Search is on for UK's most innovative tech start-ups

Entrepreneurs and digital innovators with a passion for launching their own business are being given the chance to join Manchester’s new Tech Incubator for data science and technology innovation start-ups.

Manchester Science Partnerships (MSP), the UK’s leading science and technology park operator, has launched a competition to win free desk space and access to a specialist business growth programme for 12 months when the centre opens in May.

The competition is now open and will be showcased by MSP and Bruntwood at Prolific North Live, the biggest annual media, marketing & creative industries expo outside London, which takes place at Event City, Manchester, on February 28 and March 1.

At Prolific North MSP and Bruntwood will be hosting an exciting programme at their stand (135 - next to the keynote theatre), featuring a number of their customers, who’ll be sharing their dynamic and inspiring growth stories. Among those attending will be Manchester Digital, Cubic Motion, Lightstart Apps and Kwizzbit.

Worth up to £9,500, the competition is aimed at tech start-ups with between 1-12 employees, working in the areas of: Artificial Intelligence, cognitive computing, or machine learning; data analytics; VR & AR; fintech; blockchain; e-commerce; cyber security; cloud technologies; quantum computing; the Internet of Things; smart cities and digital health.

As part of the selection process, applicants will be asked to present their ideas to a panel of judges from the industry at a pitching event. To apply click here.

The Tech Incubator is located within Bruntwood’s newly-refurbished Manchester Technology Centre, part of the new £750m Circle Square campus at the heart of the Oxford Road Corridor Innovation District. The centre will provide access to dedicated coworking space, a specialist business growth programme, a calendar of social events, and is directly next to the exciting new retail and leisure pop up - Hatch.

MSP, which was awarded £2m by Manchester City Council to launch the Tech Incubator alongside delivery partners including Complete Resourcing and Manchester Digital (who will also be based in the centre), is focused on providing resident companies with access to the right resources to ensure their business success. Growth services include skills development, and access to world class talent, R&D resources and an active and engaged investor base.

MSP currently supports over 300 fast-growth science and technology companies within its portfolio which is spread across three main campuses; Manchester Science Park, Citylabs and Mereside at Alderley Park in Cheshire, with customers ranging from innovative start-ups such as viral video app Wattl, to local scale-ups such as ANS, and global brands like Cisco.

Anne Dornan, Head of Innovation and Partnerships said: “At MSP we are passionate about creating communities of like-minded businesses in locations where innovation and entrepreneurship come together to drive real growth and impacts. 

“The competition represents an exciting opportunity to identify new data science and technology innovation start-ups to join Manchester’s flourishing and diverse digital sector and who we hope will benefit from the specialist support services, access to finance, and collaboration opportunities offered by our Tech Incubator and our fantastic network of partners.”