Connected Innovation

Connected Innovation is one of the largest regional innovation networks in the UK, joining together 27 of Norfolk and Suffolk's innovation hubs, business incubators, research institutes and the Freeport innovation cluster. Our prospectus can be found here: https://lnkd.in/eKZDPwGQ Connected Innovation joins the dots on Norfolk & Suffolk's innovation ecosystem in a predominantly rural and coastal region with globally significant research and technology development across multiple sectors. In addition to the 800+ innovative companies across this network, Connected Innovation links together with key cluster partners across Norfolk, Suffolk and the wider East of England, which can be found here: https://lnkd.in/e6muAkPC Connected Innovation's key priorities are to: ▶ Showcase local, regional and national innovation funding and support opportunities for companies and map out where there are gaps in provision. ▶ Promote capabilities across technologies and clusters within the region, supporting cluster development, cross-sector collaboration and inward investment opportunities. ▶ Engage with UK Research and Innovation, Innovate UK and the Catapult Network to deliver the Local Action Plan agreed with the Norfolk & Suffolk Innovation Board: https://lnkd.in/eZ2_NNWq ▶ Deliver and support a wide range of events showcasing funding & investment opportunities, technology capabilities and research expertise to support innovative businesses. The Connected Innovation team have been behind the successful bids for key programmes such as: ▶ £7.5m Innovate UK Agri-Tech and Food Tech launchpad. ▶ £1.275m DCMS Create Growth Programme supporting creative industries businesses with Innovate UK grants and four cohorts delivered by Creative East across Norfolk, Suffolk & Cambridgeshire (the budget has announced an extension for FY25/26, so we will share details on this soon). ▶Barclays Eagle Labs Ecosystem Partnership Programme supporting early-stage tech founders through Innovation Labs Group and Akcela Ventures. James Allen I Scott Cogman I Katie Snell I Laura Hill I Roberta Willner I Julian Munson I Jai Raithatha I Innovate UK East I Johnathan Reynolds I Adastral Park I Freeport East I Innovation Martlesham I Akcela Ventures I Broadland Food Innovation Centre I Food Enterprise Park I Cefas I Earlham Institute I John Innes Centre I Quadram Institute I The Sainsbury Laboratory I Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research I University of East Anglia I Norwich Research Park I MENTA Business Support for Norfolk & Suffolk I Framlingham Technology Centre Ltd I Hethel Innovation I Innovation Labs Group I The EpiCentre I Oxford Innovation I Norwich University of the Arts I University of Suffolk I Freeport East I OrbisEnergy I Department for Science, Innovation and Technology I Anglia Capital Group

2024 seems to have gone by in a flash! 1 Halo Programme 5 Pitching events 11 New angel investors welcomed to the group 14 Investments 20 New start-up pitches And so much more! It's been a tough climate for start-ups and those supporting them over the last 12 months. We're hugely proud of the positive impact that Anglia Capital Group has made to the start-up community in East Anglia and we're excited for what's to come in 2025! With huge thanks to our partners Birketts LLP RSM UK TEC Partners - Technical Recruitment Specialists and Keltie And to those friends and colleagues who have supported us along the way British Business Bank Luminous PR Norwich Research Park Connected Innovation Suffolk County Council Norfolk County Council Akcela Ventures Innovate UK UK Business Angels Association Roderick Beer Richard Ross Paul Sullivan Peter Basford angelgroups and the many, many others! Of course, a huge thank you to our wonderful group of Angel Investors, without whom, the outlook for start-ups in our region would be significantly more challenging. Many of you have not only supported businesses this year with investment but also with your time mentoring, providing feedback and advice. Wishing you all a wonderful festive break, see you on the other side! #StartUp #Support #AngelInvestors Laura Hood Hannah Brynn

Product Builder Programme is back 🥳 Delivered by Plexal, this programme is designed for entrepreneurs developing digital products. You'll learn how to validate your idea and then develop, test and evolve it using customer feedback. Over the course of two months you'll have: 🛠️ Weekly workshops with take-away tasks covering key product development principles 🤝 One-to-one mentoring sessions with technical and innovation experts Pitch masterclasses and practice sessions 💡 Networking and support-sharing with over 100 like-minded founders. Applications are open until 10 January, register now 👇 https://lnkd.in/enB3HdVS

We are delighted to be a headline sponsor of Anglia Capital Group’s Suffolk cohort for the Halo Programme in early 2025, alongside the British Business Bank and Suffolk County Council! We look forward to seeing this fantastic cohort develop and progress through this investment readiness programme, with support from brilliant delivery partners in RSM UK, Birketts LLP, TEC Partners - Technical Recruitment Specialists, Luminous PR and Keltie.

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal today visited the Quadram Institute on the Norwich Research Park to hear about our work in protecting and improving health. We are a partnership between Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust , University of East Anglia and the UKRI BBSRC. The institute brings together researchers, academics and NHS clinicians and during the tour, Her Royal Highness spoke to over sixty members of our staff and students who are working to address challenges in human health, food and disease. Read more about the visit ➡️ https://buff.ly/3Zxf5wS

🆕 New Data Centre at Norwich Research Park set to bolster UK’s bioscience capability Earlham Institute John Innes Centre The Sainsbury Laboratory https://buff.ly/3Bw26U1

🗓 Join us for our introduction to angel investing. 🐲 Being an Angel Investor can be an exciting ride. From in-person Dragons’ Den style pitching events, negotiating and mentoring, to follow-on funding and hopefully a successful exit, Angel Investing offers a fantastic opportunity not just to diversify your investment portfolio but also to provide a fascinating new aspect to your work. 💡 At our 'Becoming an Angel Investor' webinar we will take you through what angel investing actually is, the tax incentives and considerations and how to structure a deal. We'll then have a discussion with some of ACG's angel investor members to find out why they got into angel investing, what they enjoy about it and what they've learnt along the way. Capital at risk, and this communication is directed exclusively to professional investors only. Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 minutes to learn more- https://lnkd.in/eM9Qfixh #AngelInvestor #Learning #Investing

🌊 Yesterday, we welcomed Minister Daniel Zeichner and Jess Asato MP to Cefas Lowestoft for a tour of our world-class marine research facilities. Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/eck6w7ay The Minister met with students and expert scientists and explored our state-of-the-art marine research capabilities both in the laboratory and onboard our Research Vessel, the Cefas Endeavour. 🔬 This visit demonstrated the vital role Cefas plays in delivering better impacts and outcomes for society and nature through scientific research and environmental monitoring. It was great to have the opportunity to showcase how our facilities continue to drive innovation in marine science and environmental protection. #MarineScience #CefasScience

Come showcase your indie game at the Game Anglia Festival 2025 on the 6th of February! You will: 👀Get your game seen and played by over a hundred attendees 🏆Have the opportunity to win the Best Indie Game and Game of the Show awards For the first time ever, Game Anglia are working with a Curator for the Festival, in the guise of Jacob Heayes who will curate the indie games selection of games for the Festival! Submit here: https://lnkd.in/eK7MCth9

[UPDATED] 💻 We have a new funding opportunity open as of this morning! It’s for collaborative projects led by creative industries innovators. We’re looking to fund a diverse portfolio of award holders. For expansive information about the competition & to apply 👉 https://lnkd.in/eqExeyAy If you’re wanting to understand the competition & process better, view the briefing recording from 11/12/24 (link is within the Dates tab). There’s also an [UPDATED] FAQs doc https://lnkd.in/eTfz_u2q If you’re looking for support with your application, head to the Supporting Information tab. If you’d like to understand how you’ll be assessed, we’ve published the scoring matrix. It’s on the How to Apply tab. #GrowthFunding #GrantFunding #CreativeCatalyst #Commercialisation #Innovation #CreativeCollaboration