Growing as a Start-Up is all about connections, making connections with funding bodies, project partners, academia, and neighbouring companies. From our conception, we have always been devoted to building this vital network. Perhaps the most valuable of these relationships is with Microelectronics iNet.

Microelectronics iNet is an ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) project, conceived in 2010, planned to run into 2015, with a finish scheduled next month. They provide advice and resources to Microelectronics SMEs across the South West helping to take design concepts and ideas all the way to tangible products and services, a mission shared by Cubik.

Through research and understanding Microelectronics iNet have been able to create programmes of practical and targeted support working to boost SMEs to progress innovation. The body are supported and lead by The University of the West of England (UWE), contributing a wealth of knowledge and expertise to an already strong team of experts. The project in its entirety operates to provide support to existing SMEs and inventors but is part of wider picture, the iNet programme, a large funding resource forming a network of iNet each geared towards servicing a specialist industry field in the South West whether it be aerospace or green technology.

Forging a relationship with this invaluable resource has paid all parties involved an array of worth while dividends, for Microelectronics iNet they have successfully cultured an environment for SMEs to build supply chain clusters, where companies can sustain each other as well as themselves. In our case, we have had the opportunity to connect with a bank of customers and companies from across the industry sector and background, extending our reach to unchartered heights. For our customers, they have seen grassroots ideas transform into targeted well thought out concepts and often prototypes and technology demonstration devices developed.

In a recent report of the programme’s successes, Belen Prieto, Cubik’s key contact commented:

“There has been a successful history of collaboration between Cubik Innovation and the Microelectronics iNet since 2012. It’s a deep and close partnership which has delivered real outcomes for both Cubik and the Microelectronics iNet. This strategic partnership has also provided SMEs with access to high quality prototypes in a shorter period of time, facilitating them to keep on innovating and bringing new products to market, which is helping to feed the virtuous circle for growth in the South West of England”.

For Cubik our successes have been achieved most pertinently through the Microelectronics iNet business assist service, a small but important fund of £1,000 awarded to SMEs looking to gain information and guidance on product and business development.

In this capacity Cubik were commissioned to facilitate product and concept investigation for customers with electronic products, usually consisting of several days of focused research into prototyping and design. During our three years in business, we have completed approximately 25 business assists for many innovative small companies with 60% of these investigations forming the vital bedrock for future development. Our customers choose Cubik as their product development partner or as a vehicle for isolated programmes of work such as design reviews, prototype productions, software iterations, and batch manufactures.

Most recently Cubik engaged with Start-Up Meta Films Ltd headed up by experienced cameraman and adventurer Nick Guy. Nick was granted funding through the programme for Cubik to carry out a full design review of a camera trap system which houses a DSLR specifically to film wildlife in remote locations and was pleased with the results:

“The investigation carried out by Cubik was to pin down a problem with an existing design. This was achieved and has allowed remedial work to be undertaken to correct the fault on several units already in service. Prior to the investigation the units could not be safely deployed. The work carried out by Cubik also highlighted several other points as well as touching on possible improvements that could be implemented in a future development of the design. It is likely that Cubik will be asked to conduct a further full design review and hopefully carry out full re-design of the product at some stage soon”.

Alongside Meta films, we have also recently worked with Wildwood Ecology delivering smart and innovative ecological solutions to companies across the South-West on a very interesting project surrounding the conservation of Bats. Richard Crompton, Wildwood’s director had this to say about his experience with Cubik Innovation and Microelectronics iNet.

“We found our dealings with Cubik to be enjoyable, from a first friendly meeting with MD Paul, to being introduced to the team and seeing the facilities. A very positive experience that made us feel Cubik was a company we wanted to do business with. After some fact finding Cubik put us in touch with the Microelectronics iNet scheme which funded the initial feasibility stage. We have costed proposals for a range of options and must now do some work to identify the funds to make the project a reality”.

The programme has also offered a more extensive layer of support, making larger sums of funding available to give projects a real boost.

In 2013, Cubik won the highest level of this support to fund a brand new automated optical inspection unit (AOI machine) which has and continues to maintain an excellent quality standard to the prototypes shipped from our labs. The majority of our PCBAs are manufactured using surface mount technology, decreasing component size whilst increasing density, making the need for accurate and efficient inspection avital measure. Adding this machine to our growing production line in the earliest days of our business means we can take on an increased number of production and prototyping jobs. It also helped us win a contract with a large, local utilities firm for a programme of work that could change the landscape of our growth.

With the programme ending in one month, funding rounds are now closed. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank the team at iNets for the support and continued interest in our endeavours and remind any fledgling SMEs and inventors to pay attention to these valuable activities happening across the South West. By working together, building connections, and maintaining a growing network we can build on our already thriving industry and respective businesses. In the wake of our successes with the Microelectronics iNets programme we are now investigating more ways we can connect our customers with important funding and look forward to building those important future relationships and continue our work helping South West inventors lift their ideas to innovation.

For more information, case studies and news on the Microelectronics iNets programme please visit www.microelectronics-inet.co.uk