National Instruments is offering grants to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK and Ireland to support the development of devices in areas such as medical sustainable energy engineering.
The programme will make grants of up to £25,000 in software, support and training to selected SMEs that are evaluating the company’s platform as a component of their devices.
“With so much development in the areas of renewable energy and medical systems being carried out by small companies we feel this is an important initiative,” Ian Bell, market development manager at National Instruments told EW.
This is not aimed at research projects but the development of specific products. “There should be a product roadmap about a product or device in the renewable energy space, for example,” said Bell.
This follows on from a programme, which started last year, offering low cost training and certification to unemployed scientists and engineers to help them develop skills to support their efforts in finding employment.
NI has run a programme in the US supporting medical system design, but this is an entirely UK initiative, said Bell.
National Instruments will accept applications throughout 2010.
The successful companies will be chosen by a committee of engineers and senior executives and the grants will be awarded in 2011.
To apply for the programme, SMEs must provide documentation on the company and the project and participate in an interview.
To find out about the grant programme go to ni.com/uk/grant and download the application.