2016 news smallbusinessreview 883x432 1

Small business review

24 November 2016

The article at a glance

David Connell of the Centre for Business Research at Cambridge Judge to lead review on UK government Small Business Research Initiative. The …

David Connell of the Centre for Business Research at Cambridge Judge to lead review on UK government Small Business Research Initiative.Business People Planning Strategy Analysis Office Concept

David Connell
David Connell

The UK government appointed David Connell, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Business Research at Cambridge Judge Business School, to lead a review of the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI). The review, due to report next spring, will look at challenges faced by small businesses and issue recommendations on how to improve the programme.

The Initiative, managed by Innovate UK, invites small businesses to apply for research and development contracts to develop new technologies – providing firms with £50,000 to £100,000 to test an idea, and up to £1 million to develop prototypes.

Universities and Science Minister Jo Johnson said:

Small businesses across the UK are pioneering new technologies that have the potential to improve the lives of millions both here in the UK and across the globe. The review of our Small Business Research Initiative will ensure we are harnessing the best of this talent and providing additional support where we can to get more ideas to market.

David Connell has been involved with the Small Business Research Initiative since he advised the government on its introduction. He has more than 30 years of experience in the UK’s science and technology sector, and co-founded an early stage Cambridge Venture Capital Fund.