Partnership’s where it’s at in Lanarkshire, with four key public bodies coming together to provide a new focal point for technology-related support.
The new Lanarkshire Technology & Innovation Centre opened in the James Watt Building of East Kilbride’s Scottish Enterprise Technology Park last October .
Developed from the LDA’s Technology & Innovation strategy, the new centre will provide a nucleus for all the innovation and technological company support programmes available in Lanarkshire.
The centre was set up as a joint venture between South and North Lanarkshire Councils, Lanarkshire Development Agency and Strathclyde University, but the private sector will also be invited to participate.
It was established as a Company Limited by Guarantee and will run as a pilot project for three years.
Councillor Jim Daisley, chair of South Lanarkshire Council’s Economic Development Committee, said: The idea behind this is to encourage more Lanarkshire companies to take part in product development and technology-related programmes to improve their business performance.
“This new centre will deliver those programmes directly or indirectly to the client company with the help of local business support organisations - the local authorities, Lanarkshire Development Agency and the local Enterprise Trusts.”
A number of LDA business support programmes relevant to technology and innovation will be sub-contracted to the centre and it will link up to Strathclyde University for its input on research, technology and product development.
Project director Jim Dearie, from Lanarkshire Development Agency, said: “If Lanarkshire companies are to remain competitive in the future, they will require to develop innovative approaches to the way they do business.
“The Centre will provide a range of services aimed at stimulating more product and process development in local companies. We can provide information and advice on innovation and technology-related issues together with funding to support good company development projects.
“We are also creating a range of training workshops that will be used to enhance product development skills within local companies and we will also be working with our partners and local colleges to develop appropriate training modules to further improve these skills in the area.”
Funding of £1.164m over three years will come from the key partners, with European Regional Development Fund assistance. South Lanarkshire Council will contribute £65,000 over that time, 50% of which will be grant supported by ERDF.
Andrew Dickson, Business Development Manager for the Council’s Economic Development Service, said: “This is an important new resource for Lanarkshire. With technology advancing all the time, it’s important this new centre is here to help local businesses keep up-to-date with the latest technology-related training programmes.
“The centre makes it easier for the Lanarkshire business community to access programmes which suit their needs, without them having to approach several different organisations.
He continued: “This new centre also helps South Lanarkshire Council develop its involvement in technology-related training programmes. It will allow us, with the other project partners, to develop a more strategic Lanarkshire-wide approach.”
Information:
Lanarkshire Technology Innovation Centre
tel: 01355 272702
fax: 01355 272703e-mail: info@latic.co.uk
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