SBRI
SIB’s sbri unit provides tailored support to public sector organisations to accelerate research & development and stimulate innovation using challenge-based Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP).
At the heart of the small business research initiative is pre commercial procurement, (Contracts for Innovation). We utilise an agile approach that allows creativity and de-risks innovation, facilitating the development of innovative products and services. Key benefits for the public sector include multimillion £ CapEx and OpEx savings, improved service delivery to support strategic objectives such as the Lough Neagh Action Plan and enabling greater public sector knowledge of new and emerging technologies.
PCP also reduces procurement barriers for SMEs and start-up companies/ micro businesses, allowing new and innovative players to enter the public procurement market.
SIB’s sbri unit works with public sector organisations across Northern Ireland, including department, Arm’s Lengths Bodies (ALBs), Region Growth City Deals and local government, with projects supported by funding from DfE, DAERA, City Deals and the UK Space Agency.
SIB currently supports between 10 and 15 projects a year, across the public sector ranging in size from small scale e.g. £10,000 to multi-million-pound research challenges. Challenges include those working to optimise the use of data and innovative applications of AI, addressing problem facing agriculture, justice, education, tourism, housing and infrastructure management.
The sbri team has extensive private and public sector experience, enabling it to support public sector challenge owners to define, frame and develop their challenge, provide end to end support during the procurement and competition process and assist in realising the overall research benefits.
Key numbers
£17.4m
funding allocated
23
number of challenges
75
suppliers awarded contracts
87%
Percentage of micro/SME
