West Suffolk businesses discuss innovation connections
Suffolk Chamber's West Suffolk Forum met on 26th June at the EpiCentre in Haverhill to discuss how businesses can take advantage of West Suffolk's innovation connections.
Julian Munson of Suffolk County Council talked about Suffolk's many innovation initiatives and the grants available to support business innovation. Steven Wilson of Freeport East explained that whilst the Freeport East project is focused on Felixstowe and Harwich, it is benefitting businesses across Suffolk. Dan Thorp of Cambridge Ahead briefed the meeting on the Cambridge innovation eco-system and discussed how West Suffolk could build its knowledge economy and become more closely connected with the Cambridge innovation eco-system. Julie Baird of West Suffolk Council gave an overview of how the council supports business innovation.
Steve Elsom, Chair of Suffolk Chamber's West Suffolk Forum commented 'The meeting identified some things we can do in the short term, to encourage even more business innovation in West Suffolk. In particular we need to encourage more knowledge sharing between businesses in West Suffolk and between businesses in West Suffolk and Cambridge. Suffolk and Cambridgeshire chambers of commerce working through the Chambers East initiative, Cambridge Ahead and West Suffolk Council could help to do this'.