Scheme aims to connect investors and technology in Britain
Link: Scheme aims to connect investors and technology in Britain
A new £3m investment scheme, gateway2investment or g2i, aims to accelerate the growth of science and technology firms in London and encourage more firms to relocate to or start up in the city.
The programme aims to position the capital as a global centre for science and technology. It is supported by mayor Ken Livingstone’s London Development Agency (LDA) and a consortium of companies, led by accountants Grant Thornton. The scheme will provide investment packages of between £50,000 and £2m.
It is hoped that the g2i programme will forge stronger links between London’s investor community and technology entrepreneurs, mainly in the IT, biotechnology, electronics, telecommunications, energy, new materials, engineering and manufacturing sectors.
Manny Lewis, chief executive of the LDA said: “Science and technology is generally under-funded across much of the European Union and London has a great opportunity to produce the lion’s share of new growth in this sector, provided we make the necessary investment now”.
As well as investment, the programme will provide diagnostic and action planning services, and business advice tailored to the relevant market. Participants will also receive feedback from investors and access to an online ‘virtual investor’.
