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Arrow

Removing barriers for small businesses so they can access funded innovation support from world-class research and services.

Arrow is a bespoke innovation support programme piloted by Newcastle University. The scheme overcomes known barriers to engagement with small businesses. 
 
Discussions on Arrow 2.0 are progressing with the other regional universities keen to adopt the approach.
 
Arrow simplified the process for SMEs to engage with the University. It has increased collaboration across a range of HE research and innovation activities. The scheme levers the University’s expertise, assets, and resources. This helps businesses to accelerate their own development and commercialisation programmes.

Arrow breaks away from the traditional ‘brokerage’ model where businesses are matched with academic staff. Instead, Arrow employs a dedicated team of Innovation Associates. They work directly with SMEs. They take the lead on project delivery and bring in academic expertise and insight as required during the project.
 
Match-funding is also available to SMEs. This can be used to access expertise unavailable at the University or to fund the next steps in implementing project outputs.
 
Benefits are two-way. There are direct benefits for SMEs. For the University, academics develop their knowledge of commercialisation, hone skills in engagement, and identify new routes to impact. Combined, the regional economy is also strengthened.
 
Outcomes are already exceeding expectations despite disruption to the scheme from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Infographic showing Arrow's outputs: 112 projects completed.

Case studies

LightOx

Working with Newcastle University's Arrow team helped LightOx to understand how their compounds might benefit other areas of medicine and research.

Nebula Labs

Arrow helped Nebula Labs to develop the data expertise they needed to launch an innovative new transport monitoring system.

FYTO

Arrow provided hydroponic vertical farming SME FYTO Ltd with specialist advice to take their business further. Read on to find out more.

What SMEs say about Arrow

Aaron Holmes, CEO, Kani Payments

The whole experience has been really useful and was delivered in partnership with the University and the National Innovation Centre for Data. We are an innovative company that was inward focused but being part of this great project has opened our eyes to the benefits of working in partnership.

Bethany Ainsley, Founder, Nuvo Wellbeing

The Arrow Programme delivers a valuable service to organisations like Nuvo as the cost of this type of research and guidance is usually beyond what we can afford.

Martina Miotto, Chief Scientific Officer, CellulaREvolution

I was looking for some insight into strategizing the experiments for our validation studies whilst obtaining statistically robust data and to be supported by an academic to do so. We answered the question we were asking ourselves and having the academic supervision was a highly effective interface of the project support.

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