£3.8m contract approved, part funded by the ERDF - to establish a Digital Connectivity Demonstrator in Coventry & Warwickshire.

The project will be delivered by CU services in conjunction with the wider CU group, and in partnership with CWLEP Growth Hub and C&W Chamber of Commerce.

The project will run from 1st November 2020 - 30th June 2023, and support 230 SME businesses to increase the demand for (and developments of) new, digital products and services, 4G, Wi-Fi and 5G.

The Demonstrator will help innovative businesses develop and grow, allow Coventry & Warwickshire-based SME's to benefit from mobile wireless communications, and provide space to test and explore new applications of 5G through four distinct strands of activity.

New Business Mentoring

This programme is aimed at SMEs registered for less than 12 months grow their business through 12 hours of mentoring.

5G Grants Programme

• 5G grants are available to support proof of concept activities for the development of innovative products, services and processes that will create opportunities utilising 5G technologies and connectivity
• The value of the grant is between £4,000 - £10,000 with a 50% intervention rate

Connectivity & Frontier Technology Workshop Programme

• A two-day programme consisting of workshops, industry case studies and structured development activities
• SMEs will gain the required knowledge of the technology fundamentals and identify the potential to enhance current practices and enable new developments in business models

Access to Digital Hub with 5G Technical Mentoring

Technical mentoring will be provided by a leading-edge mobile network operator

Digital Hub

Opening in Autumn 2021 the hub is a c150m2 refurbished space on Coventry University Technology Park, which will include state of the art communications infrastructure, co-working and 'collaboration spaces', a technical development area/demonstration space, and access to meeting rooms. The aim of the space is to create an innovation hub where SMEs have access to 5G networks and can see the 5G demonstrator equipment is action.

For more information contact the project team at [email protected]

...Or you can complete an Expression of Interest form here