Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) has received a grant of £354,400 towards the creation of a new Innovation Resources Project.

The funds have been provided by Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and it is hoped the facility will help people whose employment or business will be affected by the UK’s transition from the EU or the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding comes in addition to £1.5 million of Dorset LEP investment in the arts university’s new entrepreneurial space, the Innovation Studio.

The new project, the only one of its kind in the South-West, will provide remote access to a suite of digital and physical fabrication equipment, supporting clothing design, film and video game production, and the manufacturing, product design, engineering and health technology sectors.

Funding will also be used to refurbish an existing administrative space to create a 280m2 Innovation Suite for collaborative work/social space and specialist digital fabrication equipment.

Emma Hunt, deputy vice-chancellor at AUB says, “This latest Dorset LEP investment will enable us to provide an inclusive environment for students, academics and Dorset businesses that fosters innovation and collaboration as well as enhancing the technical capabilities of the region. It also means that businesses outside of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole such as Weymouth, Portland and the west of the county can be supported too.” 

The Innovation Resources project expects to introduce the final wave of resources in June 2021 when the Innovation Suite is also expected to open.