Michael Poole

The University has won funding for a £4 million Design Enterprise Centre which will deliver technology support to the region’s business community over the next three years.

The project is part-funded by the European Commission and is the result of the Faculty of Science bringing together two previous and successful European Regional Development Fund projects – the Product Design and Development Centre, from the Department of Engineering, and the Institute for Chemistry in Industry.

Both projects have gained a reputation among business support agencies and companies around the region for delivering practical technical support.

Michael Poole, Manager of the new Centre, said: ‘Each of these projects has exceeded its targets for the creation of jobs, new company start-ups and the number of companies assisted.’

The Design Enterprise Centre will be staffed and equipped to deliver a range of technical support services geared towards intensive business support, focusing on design, innovation and the development of new products and processes.

The Centre will act as a primary point of referral for business support agencies and small and medium-sized enterprises requiring access to specialist expertise.

Being based at and supported by the University, the Centre will act as a gateway for business to access additional academic expertise within the Hull and Scarborough Campuses.

The project has been described by Business Link as unique within the region, highly innovative, and essential for the continued support of Humberside companies in the vital fields of product design and innovation.