Glasgow brings SMEs together for UK innovation

Over 70 organisations, including SMEs and research organisations, gathered in Glasgow earlier this week to learn how they could benefit from Innovate UK’s drive to support innovation in high-growth industries, including offshore renewable energy, transport systems, and satellite applications.

The ‘Cross Catapult’ networking meeting gathered eight out of the UK’s ten Catapults, according to ORE Catapult.

Scotland’s Deputy First Minister John Swinney gave a keynote speech, alongside Andrew Jamieson from Glasgow-based Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult and Nick Appleyard, Deputy Director for Government Partnerships at Innovate UK.

Andrew Jamieson said: “The great turn out at this event is testament to the great value small to medium sized businesses place on innovation and the support available to them.

“The Catapult network can and does support the growth of high value sectors by helping companies develop market enabling technologies and solutions. I am confident great things will come as a result of the connections made in Glasgow this week.”

Catapults are a series of physical centres where the UK’s businesses, scientists and engineers work side by side on late-stage research and development – transforming high potential ideas into new products and services to generate economic growth.

Image: Catapult Satellite Applications/Illustration