Norfolk and Suffolk are in an exciting position to be at the forefront of science, innovation and digital technologies in the UK. Our region is blessed with opportunity to leverage our unique sectoral strengths, our unrivalled place-based assets and our skilled talent pipeline from colleges and universities.
Our technology-based capabilities are highly significant with world-leading research and technology development relating to diverse areas such as marine science, offshore renewables, health, life sciences, agri-tech and telecommunications.
In addition to creating the UK’s largest regional ecosystem of 27 innovation centres and hubs, via Connected Innovation, we are bringing together a range of dynamic cluster development activities and programmes from fintech, agri-tech and marine to advanced manufacturing, clean energy and space.
Business support and networking organisations are well established, including Tech East, Agri-TechE, EEEGR (energy), Space East, NAAME (manufacturing and engineering) and Freeport East. For these sectors, there are emerging opportunities around the application of digital technologies from AI and extended reality to quantum and satellite applications.
In addition to business support on offer through the Growth Hub, there are also specialist programmes such as the new Barclays Eagle Labs collaboration with Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils, Innovation Labs and Akcela providing support to early-stage tech founders. An Innovation Grant Mentoring project is supporting funding applications and we have the dedicated inward investment service Norfolk and Suffolk Unlimited.
From pre-start and start-up to scale-up and global expansion, Norfolk and Suffolk is positioned to provide space, services and support to tech businesses that choose to do business here, whatever stage in their growth journey.
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