Organisation Name: Merthyr Tydfil College

Project Description: In today's technology driven global society, the full exploitation of the benefits of ICT is critical in moving economies and societies forward. There is ample and growing evidence of the importance of investment in and effective use of ICT in a region's successful economic and social development This project is strategically aligned to a range of developments in the Heads of the Valley, in particular the Merthyr Learning Quarter, through the creation of an common e-learning platform to facilitate anytime, any place learning in the Heads of the Valleys region.

This project will create an e-learning platform that will be utilised by citizens, firms and communities and learning providers to improve knowledge and create opportunities for commercial exploitation of ICT. A typical example is the use of ICT to enhance the delivery of learning materials and communications between learners and learning providers. This project will create an e-learning platform to provide greater accessibility and availability of learning materials and information, creating a virtual one stop shop to learning and training pathways.

The virtual learning platform will be developed to support the work of a large range of providers and initiatives currently taking place and will help create added value for new initiatives such as the proposed University of the Heads of the Valley, a project that seeks to provide a wide range of learning opportunities geared to engaging people and assisting them to appreciate the value of education through informal and skills based learning and raising aspirations in order that they progress onto attaining higher level skills and employment.

The University of the Heads of the Valley will be delivered and coordinated by the University of Glamorgan and the University of Wales, Newport in collaboration with FE providers. In addition to this initiative the virtual learning environment will support the learning of those engaged in the proposed Construction Centre at Merthyr and the Merthyr Lifelong Learning Quarter which will significantly increase and improve the standard and range of tuition currently within Merthyr Tydfil College and make a significant contribution toward meeting the skills needs of those in the Heads of the Valleys Area.

The platform will provide access to a wide range of existing digital resources and information systems, combined with quality through shared tools and resources, and common standards of design and effectiveness. In addition the platform will provide educators, trainers, employers, support workers with a tool to disseminate innovative materials and applications, leading to opportunities for learning anytime, anyplace.

The project will engage directly with Further Education, Adult and Community Education and Work Based Learning initiatives, to develop online training solutions and online diagnostic and assessment tools as well as facilities such as online assessment. This project would develop a common e-learning platform to host this learning material. Learners will be able to access the e-learning environment via home, libraries, college, schools, community IT centres and through the work place. The platform will supply an environment to support e-portfolio products that will be of particular relevance to learners engaged on vocational training courses and will replace traditional paper based portfolios.

The project would deliver a range of technical and resource products these would include:

Technical Products

User Tools - this will include a content search function Repository - A facility that will allow learning content to be centrally stored, catalogued, tracked and repurposed as appropriate Gateway Portal - A portal that typically provides personalized capabilities to its visitors, providing a pathway to other content Development Tools - this will include a software application that will allow practitioners to create simple e-learning objects that are also SCORM compliant E-Portfolio - An e-portfolio can be seen as a type of learning record that provides actual evidence of achievement. Such electronic evidence may include inputted text, electronic files such as MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Adobe PDF files, images, multimedia, blog entries, and hyperlinks. E-portfolios are both demonstrations of the user's abilities. They can be maintained dynamically over time. Instances of Moodle - 8 separate instances of Moodle will be created. Although in some cases one instance of Moodle will used by several organisations from the same sector.

Content Products

Learning Objects - A minimum of 1000 learning objects will be produced over the duration of the project Guides - Instructional guides for practitioners, learner guides and a content catalogue Assessment Tools Bilingual Navigation - By default Moodle navigation is only available in English. However over 76 language packs have now been developed for Moodle including Welsh, Polish and Portuguese. These are 3 languages that also spoken in this region in addition to English.

E and blended learning offers more readily accessible ways to deliver information and advice than any other medium. Access to online information services will ensure that learners are better "signposted" in terms of the advice and guidance that they receive. Learners will have the opportunity to register or enrol for courses without having to travel or queue. This project will ensure that accessing such services is straightforward and accessible for everybody. The learning platform will provide access by all providers of Work Based Learning, FE, Adult and Community Learning, education and training. The learning platform will also provide communication tools, such as messaging, discussion groups, synchronised communications and blogs.

Email Address: mjeffrie@glam.ac.uk

Geographical Area of Operation: Heads of Valley

Organisation Core Business: Further Education

Who will be involved in delivering the project: Merthyr College, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, University of Glamorgan.

Who will be the end beneficiaries: Learners and organisations engaged in training.

Spatial area/s to be covered by the project: South East Wales

What might the outputs be (activity measures): Open access infrastructure points

What might be the results of the project: New or improved products, processes or services launched

What would its impact be: The provision of a common learning platform provide access to learning content that is differentiated and individualised and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Thus allowing organisations to improve learning and engage citizens to gain skills and qualifications.

Roughly what might be the scale of the project: 3 years

Estimated Cost: Total project expenditure £2,000,000 Where might the match funding come from: Merthyr College, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, University of Glamorgan

Date: 10/7/2008

Organisation Name: Communities Directorate, Welsh Assembly Government

Project Description:. The project will adopt a strategic approach to addressing digital exclusion through community sector groups and voluntary sector organisations. It will recognise that much work has already been taking place in Wales, and would wish to build on that, taking into account lessons of what has, and has not, worked in Wales and elsewhere, as well as seeking to avoid local duplication of provision. By concentrating on activities directly relevant to groups and organisations, it aims to continue breaking down barriers to exclusion.

It will also look to build on and develop the digital inclusion agenda, to enhance the potential for activity that improves economic outcomes, whether, for example, encouraging the development of income generation, new social enterprises, or individual skills enhancement. It will seek to build from the social justice agenda of digital inclusion towards the more economic Lisbon agenda. Bearing in mind the need for long term sustainability, the initiative will encourage strategies that recognise the long term need to move away from reliance on grant funding.

The project will develop a range of aspects of digital inclusion work, which could include, for example: Training/mentoring around engaging with technologies training/mentoring with a view to self sustainability in technical support supporting community groups and voluntary sector organisations to enhance their own use of, and engagement with, technologies (as well as working with their members in relation to digital inclusion) Digital storytelling Supporting community and voluntary sector groups and organisations to exploit technologies for economic outcomes, such as skills enhancement or income generation. Encouraging social enterprises to engage with/adopt the use of ICT. Develop 'centres' of excellence (though these could be virtual as much as physical) in areas such as digital storytelling, digital inclusion and engaging social enterprises with ICT. These environments for good practice could be created through website; conference, or workshops etc.

Email Address: alun.burge@wales.gsi,gov.uk

Geographical Area of Operation: The aim is for this to be a Convergence wide initiative. The availability of funding means that, in the first instance, the focus of the project will be based in Communities First areas.

Organisation Core Business: Government of Wales

Who will be involved in delivering the project: The initiative will be delivered primarily through the voluntary and community sector.

Who will be the end beneficiaries: Community groups and voluntary sector organisations, and individuals in the spatially targeted areas

Spatial area/s to be covered by the project: the aim is for this to be a Convergence wide initiative. The availability of funding means that, in the first instance, the focus of the project will be based in Communities First areas.

What might the outputs be (activity measures): Social enterprises assisted; Social enterprises financially assisted; Individuals assisted; Community groups and voluntary sector organisations assisted; Initiatives addressing barriers to use of ICT

What might be the results of the project: Social enterprises created; Gross jobs created; Existing social enterprises adopting/engaging with technologies

What would its impact be: Net enterprises created; Net jobs created; Increased turnover in social enterprises; Increased engagement with ICT through social enterprises; Increased numbers of individuals digitally included amongst the most excluded

Roughly what might be the scale of the project: To be confirmed

Estimated Cost: To be confirmed

Where might the match funding come from: Communities Directorate & potentially other Assembly Government sources

Date: 23/6/2008

Organisation Name: MEC, Cardiff University

Project Description: The proposed project idea builds on the experience accumulated during previous project activities, i.e. supporting Welsh manufacturing companies, in the targeted area and has the following vision:

It is essential that Welsh manufacturing SMEs are able to continue to win new business on an even greater scale by understanding and satisfying the needs of the customers regardless of their geographical location and size. In order for the SMEs to be able to achieve this goal they need to shift their focus from simply designing and selling physical products to selling a system of products and services, e.g. extended product or product/service, that are jointly capable of fulfilling specific users' demands. This requires the introduction of an end-to-end manufacturing approach that takes into account the whole product lifecycle. Such an approach supported by adopting the best adaptive, networked and knowledge-based product life-cycle engineering practices will bring new opportunities for innovation, maintain longer term customer relationships and demonstrate improvements in SMEs' environmental performance.

Closer integration of product and process development through modelling and multi-scale simulation with the aid of knowledge managed tools will maximise the value to the manufacturing process. For example, designers with the right expertise and tools can efficiently evaluate what-if scenarios and quickly find the winning product formulae. At the same time through making full use of the latest ICT tools companies can improve reliability and minimise the environmental impact, e.g. the carbon footprint of their products. Availability of the right manufacturing knowledge and experts will form the basis for continuous innovation in the SMEs from the targeted area.

Replacing the conventional sequencing of tasks with complex manufacturing networks and processes that span the boundaries of multiple collaborating companies as well as orientation towards reconfigurable manufacturing, where companies can perform rapid and adaptive design, production and delivery of highly customised goods, will bring additional product opportunities not possible before for the SMEs and will improve their capability, productivity and profitability.

In the alignment of the above vision, the proposed project will support the eligible beneficiaries throughout all stages of the product lifecycle by proactively providing them with:

- the knowledge, best practices, latest scientific developments and emerging manufacturing technologies - high-end, on-demand process and product simulation, prototyping and metrology services - advice on minimisation of the environmental impact of the product - help in implementing the best practices of efficient and effective integration of new enabling ICT technologies in manufacturing processes - assistance in value addition of product oriented services - guidance in process design in all stages - development, production, maintenance and recycling

The project aims to enable innovation in the Welsh SMEs that want to innovate but cannot afford to do so by offering them a centralised pool of highly specialised resources and expertise covering the whole product lifecycle.

Email Address: NoyvirtA@cf.ac.uk

Geographical Area of Operation: convergence area

Organisation Core Business: University - Education Research and Technology Transfer

Who will be involved in delivering the project: public and private partners

Who will be the end beneficiaries: Manufacturing SMEs and new start-ups in the convergence area

Spatial area/s to be covered by the project: Convergence Area

What might the outputs be (activity measures): Number of enterprises assisted, number of new products developed with the help of the project

What might be the results of the project: Accelerated growth and turnover in the assisted beneficiaries

What would its impact be: Increased level of innovation in the supported companies

Roughly what might be the scale of the project: 3 years

Estimated Cost: 1.8 pa

Where might the match funding come from: private sector

Date:13/05/08

Organisation Name: Torfaen

Project Description: The aim of the proposed project is to increase the effective use of ICT by communities, enterprises, citizens and the voluntary sector and then develop this to contribute to the local economy.

The strategic aim behind this is to drive the demand for improved ICT goods and services in South East Wales, part of a sub-regional programme across the six Joint Valleys to move the economy and society forward.

Email Address: bill.hill@torfaen.gov.uk

Geographical Area of Operation: The Joint Valleys: Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Merthyr, RCT and Bridgend.

Organisation Core Business:  Local Authority

Who will be involved in delivering the project: The project will be delivered by a small team of staff.  The applicant body will be Torfaen County Borough Council, with the Regeneration Service area includes the Council's expertise in economic development, business support, environmental management, community development, training in ICT and project management of a wide range of EU funded programmes.  The Council's Information Systems Unit will be closely involved, using its established links with Microsoft and bringing its expertise in ICT, web-site design and networks.  The External Funding Team will bring their established expertise in ERDF financial monitoring and claims, supported by the ESF monitoring team for the elements which touch on training.  The Council also has expertise in Human Resources, payroll, legal and audit. There will be a project coordinator accountable to the Chief Officer Regeneration for the effective delivery of the project.  This appointment will be an expert in ICT and project management.  There will be a Steering Group bringing together key stakeholders from within the Council and from partner organisations.  There will be a Practice Company which will trade ICT services, staffed by a core expert staff, but able to offer meaningful work experience to those who are under training.  These placements will provide work-based training to NVQ level 2 and 3 to those seeking to earn a living in the ICT field, along with essential skills, innovation and training in enterprise formation.

Who will be the end beneficiaries: People of working age who are currently not digitally literate, especially those who experience social exclusion.

Spatial area/s to be covered by the project: The Joint Valleys: Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Merthyr and Bridgend

What might the outputs(activity measures Enterprises assisted 50, Enterprises financially assisted 23, Individuals assisted 300, Individuals financially supported 150, Initiatives addressing barriers to ICT 10, Participants 200.

What might be the results of the project: Gross jobs created 30, Enterprises 7, Enterprises adopting or improving equality strategies and monitoring systems 20, Enterprises adopting or improving Environmental Management Systems 20, New or improved and processes or services launched 20, Participants gaining qualifications 150, Participants entering further learning 75.

What would its impact be

Roughly what might be the scale of the project: 36 months in the first instance.

Estimated Cost: £1,640,000

Where might the match funding come from: To be determined.

Date:01/05/08

Organisation Name: PCCARE

Project Description: PCCARE is a Communities@one funded project until June 2008, the proposed project whilst continuing with its current work will introduce new and innovative ways working and adding value, it will promote social inclusion, business growth, economic development and innovation through the medium of information Communication Technology (ICT), embedding Social Enterprise to help sustain the project in the long-term.

PC CARE provides an ICT service for the community, which bridges the gap in the lack of ICT service provision within the areas. PC CARE supports local community businesses, volunteer organisations and residents with the innovative delivery of services.

With the greater use of ICT, it is envisaged that there will be more technical support needed. It is envisaged that PC CARE will become a social enterprise to ensure the long term sustainability of the project as well as the long term positive effects on the community to encourage digital inclusion.

Building on its current provisions of free Non-Accredited Training which has helped over 300 people access IT Training for the first time with over 700 return beneficiaries using the project within its first year, PCCARE has also helped over 700 individuals, groups and SME’s.

PCCARE have also offered 20 work placements for volunteers, run over 200 dedicated classes, engaged with over 35 partners with over 50 referrals whilst making over 100 call-outs to residents for IT related problems.

The following provisions will be incorporated into the project offering innovative ways to learn whilst offering a specialist service that is greatly needed within the area:-

ICT Training:

The training offered will be tailored to the needs of the service user whether it is a local resident or a local business. Such classes may include basic IT, Email and Internet, Office Programmes, Web Design and PC Building/Maintenance. The training offered will be both accredited and non-accredited. The project will also look at providing ICT Training to the local workforce, to raise the skills and knowledge base of the local workers. The project will also be able to offer training to other areas via outreach, courses could be tailored to suit organisation needs.

ICT Technology Suite:

The technology suite will increase its internet awareness classes through road shows in local schools and promotional events; it will also showcase all the new innovations, hardware and products. The suite and its presentation equipment can also be made available for rental to external organisations in line with the social enterprise objectives of the project. The technology suite will also be offered to local businesses for rental for bespoke ICT Training such as Web Design etc.

IT Support:

IT leasing and ad hoc support will play a vital role in generating income to sustain the project in the long term. PC Leasing will be offered to local organisations and SME’s to be paid on a monthly basis via a direct debit. This will generate a monthly income for the project.

The project also aims to establish a membership scheme whereby users of the facilities and services can become members for a nominal fee of £20.

This cost will allow members to obtain discounts on all repairs, free advice and support and a USB Pen with free internet security software.

Members will also receive a monthly update from PCCARE about what’s happening that month and any special offers.

PC Care Recycling:

This element of the project will build upon the piloted PC Refurbishment scheme. New services that will be launched include the recycling of ink, paper as well as other items. This element will see the development of the current PCCARE site into a dedicated recycling centre. It is with this aim in mind that the need to employ a new dedicated staff member to take this vision forward.

PAT Testing:

A new and innovative element of PCCARE will be to offer a PAT Testing service that will be available to local businesses as well as internal projects. This will also generate income.

Training Room Hire:

Training room hire will be offered to external organisations who wish to rent space within the facility.

Leasing of PC’s and Equipment:

Yearly leases will be offered to local organisations and businesses which will cover all labour and hardware costs. Presentation equipment will also be available for rental. Hire Agreements will be offered for PC leasing and equipment.

Website Design:

Website design will be offered to local voluntary groups, businesses and the private sector at a competitive fee. Websites will be built to order and will also offer provisions such as email and web space hosting.

Database Development:

Customised databases will be offered for sale, as well as database repair and improvements. This provision will be offered to local businesses, voluntary groups or the statutory sector.

Business IT Training:

Bespoke IT training will be offered to local businesses either through an induction package or particular training bespoke to the businesses needs.

This training may include customised packages such as data back up, Microsoft Office or Website Design. It will also be the aim to acquire service support contracts with external groups, organisations and businesses.

Apprenticeship Scheme:

Individuals on apprenticeship schemes have been utilising the facility and staff within PC Care as a placement to complete practical elements of ICT apprenticeships. This is an element of the project that will be expanded post June 2008.

Digital Systems and set-up:

With analogue broadcasting being phased out, PCCARE will offer the service of Digital set-up, offering advice and training to get people ready for the switch.

Email Address: info@nsapccare.co.uk

Geographical Area of Operation: Swansea Bay: Waterfront and Western Valleys. PCCARE will be situated however in Neath Port Talbot

Organisation Core Business: ICT Training * ICT Technology Showcase * ICT Support * ICT Recycling * Social Enterprise * Business Growth and Development

Who will be involved in delivering the project: Joint Delivery Partners: Workers Education Association – STRIDES - Neath Port Talbot Neighbourhood Renewal Area - Shaw Trust - Swansea Bay Sea School - Ystalyfera Development Trust - Bevin Avenue - S.E.S – Morphious - Communities First.   Referral Agencies: Social Services –MEWN - Shaw Trust - Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council - Neath Port Talbot Women’s Aid - Want 2 Work - Princes Trust - Swansea CAD Centre - Communities First - Betws Family Centre - Communities@one - Keep Wales Tidy - Foster Carers Group Wales - NSA Carpentry - Welfare Rights - Asylum Seekers - Local Schools - current links with Sandfields Comprehensive School and St Josephs School. - Youth Providers – YIP, YOT, Youth Service, STRIDES Youth, local school exclusion officer, anti-social behaviour officer, crime prevention team, alternative curriculum providers. - Local GP’s - Local Hospitals. - Probation Service. - Local Police - WGADA, Progress to work – Mentoring Support for those with substance misuse problems. - NPTCBC Homeless Unit – Housing Department, Housing Associations. - Women’s Aid - Broker Cymru – Workways - Job Centre Plus - NPT CVS. - Learning Providers to allow progression routes – NLN, Lifelong Learning, NPT College, - PCCARE will also link with HE/FE colleges.

Who will be the end beneficiaries: Unemployed people - including people  on sickness related benfits, Disengaged Young people including NEET's who will become volunteers/trainees and gain cofidence, work ethic, skills and self esteem,

•     People who have had substance misuse problems will also be able

to become trainees.

•     People with mental/physical illnesses, the project

will assist with rehabilitation and entry into/back into the world of work and training.

•     Lone parents, attending training courses.

•     Work experience opportunities for school and college leavers or referrals from partner organisations such as, New deal, Workways etc. •      Local community organisations, businesses, statutory organisations and community groups by either accessing the services available or attending training courses.

•     Volunteers

•     Low academic achievers

•     Ex-Offenders

•     Ethnic Minority Groups

Spatial area/s to be covered by the project: Swansea Bay Waterfront & Western Valleys, plus Pembrokeshire.

What might the outputs(activity measures): 100 enterprises assisted over the lifespan of the project; - 1000 individual participants assisted; - 600 Unique Learners (1st Time Users) - 1000 Accessing Free Advice and Support - 250 dedicated classes run  - 2000 access drop in learning

What might be the results of the project: 600 people accessing IT Training for the first time – 1000 Repeat learners, (Additional Classes attended) - 50 Computer Recycled back into the community. - 2000 IT Relate Jobs undertaken - 50 Ad-Hoc Contracts - 30 Leased IT Agreements - 20 People building their own systems via PC Building Classes - 100 Technology showcases - 30 PC Sales (Built to Order) - 100 Members via annual membership - 10 websites created - 30 business accessing training - 7 gross jobs created; - 3 enterprises created; - 8 new services launched; - £10k net profit year one generated to help sustain project; - 15 enterprises/organisations adopting environmental management systems through PC Recycling;

What would its impact be: Income generation £80,000  -  £100,000 (5 years) - 50 PC’S Recycled - 1000 Accessing Training - 2000 Users benefiting from IT Related Repairs - 50 Ad-Hoc Contracts set-up - 30 Leasing Agreements established - 100 Members Signed Up

Roughly what might be the scale of the project: The project will run over a 5 year period, employing 7 members of staff. Project Leader - 3 IT Technicians (Advice and Support/Hardware/Recycling) - 1 Tutor/Demonstrator - 1 Receptionist - Software/Website Technician

Estimated Cost: £1.2 – £1.5 million pounds over 5 years

Where might the match funding come from: Targeted match funding pot; - BIFFA; - Self Generated Income - Contracts for ICT Support; - Volunteer Time (in kind); - Communities Next (In Kind); - Welsh Assembly Government; - National Match Fund Pot.

Date:28/04/08

Organisation Name: Swansea University

Project Description: The aim of the Digital Economy for Wales (DEW) project is to maximise the economic potential of Welsh SMEs operating in the digital economy. This will be achieved by:

>>Developing a network of Welsh SMEs operating in the field of ICT /

technology and providing a platform by which they are able to communicate with each other (and with large businesses) to exchange ideas, explore the potential for joint working and identify new market opportunities – a digital business ecosystem. Through facilitated network development (eg networking events, expert seminars and on-line communication), opportunities for cluster development will be encouraged and facilitated.

>>Assisting SMEs to identify new market opportunities through: market

research including identifying potential new uses for products/services; providing access to information, knowledge and expertise on future technologies / future scoping; and facilitating links with global technology businesses for potential supply chain / development opportunities e.g. engage with the global companies’ future products / system integration / in country modifications. >>Establishing links with a range of large (global) businesses to provide information on global market opportunities and offer a potential ‘route to market’ for Welsh SMEs.

Links between SMEs and large businesses will be facilitated and the potential for joint development of technology maximised – open innovation.

>>Providing access to state of the art equipment, world-leading

>>expertise

and dedicated test-beds to assist in the development of new products processes and services.  The availability of expertise and research facilities within the Universities is key to securing the large businesses. They are important to the project in that they provide both market intelligence and an essential route to global markets for the SMEs.

University knowledge and expertise is equally important to SMEs. Through DEW, research from the Universities will be transferred to SMEs and SMEs will increase their level of R&D to meet new market opportunities – a key driver in Welsh economic development policy for a knowledge economy.

Digital technologies are evolving extremely quickly to the point where product lifecycles are as low as 2 years. The project will respond to this challenge by proving an integrated environment for SMEs to develop their products, processes and services together with access to graduate resources, a university centric technology-hub and an expanded EU technology platform (ie EU available IP) to enable them to effectively compete in this rapidly evolving, converging market.

The DEW project builds on the experience, expertise and facilities at Swansea and Bangor Universities developed through Digital Technium, IAT and IT Wales and offers a new, integrated programme targeted at the development of SMEs.

The focus of the project is on identifying and maximising market opportunities for digital technology SMEs in Wales. Links to other support provision will be made – particularly the Welsh Assembly Government’s Flexible Support for Business - both in terms of accessing SMEs to develop the network and in providing more general business development support.

Email Address: j.williams@swansea.ac.uk

Geographical Area of Operation: Managed from South West Wales led by Swansea University

Organisation Core Business: Higher Education

Who will be involved in delivering the project: Led by Swansea University, the project will work in partnership with Bangor University.  Through the project National Research will be made available to business and industry. The projects from which this project has evolved already have established relationships with both SMEs and large businesses. Through DEW this portfolio will be expanded.

Who will be the end beneficiaries: The project is targeted at digital technology SMEs. They will benefit from network / cluster development and new market opportunities that are identified. As the digital sector impacts a wide variety of other sectors there likely to be wider, indirect, beneficiaries as a result of the project. Through the project, opportunities for research activity may be identified

Spatial area/s to be covered by the project: All Convergence Spatial Plan Areas will benefit from the project.

What might the outputs (activity measures): Enterprises assisted (80% SMEs); Enterprises financially supported; Open access infrastructure points; Initiatives addressing barriers to ICT uptake

What might be the results of the project: Gross jobs created; Profit benefit; Enterprises adopting or improving equality strategies and monitoring systems ; Enterprises adopting or improving Environmental Management Systems ; New or improved products, processes or services launched ; Investment induced. A key driver of the project is to identify and maximise new market opportunities for SMEs. Through this it is planned that jobs will be created, there will be increased profit benefit, new or improved products, processes or services will be launched and there will be increased investment within the businesses.

What would its impact be: Net jobs created ; Net enterprises created ; Increase in turnover ; Sales of products, processes or services ; Increase in company-level GVA. The project will engineer a structural shift towards knowledge-based strategies in computing and telecommunications and reduce innovation gaps with other part of Europe.

Roughly what might be the scale of the project: The project will operate across the Convergence Region.

Estimated Cost: £6m over 3 years.

Where might the match funding come from: Partner organisation resources including staff time and overheads. Private match funding will also be sought.

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