EEDA - East of England Development Agency

Harvesting innovation

2 June 2008

The recent partnering of entrepreneurs and researchers in the East of England has provided unique opportunities for business development without costing the earth.

InCrops, a new virtual Enterprise Hub based at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, is stimulating commercial activity in the alternative and non-food crop sector by establishing business networks for sharing research knowledge.

With the East of England home to the world’s leaders in of plant bioscience research, the InCrops Enterprise Hub is perfectly situated to connect entrepreneurs with researchers in new, bio-renewable and low carbon products. With support from the InCrops team of business innovation managers, these innovative ideas can be turned into commercial realities.

Dr John French, director, InCrops explained: “There are significant challenges in introducing new alternative and non-food crops given the suppressed state of the UK’s agriculture and the huge issues of climate change affecting the region.  Global markets need to be tapped effectively and significant benefits can be brought to regional businesses through the partnerships created.”

Through the Enterprise Hub, the InCrops enterprise team provides specialist advice and guidance that would not otherwise be available to businesses bridging the gap between research and development, securing patents and attracting investors or public sector support.

• Harvesting innovation   (DOC 1MB)

< back to listing page