Manufacturers in the north of England can access a government supported network that has just been launched to help boost their competitiveness.
The Northern Food Industrial Innovation Network (NFIIN) - set up to help food and drink firms in the north improve their process research and development (R&D)- aims to improve links between companies and local universities.
It is being funded to the tune of £150,000 over the next year, offering 30 firms up to £5,000 each for university "taster" research, provided companies match the funding.
So far about 15 firms in the north west have signed up and four in the north east. NFIIN will also provide access to best practice advice and commercial managers who will translate technologies and needs.
It is hosted by The Food Processing Faraday Partnership, whose remit is to improve the sector's competitiveness by encouraging links between business and academia.
NFIIN is a joint scheme between Knowledge House, comprising five north east universities (Newcastle, Northumbria, Durham, Sunderland and Teesside), the Food Processing Faraday Partnership and Leatherhead Food International. Funding comes from The Northern Way, which represents regional development agencies in the north west, north east and Yorkshire.
"We are hoping this solution is a little bit closer to the market [than many other R&D funding schemes] so companies can benefit from it," said Ian Blakemore, northern regional manager for the Food Processing Faraday Partnership. "There is huge scope for improvements in the food and drink industry."