Cumbria Innovations Platform (CUSP II)

Boosting Economic Growth in Cumbria

Cumbria Innovations Platform (CUSP II) aims to help boost economic growth in Cumbria by providing micro, small and medium enterprises with a competitive edge.

The platform offers a diverse range of facilities, drawing on the research and development capabilities and experience of the universities of Lancaster and Cumbria to provide bespoke business support.

CUSP II is designed for inventive, innovative Cumbria businesses who want to accelerate their growth through collaboration with academic expertise and specialist resources from the universities of Cumbria and Lancaster. By pooling their capabilities, the universities can offer tailored and multifaceted business support across five unique formats. This platform of innovation support allows your business to explore new ideas with practical and academic input and guidance.

It is proven that collaborating with universities on research and development generates a higher return on investments than projects without academic input. The Dowling Report (2015) found that for every pound invested in R&D, projects who collaborated with academic partners saw a return of over £9 Gross Value Added (GVA), compared to just over £4 GVA for projects without academic involvement.

The universities of Cumbria and Lancaster pool their capabilities together to enable multifaceted, tailored business support in five different formats. It will allow you to explore new ideas by providing practical and academic guidance.

The CUSP II team is keen to hear from and work with Cumbrian SMEs looking to boost their innovation activity and grow their business.

This is a fully-funded programme available to European Regional Development Fund eligible companies.

How CUSP II can help your business?

Internships & Master's Research Placements

CUSP II and the University of Cumbria offer early-stage innovation research and development support through Innovation Research Projects. Our student researchers and academics will provide your business with robust research, academic expertise, and knowledge to help you drive innovation forward within your business.

Fully funded internships provide 20 days (140 hours) flexible research support to meet the innovation needs of your business.
Master's placement research projects are designed to provide your business with detailed and robust research to support new product or service development.

Benefits to your business:

Increases capacity and capability to drive innovation and business growth
Speed up innovation through access to academic support and expertise
Assess your technical readiness and innovation potential
Enhance your competitive edge
Increased return on R&D investment
Access extensive research and development support at state of the art laboratories and facilities
Develop new products and services

Innovation Masterclasses & Events

Our series of masterclasses and events are designed to help business leaders gain the tools to shape innovative business ideas. From concept through to commercialisation, the CUSP II masterclasses will equip businesses with the necessary skills and knowledge needed for today’s ever competitive market.

Our events are tailored around the innovation needs of participating businesses and will encourage networking between participants. Businesses are required to attend at least 2 masterclasses or events over a 12-month period.

Access to Unique Facilities

CUSP II gives your business access to a variety of regionally unique science and technology facilities (chemistry, engineering and physics facilities, including specialist equipment, laboratories and workshops) and capabilities from Lancaster University and the University of Cumbria that would typically be unavailable to Small and Medium Enterprises.

Cumbrian SMEs from any ERDF eligible sector can access technical expertise, equipment, and facilities to support the development and prototyping of new products and processes.

Digital Product Design

We offer digital consultancy to businesses in any sector who are keen to diversify and investigate new business models that exploit data and digital technology. Many businesses have a large pool of existing data or internal expertise and collective knowledge that CUSP II can help develop into a knowledge-based business or product.

Our bespoke digital consultancy may include:

Analysis of business processes and systems to identify underused data and knowledge assets.
Exploration of digital solutions to solve future business challenges or opportunities.
Investigation of new digital products and service concepts.
Development of digital prototypes to assess concept and feasibility.

Innovation Catalyst Programme

Our Innovation Catalyst Programme has been specifically designed for senior decision-makers of Cumbria based SMEs. This six-month peer-network programme will give leaders the space to explore emerging trends and the opportunities for innovation in their businesses.

What’s involved?

An Overnight Experiential over two days (one night) to build relationships with your peer group
Monthly, sector-focused half-day workshops and masterclasses
An interactive group challenge to identify and maximise sector innovation opportunities across the Cumbrian landscape
Access to Masterclasses delivered by inspirational, world-class speakers
A final one-night residential to consolidate learning and put your ideas into action

Find out more about the programme

Get in touch with the CUSP II Team

For more information about the project and how we can support your business, please contact Sarah Allison, Project Manager

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Benefits of The Cumbria Innovations Platform

We assess your technical readiness and innovation potential.

Offer resources to reduce the risk of research and development, with access to specialist academic knowledge and expertise.

Increase your capacity and capability to accelerate innovation and business growth, while supporting the development and commercialisation of new products to enhance your competitive edge.

Partnerships

Get paid business innovation research experience with our internships and master's placement opportunities.

Our CUSP II innovation research projects are an ideal way for you to extend your research skills and enhance your employability. Work with a real business to help address their innovation needs and boost your CV along the way. You’ll be paid for your work on the project. Find out more about the different ways to get involved below.

Paid Internships

What could I be doing as an intern?

Our paid internships place you with a Cumbrian business for a maximum of 140 hours work (about 4 weeks). You’ll conduct innovation research that addresses a real-life topic important to the business you are placed with. Towards the end of your internship, you’ll produce a report of your research findings and conclusions for the business to use.

What will my working pattern be?

Most students are able to work flexibly when completing their internships to meet any study, home or work commitments. You’ll be able to discuss this with the CUSP II Project Manager and the business as part of the recruitment process.

What support will be available to me during my internship?

You’ll be supported by an academic member of staff, and the CUSP II Project Manager who will be on hand to answer your questions and help you make the most of your time as an intern through mentoring support.

Master's Research Placements

What will I be doing on my placement?

Our part-funded master's placements last for up to 4 months and should support the topic of your dissertation. You will be paid a monthly stipend for these 4 months. Your research will support an innovation challenge facing the business you will work with, the evidence of which can be used for your dissertation.

What will my working pattern be?

Most students are able to work flexibly when completing their placements to meet any study, home or work commitments. You’ll be able to discuss this with the CUSP II Project Manager as part of the application process.

What support will be available to me during my placement?

You’ll be supported by your dissertation tutor and the CUSP II Project Manager, who will be on hand to answer your questions and help you make the most of your placement through mentoring support.

Is an Internship or Master's Placement for me?

If you’re interested in gaining paid research experience and boosting your CV by increasing your skills and knowledge of the working world then yes, an internship or master's placement could be for you.

During your internship or placement, you’ll have the chance to develop an insight into how businesses operate and the challenges they face.

For master's placement students, you’ll have opportunities to carry out research and collect data/evidence for your dissertation.

You’ll also be paid reasonable travel expenses to support you with completing your internship or master's placement.

Student Internships and Master's Placements: How to Search and Apply

You can find our current student internship opportunities on the current vacancies section of the University if Cumbria website. You’ll need to formally apply for each opportunity as you would with a normal job application. If your application in successful, you will be invited for an interview with the project manager and the business owner.

Be the first to hear about opportunities by registering your interest and signing up here.

If you would like help with your application, preparing your CV or would like an informal chat about any of the opportunities please contact:

Sarah Allison – Project Manager – cusp@cumbria.ac.uk or call 07969 768919.

Grant Murray – Innovation Fellow – cusp@cumbria.ac.uk.