The University of Suffolk has formally launched a new partnership with Innovation Labs at an event funded by Norfolk and Suffolk Unlimited.
The event formed part of Festival of Suffolk’s Business Expo and offered the organisations attending an opportunity to find out about the wide-ranging business support available within their region.
The partnership - Innovation Labs at University of Suffolk (ILABS), as it will be known, brings a unique offer to the region, which sees a new innovation and business hub and coworking space being created, which forms part of the wider Innovation Labs business network.
Professor Gurpreet Jagpal, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Business and Entrepreneurship at the University of Suffolk, said: “Innovation Labs have developed a great model which has both a track record and a strong reputation.
“We have reconfigured our previous Ipswich Waterfront Innovation Centre (IWIC) incubation offer so it is better aligned with the needs of the business community.
“This is the first University partnership for Innovation Labs and we expect this relationship will create a vibrant and exciting workplace.
“Members of Innovation Labs at University of Suffolk and other Innovation Labs in the family will have access to academic expertise including Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, CPD and executive education.
“They’ll be able to use our cutting-edge Research and Development facilities including our 3D Productivity Suite and meeting rooms.
“The progression of our students and their employability sits at the heart of our course provision so through this partnership we will be offering our student and graduate expertise too.
“We already know through existing relationships that having our students involved can be a rich experience for both parties.
“We are looking for members who are keen to develop internships, placements and graduate jobs that our students can benefit from.”
Peter Basford, Co-founder and Director of Innovation Labs, said: "Having successfully launched Innovation Labs Stowmarket pre-COVID-19, we’ve been working hard to refine and develop our unique model of business support and innovation aligned to our new, more agile way of working.
“Now two years on, the results continue to speak for themselves, with several members attracting funding and becoming East Anglian success stories.
“With extensive demand from entrepreneurs to scale Innovation Labs right across East Anglia, we’re really excited to announce our first of a number of exciting partnerships, with the University of Suffolk.
This opportunity now allows us to champion innovation in the Ipswich area, focussing on delivering support, mentoring, connectivity and events for the business community.”
To find out more about Innovation Labs at the University of Suffolk please email engage@uos.ac.uk.
Photo shows (fron left to right)
Professor Gurpreet Jagpal - Pro Vice-Chancellor Business and Entrepreneurship
Vivian Luan – ILabs at University of Suffolk Centre Administrator
Peter Basford – Founder Innovation Labs Group
Mark – Innovation Labs Stowmarket Operations Manager
Emma Wakeling – Head of Business Development and Knowledge Exchange
Peter Brady - Founder Innovation Labs Group
Photo by James Fletcher.
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