The University of Plymouth is playing a key role in a major new initiative aiming to nurture a culture of business innovation and entrepreneurism across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
The Entrepreneurial Futures project aims to maximise the economic development, employment, skills and community benefits to Cornwall of its links with the region’s higher education and further education institutions.
The project is being supported through a £5.6million investment from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme, which is managed by Cornwall Council and funded by the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The initiative will focus on research priorities in support of key sectors for the county’s economy, with the University leading strands centred around net zero, clean energy, agri-robotics, immersive technologies and coastal communities.
It will see leading experts from the University working with entrepreneurs and businesses across the region, providing them with access to advice, support and academic collaboration.
This, it is envisaged, will enable them to innovate new ideas, products and processes with the aim of improving productivity, reducing costs and reaching new UK and export markets.