SIB sbri Unit
Tailored support to accelerate research & development and stimulate innovation using challenge-based Pre-Commercial Procurement
Project Description
SIB’s sbri unit provides tailored support to accelerate research & development and stimulate innovation using challenge-based Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) to resolve existing public sector challenges and find solutions to complex issues through innovative solutions.
At the heart of the small business research initiative is pre commercial procurement, which is an agile approach that allows creativity and de-risks innovation, facilitating the development of innovative products and services. These solutions can then be procured by the public sector and developed commercially by the suppliers, stimulating the local economy.
PCP can help break down procurement barriers for SMEs and start-up companies/micro businesses, allowing access for new innovative players to enter the public procurement market.
Status
SIB has supported the core DfE Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) programme across Northern Ireland for many years; but more recently this work has expanded to provide pre commercial procurement support to public sector organisations including Arm’s Lengths Bodies (ALBs), Region Growth City Deals and local government.
SIB typically supports between 7 and 10 projects a year, across the public sector ranging in size from small scale e.g. £10,000 to multi-million-pound research challenges. Challenges currently include those working to optimize the use of data and innovative applications of AI, addressing problem facing agriculture, justice, education, tourism, housing and infrastructure management.
At any one-time the team works with more than 40 private sector businesses, and over 80% of current sbri funding is supporting micro businesses and SMEs, the majority based in Northern Ireland.
SIB Involvement
The sbri team has extensive private and public sector experience, enabling it to support challenge owners to frame, define and develop their challenge, provide end to end support during the procurement and competition process and assist in realising the overall research benefits.
For further information please contact:
Dr. Sian Thornthwaite
Programme Director
