The Promoting Innovation Pathways Programme, funded by Stoke-on-Trent City Council and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, supports SMEs, social enterprises, and early-stage start-ups across Stoke-on-Trent to develop new products, services and processes.

The programme will provide:

• Business Diagnostic - to assess the current capability of a business to successfully engage in innovation, their areas of strength and their areas of weakness.
• Innovation Grant (up to £5,000) - to support the purchase of capital equipment, prototyping, software costs, engagement of researchers and consultants, IP costs etc.
• Innovation Peer Network - facilitated, action learning sessions for innovative businesses to collectively explore and find solutions to their challenges and to network and share ideas in a confidential environment.
• Events and Workshops - enabling businesses of all sizes and sectors to learn new skills, develop new ways of working and hear about opportunities to develop an innovative culture.
• Intellectual Property Clinics - free bi-monthly clinics for businesses to speak to local IP experts.
• R+D Tax Clinics - free bi-monthly clinics for businesses to speak to local R+D Tax Credit experts.
• Innovation Suppliers Directory – an online directory of suppliers and specialist who are fully approved to be involved in innovation projects.