EEDA - East of England Development Agency

Papworth pioneer finding the formula for business success

25 March 2010

As messieurs Button and Hamilton gear up for the F1 Australian Grand Prix this weekend, an Australian-led business from Papworth will be watching on with eager anticipation, having supplied several teams on the starting grid with its technology.

Nevo Developments, formed by Aussie John Harris back in 2005, manufactures a novel variable ratio ‘rack and pinion’ steering system, which gives racing drivers greater control of their car into high-speed corners – a vital component for any F1 driver turning at speeds of over 200mph.

In a sport where the difference between competitors’ lap times can be just a thousandth of a second, Nevo’s technology gives drivers that extra stability into corners, saving them the time which could mark the difference between finishing 1st or 2nd. 

Nevo’s technology is a high specification, luxury item which only the top teams in the sport have the budgets to install as they strive for perfection and world titles. And, although supply chains for the F1 industry are shrouded in secrecy, John Harris said that Nevo-supplied cars have had a “very satisfying start to the season.”

The company has just secured a £17,700 grant from the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) to explore the possibilities of taking their technology to alternative markets.

“At this point in time, the demand for Nevo’s products from F1 is extremely seasonal,” explains John Harris. “The F1 industry is also not immune to the adverse effects of an economic downturn. New rules are limiting team’s expenditure and we’ve seen established names drop out of the sport altogether.”

“As an ambitious, organically-growing company, we have to plan for future growth, make contingency plans if the F1 industry continues to reign in its spending and diversify into new market sectors. We always knew that our technology could be applied to other high-performance vehicles. But as a small business, it’s difficult to know whether your product will be accepted by potential new clients, which makes it a risky step to take.

“EEDA’s Proof of Market grant will be instrumental in helping us to crack new markets and take away some of that risk. It will help us to identify the scale of opportunity and how we will need to hone our technology to make it irresistible to prospective clients.”

Since EEDA introduced Proof of Market (formerly Proof of Concept) funding back in 2006, 230 projects have shared a total of over £4.7 million. In and around Cambridge, everything from next generation wind turbine technology to superconducting magnets have received funding to take them to the next stage of development.

Trevor Conway, business finance manager at EEDA, said:

“Nevo Developments are a testament to the culture of world-class innovation across the East of England – the UK’s ‘ideas region’. EEDA’s Proof of Market funding is all about giving small, innovative companies like Nevo the opportunity to be the best they can be – to take their products to new, lucrative markets and help them compete on a global stage. EEDA support can give companies the stamp of approval they need to attract further investment, without giving up a single per cent of their equity. ”

“EEDA’s funding for innovative businesses also has a track record of delivering significant bang for the taxpayers’ buck, with independent reports showing that for every £1 we invest in a company, over £12 is generated for the region’s economy – whether that’s business growth through increased turnover or creating new jobs.”

Entrepreneurs with a bright business idea have until 5pm on Friday 23 April to submit their application for EEDA’s latest Proof of Market funding round at www.eeda.org.uk/finance.

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