University launches £12 million bid to support businesses hit by downturn

A CITY university has announced a £12 million plan to support more than 3,000 businesses through the economic downturn.

Central to the move by Edinburgh Napier will be the launch of nine institutes, designed to act as "one-stop shops" for firms to access expertise, research, facilities and product testing.

EU project grants worth 8m and 4m of Scottish Government funding will be used by the new institutes to engage with business more effectively.

The nine institutes will offer direct technical support, grants, specialist skills, training, facilities and equipment in sectors identified as key growth areas by the Scottish Government.

These include construction, creative industries, digital markets, energy, financial services, food and drink, forest industries, life sciences, manufacturing, textiles, tourism and enabling technologies.

Professor Dame Joan Stringer, principal of the university, said: "Scotland's university-based research is amongst the best in the world, and we at Edinburgh Napier know how to translate that expertise into profits and operational efficiency for business."

Iain McMillan, director of CBI Scotland, said: "The move by Edinburgh Napier will help to drive active innovation in the areas that will have the greatest impact on economic growth. That has to be welcomed."