University experts offer free business support to offset impact of COVID-19

Small and medium businesses in the Black Country, Birmingham, Coventry and Warwickshire are being offered additional free support to help them overcome some of the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Birmingham Energy Institute’s SME Engagement Programme, ATETA, is offering businesses support in writing funding applications, drafting proposals, or Solidworks/CAD drawings of products.

Businesses can also gain access to expertise from our world-leading researchers and explore how their businesses might save costs, develop new products and improve processes.

Research and application advice is available in the following subject areas:

• Energy Storage technologies
• Strategic Elements and Critical Materials
• Thermal analysis
• Thermodynamic assessment of various systems including power generation and cooling systems using Matlab or EES Software
• Solar and battery storage systems analysis
• The potential use of robotics in production lines
• Computational fluid dynamic simulation
• Mechanical Engineering, including design, modelling, tribological testing, drawing and knowledge management
• Evaluation of waste materials and conversion to fuels and chemicals
• Upgrading and enrichment of liquid fuels
• Recovery of fibres from composite materials and their reuse in new materials
• Process simulation 

David Terry, Business Engagement Manager for ATETA, said: “I am delighted that our academics from across the Birmingham Energy Institute have been able to extend this free offering of support to SMEs. Covid-19 has had a drastic impact on how SMEs operate and so we are hoping this free support can help businesses overcome some of the challenges they are facing and unlock business opportunities.”

Businesses interested in receiving this support should register their interest at mailto:ateta@contacts.bham.ac.uk.

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