Coventry and Warwickshire companies offered £1.8million in funding

COVENTRY and Warwickshire companies have been offered a share of almost £1.8million in funding through the Innovate UK Launchpad.

Thirteen innovative companies will share the funding which provides support tailored to the local area’s strengths in the immersive and creative industries.

The Launchpad supports small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) progress towards commercialisation, contributing to local economic growth.

The Coventry and Warwickshire Launchpad has been developed through a partnership between Innovate UK, the national innovation agency, and Coventry City Council,

Warwickshire County Council and the West Midlands Combined Authority.

The businesses funded are to develop technologies such as mixed reality manufacturing environments, 3D data visualisation toolset and immersive gaming with educational and ethical benefits.

Dean Cook, director of place and levelling Up at Innovate UK said the region is well known for its strengths in gaming and immersive technologies.

He added the successful businesses are among the most innovative locally and the investment will support innovations with global export potential that is important to the whole UK economy.

Isobel Woods, head of economy and skills at Warwickshire County Council, said: “It is fantastic that the funding will support a wide variety of projects which will demonstrate the high level of innovate skills we have across the region.

“We are really looking forward to seeing their projects come to fruition in the coming months and supporting even more businesses to access these grants as we focus on future rounds of funding.”

The next round of funding will be announced in late spring.