Update from the e-Innovation Centre

Thirty five local companies participated in a recent study of the impact of IT support on the successful development of business incubator accommodation by the e-Innovation Centre (e-IC), based at the Telford Campus of Black Country member, the University of Wolverhampton.

The study was presented as a paper at 53rd International Council for Small Business (ICSB) World Conference at the World Trade and Convention Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, by two of the e-IC’s directors, Diana Thompson and Garry Homer, in June. 

Earlier this year, a review by ntl:Telewest Business identified Telford as the sixth most digitally advanced area of Britain.  The e-IC aims to be part of this digital revolution by providing a state-of-the-art facility for companies specialising in e-business and e-learning.

The study by Diana and Garry finds that the most impact from IT support is gained at two extreme ends of a spectrum – at entry level, where basic website solutions to assist marketing activities and search engine optimisation are provided, or at the advanced level, where a detailed analysis of the IT infrastructure needs of a business, advice on equipment and ongoing programming support is required.

Diana Thompson, a mathematician with a special interest in business incubators, comments “Here at the e-IC we have recently begun to receive requests from tenants for support in evaluating and introducing new technologies into their business.  Examples include smart card technologies, radio frequency identification (RFID) and biometrics for enhanced security purposes.  All these developments are very exciting and illustrate the partnership between e-IC companies and the researchers within the University of Wolverhampton”.

Funded by Advantage West Midlands and the European Regional Development Fund, the e-Innovation Centre provides IT assistance to its incubatees (and to a range of companies outside the Centre) as well as high level on site ongoing IT support.  A launch pad, or pre-incubation unit, is available for fledgling companies.  For a small charge companies can hire “pods” with computer and printing facilities by the day.  Further information is available at www.e-innovationcentre.co.uk.