Swindon firms can help strengthen the town’s reputation as a leading centre for innovation by taking advantage of huge opportunities for funding and support on their doorstep, according to its two MPs.
Robert Buckland and Justin Thomlinson met Innovate UK chief executive Ruth McKernan at the Government organisation’s North Star national HQ to hear more about how it is helping put the UK at the forefront of new technologies and world-beating processes.
And to demonstrate that Swindon businesses are among those benefitting, Innovate UK invited Lydiard Fields-based Johnson Matthey along to demonstrate its fuel cell technology developed in the town along with Recycling Technologies, the pioneering firm making machines that convert waste plastic to oil.
The firm spun out of the University of Warwick in 2011 but moved to Swindon two years to open a research and development and production base and is now working with Swindon Council.
Standing alongside a Hyundai car powered by Johnson Matthey’s pioneering low-carbon fuel cells, North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson said the town’s dynamic economy was underpinned by innovation.
“There aren’t many towns that have innovation at their heart in the way that Swindon does,” he said. “And having this ‘Tomorrow’s World’ hub here demonstrates that. Swindon has always been at the forefront of industry and it’s great to know that businesses of whatever size from across the town can engage with Innovate UK to maintain our lead.”
Swindon South MP Robert Buckland said the town was gaining a strong reputation as a centre of excellence for high-growth sectors such as life sciences, waste management and alternative, sustainable power.
“Swindon has always been successful in attracting businesses operating at the very leading edge of technology in their sectors such as Intel and Johnson Matthey,” he said. “Having Innovate UK here adds to that.
“But I’d like to see Swindon do more to strengthen its position and perhaps gain a higher profile for its innovation. I’d like to see us using the technologies that are developed here to help us become a ‘smart city’ and look at new, innovative ways of dealing with issues such as traffic, transport and waste.”
Ruth McKernan said the majority of the businesses supported by Innovate UK were micro or small businesses. One of its key tasks was to develop collaborative research into pioneering science and technology, which often meant very small firms working alongside large ones.
Innovate UK-backed projects were helping raise the UK’s weak productivity levels, creating jobs, boosting exports and keeping the country globally competitive. It was also helping get these ideas and products off the drawing board and onto the market in an attempt to end the long-running and deep-rooted problem that has meant British inventions are often lost to overseas competitors.
Recycling Technologies founder and managing director Adrian Griffiths said working with Innovate UK had given his business a huge boost.
“Our funding from Innovate UK acted as a vote of confidence in us,” he said. “Other investors are more likely to take you seriously if you have that stamp of approval.”
Pictured at Innovate UK: From left, Ruth McKernan, Adrian Griffiths, Robert Buckland MP, Justin Tomlinson MP and Jack Frost of Johnson Matthey
