Innovation UK > News > Innovation UK Vol5-1 > Growing early stage innovative technology companies

Innovation Centres (Scotland) Ltd (ICS) provides top-class incubation, innovation and business-growth support to the next generation of innovative and high growth technology companies. We operate innovation centres at Hillington Park (Glasgow) and Alba (Livingston), and also deliver the national Wireless Innovation and Wellness & Health Innovation projects. As well as supporting companies, ICS delivers an Innovation Forum throughout the year with a range of events targeted at growing innovative companies.

HILINGTON PARK INNOVATION CENTRE

Hillington Park Innovation Centre?s top-class facilities

Hillington Park Innovation Centre is one of the fastestgrowing technology incubators of its kind in Europe. Awarded the UK Most Established Business Incubator of the Year Award 2006, it strives to provide an excellent incubation facility for Scotland?s leading innovative companies. Dozens of Scottish companies have benefited from the innovation centre?s ground-breaking advisory support services, which are based in a top-class facility near Glasgow Airport.

Hillington is much more than a managed property facility. As one of the leading business incubators for innovative technology businesses in the UK, Hillington Park Innovation Centre provides an enabling environment, within which businesses receive:

• In-house intensive advisory support
• The opportunity for creative development and networking with other businesses and strategic contacts
• Access to a network of successful entrepreneurs and specialist expert knowledge.

Hillington?s aim is to make a significant difference to ambitious, innovative technology businesses, through a structured and proven process of innovation advisory support and business incubation. The Advisory Services team provides top-class advisory services to companies and entrepreneurs to help ensure their great ideas become successful businesses. Our clear-sighted emphasis on innovation involves providing the right level of advice and support to technology-based companies within our centres and beyond.

ALBA INNOVATION CENTRE

Alba Innovation Centre is committed to supporting the development and accelerating the growth of the next generation of innovative, knowledge-based, high-growth technology businesses in the East of Scotland. Alba Innovation Centre is much more than a managed property facility. As one of the leading business incubators for innovative technology businesses in the East of Scotland, Alba Innovation Centre provides an enabling environment, within which businesses receive:

• In-house intensive advisory support
• The opportunity for creative development and networking with other businesses
• Access to a network of successful entrepreneurs and specialist expert knowledge.

The aim is to make a significant difference to ambitious, innovative technology businesses, through a structured and proven process of innovation advisory support and business incubation. This involves examining all aspects of the business, challenging where appropriate, but ultimately aiming to deliver exceptional support which will remove barriers and facilitate growth.

WIRELESS INNOVATION

Mobile and wireless technology is one of the fastestgrowing and dynamic sectors in the world, a recent report from Portio Research confidently predicted that ?the worldwide mobile industry would be worth US$1tn by the close of 2008?. Wireless Innovation plays a key role in providing business development, market intelligence and product development support to over 210 companies developing wireless, mobile and digital media products and services across Scotland.

Some of the key markets that are supported by Wireless Innovation include:

• Mobile Applications and Content
• Mobile Enterprise
• Digital Media and Content
• Mobile Gaming
• Mobile Advertising and Marketing.

Wireless Innovation has a range of dedicated market experts in each of these areas who will work closely with your business in order to help you understand market trends, technology challenges and identify new routes to market.

We have developed strong partnerships with many of the leading commercial players, including Nokia, Vodafone, Microsoft, Google, Orange and T-Mobile.

WELLNESS AND HEALTH INNOVATION

The focus of healthcare is moving from treatment to prevention and independent living. This transition is driven by escalating costs and a shortage of skilled resources. In fact, the Wellness and Health market is now thought to be worth more than $200bn, a figure which is expected to triple by 2012.

In response to this significant market opportunity, the Wellness and Health Innovation Project has been developed to help Scottish businesses capitalise on the growth potential in this sector. The Project has a national agenda and is focused on delivering its free services to SMEs throughout Scotland:

• Market intelligence and analysis ? specialist knowledge tailored to the needs of your company.
• Product, technology and innovation support ? expert knowledge to help with concept, feasibility, validation and development advice.
• Business development ? bringing expertise, knowledge and routes to market to clients.

The above services are backed by a robust network ? which brings together SMEs, academia and corporate partners to enable Scottish SMEs to produce market-ready products and services that meet a clear market need.

For more information on ICS (Scotland) Ltd, contact:
Ross Clark, Centre Director
Hillington Park Innovation Centre
1 Ainslie Road
Hillington
Glasgow
G52 4RU
Tel: 0141 585 6300
E-mail:
Website: www.innovationcentre.org