Aston University is celebrating today after plans for a new £17m Engineering Academy in Birmingham were given funding approval from Government Minister Ed Balls.   

The team met at Birmingham Science Park Aston (BSPA) to undertake Launch48 – the unique challenge of launching multiple new web businesses in just 48 hours.

Over £1m secured for free photonics business advice

Engineering academics at Aston University in Birmingham have secured £1.1m of research funding to provide free photonics advice to West Midland’s based businesses.

The scheme, jointly funded by Aston University and the European Regional Development Fund, offers opportunities for businesses to access free world- class consultancy from the University’s Photonics Research team.

Photonics covers a huge range of science and technology applications based on the use of light particles. These include high speed communication systems, laser manufacturing, biological and chemical sensor technologies, medical diagnostics and therapy, display technology and optical computing.

Professor Sergei Turitsyn from Aston’s Photonics Research team believes providing business with free consultancy, assistance and/or opportunities for knowledge collaboration will help companies improve their current photonics technologies.

He said; “Universities work hard to make themselves accessible and useful to business, and this scheme will provide practical information and innovative ideas for companies to enhance or even replace their existing technologies.”

Industry areas identified by Aston’s research team as benefiting from photonics advice and business assistance include the aerospace industry, companies using automotive, building or environmental technologies, food and drink companies, ICT, medical technologies, rail and the tourist and leisure industry.

This initiative is backed by The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Birmingham Science City and the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

To find out about further business development opportunities in the clean technologies field such as these, please contact Glenn Barrowman, Business Development Manager, Birmingham Science Park Aston 0121 260 6189, or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

A NEW business programme has been launched to help Birmingham-based graduates launch their own companies.

The B|SEEN (Birmingham Skills for Enterprise and Employability Network) programme aims to offer graduate entrepreneurs and students a diverse package of support as they prepare to launch their own business.

The project, run by Aston, Birmingham and Birmingham City universities, will provide supported incubator space, wage subsidy, and consultancy support for owners of nascent businesses.

The budding entrepreneurs will also have access to graduate skills advisers, workshops and master classes.

A spokesman for B|SEEN said: "There is very little support currently available for graduate businesses once their owner/managers have left their universities.  It is anticipated that B|SEEN will provide a much-needed facility for business support and skills development. "

Each university incubator will accommodate a minimum of ten businesses every six months, thus enabling 90 businesses to be supported over a 15-month period.

Business will have a six month tenancy and each university will work with other agencies and programmes to help direct the businesses move to grow-on facilities.

At the end of the six-month period, the business owners will be able to exit into a variety of destinations, including offices through the Working Neighbourhood Funds' Stimulating Demand Programme; access support through Birmingham City Council’s proposed ERDF Graduate Space project or to business space through the Birmingham Science Park Aston’s Entrepreneurs for the Future Programme.

Other options include other locations through mainstream support through Business Link and privately-run enterprise space.

One graduate who has signed up to the B|SEEN programme is Helen Kazi, a Birmingham University Master's graduate, who has launched SightXchange.

The self sustaining social enterprise project is to provide eye care for those requiring simple procedures, such as cataract operations, and employment in Bangladesh.

It will enable locals to undergo extensive training in return for the production of fairtrade goods and handicrafts,which will then be sold in UK retail outlets

Helena, who attained a Master's degree in toxicology, said she is working with an NGO in Bangladesh to launch the programme later this year. She then hopes to roll out the programme across south Asia.

She said the B|SEEN programme will help her achieve her aims for the business, which is based at Birmingham Science Park.

"So far there have been about 25 people contributing to the project in various ways and B|SEEN will be a very useful way of getting the help I need to set up a business," she said.

"The idea of the project is that it will generate revenue for the healthcare treatment. it is a very exciting project and one I have not come across before."