June 13, 2007  

Inspired collaboration to assist company innovation
 
A unique alliance has come together in the Midlands to create a unique and positive link between small and medium sized companies and the Universities/Higher Education Institutions. The INDEX – INnovaton Delivers EXpansion - project will provide 80 companies, with up to 250 employees, the opportunity to receive an innovation voucher, worth £3,000, which they will be able to spend with any of region’s universities. Funded by the Regional Development Agency, Advantage West Midlands (AWM), the Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the voucher will enable businesses to gain access to leading academic expertise at one of the participating organisations, who will work with them to generate real innovation for a particular project. 
 
Co-ordinated by Aston University, the application form for vouchers is now available online at www.indexvouchers.org until Friday 29th June. Initially there are 40 vouchers available, which will be allocated on a lottery basis, with a further round of vouchers available in April 2008.

For more information please e-mail This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it   or contact the INDEX Advice Centre on 0121 204 3883.		Index logo
PICTURED:   (Left-Right) John Bailey, Aston University, Simon Topman, Acme Whistles and Gil Murray. For further information contact: Matthew Hidderley, 0121 260 6168 or email This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it		CBI & Aston University blow whistles to launch the project.