Whether you're an academic researcher with a brilliant idea or an entrepreneur with ideas in their infancy, the journey from lab bench to market can be a daunting one.

This blog explores how innovation centres like ours play an important role in turning scientific innovations into practical solutions and how the expertise on offer can significantly enhance the chances of success.

-How can science based startups benefit from collaborative innovation?

Scientific business hubs – or ‘ecosystems of innovation’ - provide a platform for startups to accelerate their route to market. They do this by opening up collaborative opportunities with industry stakeholders, signposting businesses to academic links and business mentors, as well as research institutions and by making introductions to industry connections.  

This ecosystem of support can foster a faster exchange of ideas, resources, and expertise, accelerating the pace of scientific research. By working together, these groups can pool their knowledge and resources to tackle complex scientific challenges more effectively.

AberInnovation’s business ecosystem benefits businesses by acting as a link for ambitious, collaborative companies of all sizes to advance the development of new products and processes in agri-tech, food and drink and the bio-economy.

Those who carry out research projects and startup ventures through AberInnovation can benefit from a wide range of connections including:

• Links to highly skilled and reputable Aberystwyth University academic staff and their wider connections, both academic and commercial
• Highly experienced support staff who can assist with practical and technical requirements
• Access to local students at Aberystwyth to help aid project development and carry out research tasks  
• Mentoring and business support with the organisation's in house experts
• Advice for developing future research funding pitches

-What resources do business research ecosystems offer?

Business ecosystems often offer financial funding and infrastructure needed to support scientific research as well as state-of-the-art equipment, and facilities.

AberInnovation’s funding programmes enable researchers to conduct experiments and studies that would be otherwise unaffordable or logistically challenging and can advance the progress of projects.

There is also a wide range of testing facilities, services and expertise on offer.

It’s also a place that offers researchers a business base, an address and the option to book discounted meeting rooms for collaboration or events on-site.

-How can business research ecosystems help take research to market?

Business ecosystem companies can provide funding, access to state-of-the-art equipment, and facilities, enabling researchers to conduct experiments and studies that would be otherwise unaffordable or logistically challenging. This access to resources can significantly advance the progress of scientific projects.

-How has AberInnovation helped further projects so far?

Don’t just take it from us. Here is just a selection of what benefactors of funding and support received through AberInnovation’s funding streams and business support services have to say:

Jonathan Hughes, Pennotec: “It’s been invaluable using the funding to facilitate collaboration and the business advisory support has been tailored to our business, enabling skills development in the team.”

Carlos Kao, Lohas Fertiliser: “The facilities here helped us to scale up our demonstrations and we were able to hire local people for the duration of the project who helped conduct market research. We were able to extend our collaborative network by opening up conversations with local government.”

Tony Powell, Envrio 365: “AberInnovation offered us a student, who was able to support with sales and marketing, allowing us to develop and set a target to at least triple the number of customers by the end of 2022. The advice on understanding grant funding was invaluable. I’d recommend it to anyone.”

Rhiannon Rees, PlantSea: “The programme we applied for helped us to do more research with our University partners so we can learn more and develop our polymers. We also received funding for a research assistant who aided with investigating development and manufacturing systems. This brings us significantly closer to our goal to make our product readily available to customers and for it to be competitively priced.”

For more information head to our contact page where one of our team will get back to you as soon as possible.