E D U C AT I O N FA L M O U T H U N I V E R S I T Y B R I N G S £100 M TO T H E CO R N I S H E CO N O M Y. recent economic impact assessment has revealed that Falmouth University contributes the equivalent of £100m to the local economy, with the University responsible for generating £1 in every £109 of economic activity in Cornwall. The report shows that Falmouth acts as an economic anchor, keeping skilled and talented young people in the region, while fostering bold new start-ups and supporting established Cornish businesses.
T W O P R O G R A M M E S I N PA R T I C U L A R – L A U N C H PA D O U T R E A C H A N D I M M E R S I V E B U S I N E S S – H AV E B E E N D E S I G N E D TO S U P P O R T S M A L L A N D M E D I U M E N T E R P R I S E S I N C O R N WA L L Launchpad Outreach, which is funded by HMRC and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), aims to increase the growth capability of businesses by improving productivity, growth and to create jobs in a sustainable manner within local, national and international markets. Utilising Falmouth’s professional level resources and insider knowledge of the creative industries, the fully funded Launchpad Outreach programme provides consultancy to explore new market opportunities, as well as the creation of new products and services. Falmouth is currently supporting businesses by providing market research reports, exploring customer trends and competitor analysis. Businesses taking part in the programme can also gain access to the university’s inhouse product design consultant, offering support such
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as computer-assisted design modelling and prototyping. There are also opportunities to take part in Falmouth’s Student Placement Scheme and to even access time with industry experts where appropriate. The Immersive Business programme, funded by ERDF and led by Falmouth University in collaboration with The University of Exeter, is a business accelerator designed to enable small and medium-sized businesses in Cornwall to compete nationally and globally through the development and use of innovative immersive technology. Eligible businesses can gain access to a programme of events, workshops, collaborative innovation spaces and labs to explore how they could benefit from immersive technologies. Businesses can also benefit from access to expert technical and academic support and advice, as well as product-development support and a digital transformation toolkit. The wAVE (Augmented & Virtual Experiences) project is an excellent example of how Falmouth is supporting the heritage sector in Cornwall. Working with the Cornwall Museums Partnership and five museums (Telegraph Museum Porthcurno; Castle Heritage Centre, Bude; St Agnes Museum; Isles of Scilly Museum and the Old Guildhall Museum & Gaol, Looe) Falmouth’s researchers are bringing local heritage to life, appealing to new audiences by embracing creative immersive technologies. Professor Anne Carlisle, OBE, Falmouth University ViceChancellor says: “Helping to drive Cornwall’s economic growth is a key strategic objective for the University and I am delighted that these new visitor experiences using future technologies will support five communities to access higher value and year-round tourism markets and offer a model that is replicable elsewhere.”
