Further Information

The Keele Research and Innovation Support Programme (KRISP) has been designed to support businesses that are thinking about or are currently in the process of, developing a new product, process or service.

The Keele Research and Innovation Support Programme (KRISP) is delivered through the Keele University Science & Innovation Park Smart Innovation Hub (project reference: 32R17P01691). This programme is part-funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the England 2014 to 2020 European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) Growth Programme.

Business benefit

Research suggests that small- to medium-sized UK businesses do not invest sufficiently in research, development or innovation due to a lack of dedicated human resource. By providing additional personnel and academic expertise, the Keele Research and Innovation Support Programme aims to support businesses in bringing their innovative products and services to the market quicker than would have otherwise happened. View what previous KRISP businesses thought about the programme in our video gallery.

‌Businesses will benefit from the support of a fully-funded Innovation Team. Collaborating with you on a part-time basis, the team consists of:

• An Innovation Advisor who will work with you to scope and define the project brief, supervise the work of Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) Associates and input research expertise and subject knowledge where necessary;
• Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) Associates - a dedicated resource, working on business innovation;
• Business Engagement Manager - your dedicated point of contact for the duration of the project and beyond. They can also broker other resources where necessary;
• Additional academic expertise to ensure the project reaches its full potential, the expertise of the wider Keele University workforce can be drawn on where necessary.‌

Eligibility

The programme is open to small- to medium-sized UK businesses in the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire area that have an innovative idea that has the potential to grow the business.

Funding

The programme is fully-funded until 2023, and the only cost to participate is your time.

Student information 

Businesses aren’t the only ones who benefit from the programme – it provides a fantastic opportunity for students to gain valuable experience in a real workplace project. Details of the opportunities available through the programme are listed on our student Internship vacancies page