// LATEST UPDATES //
NASA initiative awards new small business innovators
NASA is testing out new concepts with SBIR Ignite , a pilot initiative for small businesses , start-ups and entrepreneurs that recently made its first Phase II awards .
Housed under NASA ’ s Small Business Innovation Research ( SBIR ) and Small Business Technology Transfer ( STTR ) programme , SBIR Ignite aims to increase participation from product-driven companies that are not looking at NASA as their primary customer . Differentiating it from the programme ’ s mainline solicitations that focus on technologies with potential for both infusion in NASA missions and commercialisation in the marketplace , the SBIR Ignite solicitation is less prescriptive and contains only a select few topics that are relevant to emerging commercial markets in aerospace .
Following successful Phase I periods , all 12 small businesses were selected in the summer to receive Phase II awards and will each receive up to US $ 850,000 to create their prototypes .
Archangels secures £ 12 million agreement with British Business Investments
Archangels , a leading business angel syndicate investing in early stage Scottish life sciences and technology companies , is bolstering its funding fire power after securing a £ 12 million co-investment agreement with British Business Investments via its Regional Angels Programme .
The deal will provide the Edinburgh-based syndicate with additional capital to fuel the success of Scotland ’ s next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators .
Archangels will deploy the capital from British Business Investments , a wholly owned commercial subsidiary of the British Business Bank , alongside syndicate funding across all of its investment activity .
Operating for over 30 years , Archangels is deeply committed to its long-term role in maximising investor returns , building and nurturing successful businesses and helping Scotland prosper . Archangels has invested over £ 160 million in the most innovative early stage companies , with disruptive technology , protectable IP and the potential to scale globally . In recent years , Archangels has enjoyed a number of significant exits , including the sale of medical AI business , Blackford Analysis , to Bayer Pharma .
AI as important as maths and English , claims start-up
Artificial Intelligence training is as important for students as maths and English according to Multiverse , a training company set up by the son of former UK Prime Minister , Tony Blair .
Euan Blair ’ s apprenticeship organisation announced a new AI training programme to help train thousands of apprentices across the UK , delivering on the job experience in AI .
A poll of 1,000 business leaders by Multiverse revealed that
AI training is a top priority for businesses with 83 % planning to introduce ‘ urgent ’ training for staff .
Rebecca Agostino , VP of Delivery at Multiverse , said : “ We ’ ve been working on AI for many years internally at Multiverse , supporting some of the most exciting AI companies with their skills strategies , and in the coming years , I strongly believe that AI skills will be just as important for workers as English and maths are today .”
6 intelligent
. tech
Intelligent SME . tech