PSS

IPSS

IPSS

IPSS

INNOVATIVE PRODUCT SUPPORT SERVICE

INNOVATIVE PRODUCT SUPPORT PROGRAMME

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SUPPORT SERVICE

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Innovative Product Support Programme

PSSSUPPORT SERVICE

INNOVATIVE PRODUCT

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OVATIVE PRODUCT SUPPORT PROGRAMME

INNOVATIVE PRODUCT SUPPORT PROGRAMME

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Supporting businesses in the development of new products and processes

‘‘‘‘Supporting businesses to grow and helping to

build the innovative culture and competitiveness of the West Midlands are both key priorities for the ERDF Programme. Through this £1 million project, businesses will be able to access specialist expertise and resources from a selection of West Midlands Universities supporting the exploration and development of new products.

Through such collaborations, we are able to lessen the risks to those businesses looking to take forward new ideas, by making use of experience and skills which exist within our universities. There is also strong evidence that once the relationships with universities are established they flourish over the long term to mutual benefit.

Norman Price, Deputy Chair of the West Midlands ERDF Local Management Committee.

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The Innovative Product Support Service (IPSS) programme supports businesses through the early stages of developing a new product or process.

IPSS aims to lessen the risks to businesses looking to take forward new ideas, by making use of experience and skills which exist within West Midlands Universities.

The programme is specifically designed to support businesses developing: • environmental technologies• low carbon engineering and products• digital technologies• transport technologies• electronics• medical technologies.

Businesses initially receive a two-day review of their proposed product/technology. The results of the review are used to promote businesses with the most viable propositions through to a second phase of the programme that offers four days of funded support.

Examples of the support available to businesses include:• product design• market research• intellectual property advice• app development • new product development planning• electronics development.

Programme summary

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The Innovative Product Support Service (IPSS) runs between 2012 and 2015 and is managed by the University of Wolverhampton. Delivery of support is undertaken by the West Midlands University Consortium comprising:

- Coventry University- Keele University- Staffordshire University- University of Wolverhampton

The programme is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund, so to be eligible for support your business must be based in the West Midlands, have fewer than 250 employees, have a turnover of less than €50m per annum and an annual balance sheet of less than €43m.

Eligibility

All businesses interested in receiving support through the IPSS programme should initially call: 01902 321105 or email: ipss@wlv.ac.uk

In contacting us, please be prepared to tell us the type of support your business requires and where the business is located. We do not require precise details of your technology at this stage.

How the process works

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Initial enquiry to tel: 01902 321 105 or email: ipss@wlv.ac.uk

Subject to eligibility, business allocated a consultant based on the type of support required and the location of the business.

Initial meeting held with business in order to gather information on the proposed

technology/product. All discussions take place under a non-disclosure agreement.

Two day review of the proposed technology/product undertaken by the

consultant.

Subject to a positive advisory report, the business is allocated a further four days of support to make progress against actions

identified in the advisory report.

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Following a successful initial two day review of your technology, the IPSS programme can provide specialist early stage new product development services through the West Midlands University Consortium.

Examples of the services on offer through each consortium member are provided on the following pages.

Coventry UniversityKeele UniversityStaffordshire UniversityUniversity of Wolverhampton

Services offered

New Product Development Services

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Coventry University ● ● ● ●

Keele University ● ●

Staffordshire University ● ●

University of Wolverhampton ● ● ● ● ● ●

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New Product Development Services

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Sectors addressed:• Environmental technologies• Low carbon engineering and products• Digital technologies• Transport technologies• Medical technologies

Services offered:• Product designo Initial concept evaluationo Product or service designo CAD model development and prototypingo Customer usability studies and reporting

• Intellectual Property adviceo Searching to identify whether IP is capable of protection, process for protection,

annotation advice, IP valuation and licensing of IP

• App development o App design, storyboarding and blue-printingo Platform specific advice [iOS, android]o App functionality and interfacingo Customer acceptability

• New product development planningo Commercial opportunity appraisal of new products and services and routes to marketo Manufacturing advice, applied research and development of new products

• Automotive o High performance vehicle design capability, eg improving power and lightness of a

vehicle systemo Automotive design expertise

• Metrology serviceso Professional development, training, consultancy to develop and/or improve

measurement systems

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Sectors addressed:• Low carbon energy production/

clean technologies• Environmental technologies• Low carbon materials• Chemical sciences

Services offered:• Idea/technology screeningo Feasibility studies

• Intellectual Property (IP)o Review, assessmentso Strategy development

• Materials testing and chemical analysiso Materials design and compatibilityo High temperature materials and manufacturingo Composites

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Sectors addressed:• Electronics• Environmental technologies• Digital technologies

Services offered:• Electronics engineering o Electronic engineering solutions designed for modernising existing products

or new product development

• Electronic prototyping o Prototype development to determine practical functionality, limits and wider

possibilities for new and research based designs

• Electronics design for manufactureo Design of easy to manufacture electronic products

• EMC compatibility o A screened room and open field test area for pre-compliance and self-certification

of EU EMC directives and CE marking

• Sustainable design and renewable/sustainable energyo Support for developing new products with sustainability objectives

• Mobile fusiono Mobile computing and control techniques in real-world engineering problemso Fusing mobile devices with other technologies

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Sectors addressed:• Environmental technologies• Low carbon engineering and products

Services offered:• Initial screening of the innovative ideao Technical feasibilityo Assessment of the market opportunityo Synergy between the resource requirements and capability/

resources within the business

• Concept designo Product design specificationo Hand sketchingo Initial CAD layouts

• Intellectual property reviewo Assess the potential for achieving IPR protectiono Development of an IP strategy

• Market researcho Competitor analysiso Market definitiono Sizing of the market opportunity

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IPSS Project Office Caparo Innovation CentreWolverhampton Science ParkWolverhamptonWV10 9RU

Tel: 01902 321 105Email: ipss@wlv.ac.ukWeb: www.wlv.ac.uk/ipss