10109998The GSW Marine & Maritime Launchpad Cluster Innovation Program (CIP)ActiveLaunchpadInnovate UKThe GSW Marine & Maritime Launchpad Cluster Innovation Program (CIP) will be delivered by Maritime UK SW (MUKSW), a globally significant maritime innovation cluster established in 2015, covering Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset comprising a partnership between business, place, and research. Funding from Innovate UK of £150,000 will act as a multiplier for existing Maritime UK SW innovation delivery in the Great South West by enabling a full time Cluster Innovation Manager to be employed to develop a broad program of innovation, investment, support and promotion, supported by the existing MUKSW Chief Executive and the network of MUKSW innovation partners - drawing in world class expertise. The Cluster will be developed alongside existing added value MUKSW activity including: skills, careers, clean maritime, economic analysis and lobbying and will be delivered in accordance with the "Hubs of Innovation: A playbook for Place Leaders model" proposed by IUK. MUKSW will deliver CIP objectives by building on existing strengths, developing networked regional hubs as foci for project activity working with partners to extend existing geographic and thematic strengths, hosting and signposting on-profile innovation, investment and support offerings, also building on existing promotional and investment assets thus further embedding the inclusive innovation mission/culture MUKSW has developed across the GSW region. The CIP will deliver: \*An audit of industry need, enhancing existing sector knowledge. \*Employing a MUKSW Cluster Innovation Manager (CIM) with support from the MUKSW CEX and in-kind partner contributions. \*A programme of at least 12 innovation sandpits, 12 online drop-in problem-solving/innovation transfer sessions, 2 Ocean Tech Expos, a mentor network and 1:1 business support. \*Convening national, MUKSW and GSW partnerships to focus on strategic investment in: decarbonisation, AI and autonomy, digitisation of ports and shipping and enabling floating offshore wind supply chain. \*Develop web and print collateral utilising MUKSW existing national and international profile to champion and promote the culture and reputation of cluster innovation. \*The CIP plan, via MUKSW draws in support from the world class SW maritime research offering bringing significant levels of added financial and in-kind support to the project. The CIP business plan is designed to offer value for business alongside the sustainable, partner owned and led business model of MUKSW such that at project close levels of support will be maintained, creating a highly valued innovation cluster.