LJMU works with Liverpool City Region local authorities to help more SMEs to innovate

LJMU is playing a vital role in driving forward innovation across all six Liverpool City Region boroughs as it provides expertise and access to facilities and funding for SMEs as a delivery partner in the Horizons project.

Horizons is backed by £3.7 million from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority as the lead authority and delivered with its higher education (HE) partners at LJMU, the University of Liverpool’s VEC and Edge Hill University. Horizons will support over 100 local SMEs during 2024 and into early 2025.

With the government’s recent announcement of a new industrial strategy green paper, Invest 2035, which identifies eight growth-driving sectors including advanced manufacturing and digital technologies, it strengthens the critical role that universities play in delivering growth for the country through research, development and innovation driven by projects like Horizons.  

Hosting key business support, growth and investment services from all six boroughs on campus

This year LJMU has hosted representatives from all six boroughs on campus, strengthening pre-existing relationships with key business support, growth and investment services to ensure eligible SMEs across the region have access to the latest digital technologies and research insights that will improve their competitiveness and productivity while fostering their economic growth. 

In its latest campus visit, LJMU welcome members from the high growth business support team at Growth Platform - the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority's business support service - as well as specialists from the Combined Authority’s Health and Life Sciences cluster. LJMU’s Horizons team also welcomed stakeholders from Sefton Council’s InvestSefton Team alongside 20 businesses looking for support. 

The power of demonstration

A host of digital technologies were demonstrated during the visit, all with industry relevance, including the use of sensors and the Internet of Things (IoT). The demonstrations showcased how data can be exchanged in real-time between devices and systems, and how this can be applied to the workplace to monitor and enhance efficiency and productivity.  

Anthony Walker, Strategic Manager at LJMU for Horizons, said: “In the current economic climate it is crucial for SMEs to de-risk the potential uptake of new technology. Through the Horizons project at LJMU we use the power of demonstration to showcase state-of-the-art technology in real-life scenarios to illustrate the benefits of adoption.

“Whether this be sensor technology to collect and visualise data in manufacturing to reduce carbon footprint and improve productivity or using the latest 3D virtual modelling to create an accurate simulation of operations to improve workflow and efficiency, we never lose sight that the transfer of knowledge and expertise can be streamlined through seeing technology in action.

The visit also looked further across LJMU’s portfolio of teaching and research specialties in engineering, health, science and technology, with guests learning about the university’s new state-of-the-art pharmacy education suites featuring AI-driven mannequin patients and the latest prescribing software. The university also showcased its world-leading use of drone technology and machine learning in tackling conservation challenges across the globe.

The business support ecosystem

Lisa Ashby-Dowling, a high growth account manager (business growth) at the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, said: “Our most recent visit to LJMU showcased some of the expertise and innovative ways in which the Horizons Team and LJMU can further support growing businesses.

“Having an insight into how AI is being used to help prepare our future pharmacists, for example, prompted further discussion on how it could be used in different business and industry settings. Similarly, a whistle-stop tour involving the application of drones, digital technologies, engineering, robots and more, helped to spark ideas of how this knowledge could be utilised by the attending businesses.

Get support for your business

Find out how LJMU and the Horizons project could support your business to make positive changes by visiting the Horizons project webpage.