FOUR initiatives to support new business ventures in the East of England have been shortlisted for �160,000 of funding by the Cambridge-based ideaSpace Enterprise Accelerator (iEA).
iEA, which is based at the University of Cambridge Hauser Forum, was established to support activities that enhance early stage business ventures and each year seeks partners with which to develop projects.
This year, a �160,000 grant fund will be allocated to projects that will accelerate the development of early stage ventures.
Among the projects shortlisted is Smart Anglia, an initiative based around the Innovation Martlesham hi-tech cluster at BT’s Adastral Park, near Ipswich, which aims to connect large corporates, SMEs, community projects, local authorities and universities.
Also shortlisted are Labstract Ltd, based at Sawston, near Cambridge, which offers short term laboratory facilities to small and growing biotech companies, Mentor East, a programme to deliver a series of “speed mentoring” events in Cambridge and Norwich, and the Wysing Arts Centre at Bourn, near Cambridge, for a programme of artist-led creative workshops for early stage innovation businesses.
The shortlisted projects will be invited to submit full proposals for consideration in July with a view to selected projects starting in August.
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