Voucher scheme unlocks Tees Valley innovation

Digital and creative businesses across the Tees Valley are receiving new backing to turn innovative ideas into commercial opportunities and support their growth.

The first firms have secured funding through the £1.5 million Tees Valley Investment Zone Innovation Voucher programme, which attracted 155 expressions of interest.

Led by Teesside University, the initiative will support businesses to test, build, pilot and scale projects over the next eight months.

Teesside-based surgical technology company Surghive has received a £40,000 voucher to support the next phase of its digital surgical training platform, which aims to make training for robotic surgery more accessible.

The company is working with surgeons, universities, training organisations, NHS stakeholders and robotic surgery manufacturers ahead of wider pilot deployment.

Dr Rachael Coates, co-founder and chief executive of Surghive, said: “The voucher allows us to accelerate development of a critical part of the Surghive ecosystem.

“We have already developed immersive robotic surgery training, but the app creates the digital layer around that training by connecting surgeons with learning, competency requirements, relevant opportunities and, ultimately, personalised recommendations.

“For an early-stage technology company, the support enables us to bring forward development significantly and, importantly, build the right technical foundations now so the platform can scale as our national and international activity grows.”

Dr Coates added: “Ultimately, our ambition is to build a globally significant surgical technology company headquartered and growing from the Tees Valley, with technology developed here supporting surgeons and surgical teams across the NHS and around the world.”

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough engineering technology firm Unasys Ltd has secured £112,000 through an Innovation Acceleration voucher.

The funding will support the development, integration and commercialisation of new artificial intelligence capabilities within its digital asset management platform.

Michael Flynn, director of Unasys Ltd, added: “This will help Unasys improve productivity, reduce project delivery costs and create new recurring revenues through software licensing and SaaS (Software as a Service).”  

Fellow Middlesbrough business Many Cats Studio, which works to make games and gaming more accessible, is also among the first companies to benefit.

Chris Goodyear, chief executive of Many Cats Studio, added: “Being selected to receive the funding offers a major boost in the ways Many Cats Studios can show our expertise – and shows the whole industry why accessibility is important for their projects.

“The funding provided a unique opportunity to develop innovation from within the team, something which would have taken us longer without the support.”

The Many Cats Studio team

Professor Stephen Cummings, pro vice-chancellor (research and knowledge exchange) at Teesside University, added: “We are delighted to support this first cohort of businesses through the Tees Valley Investment Zone Innovation Voucher programme.

“We look forward to working with ambitious founders on a wide range of exciting innovation projects, helping them develop new digital and creative products and services that have the potential to drive growth, create opportunities and strengthen the region’s innovation ecosystem.”

The voucher scheme is one of the first initiatives delivered through the £160 million Tees Valley Investment Zone, which is focused on supporting the region’s digital and creative sectors.

Led by Tees Valley Combined Authority in partnership with Teesside University and backed by the UK Government, the wider Investment Zone aims to support business growth, innovation and skills development.

It is expected to help create more than 2000 jobs and potentially unlock £175 million of investment across Tees Valley over the next decade.

Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen added: “We’ve got brilliant digital and creative businesses right across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool – and the demand for these vouchers shows just how much ambition is out there.

“The Investment Zone needs to be backing growing firms, helping them turn good ideas into real products and services, and making sure more high-quality jobs and supply chain opportunities are created here.

“We already have real strength in digital, tech and creative industries, and this funding is about building on that brilliance so more companies can grow to compete nationally and internationally.”

Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke, Tees Valley Combined Authority cabinet member for finance, organisational improvement and business growth, added: “Middlesbrough has a huge role to play in this, with Teesside University, our businesses and our town’s digital and creative talent helping to drive new ideas forward.

“We want to make it easier for local firms to get the support, expertise and confidence they need to grow. 

“That means backing our strengths, connecting businesses with research and skills, and making sure the benefits are felt by people and communities across the whole Tees Valley.”

Find out more about the Tees Valley Investment Zone, the Innovation Voucher programme and how your business could benefit here.

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