A SPECIAL breakfast event in Malvern could serve up cash grants to local technology businesses.

Start-ups and small businesses are being invited to attend the event at Malvern Hills Science Park (MHSP) on Wednesday, June 17 to find out how they could each access up to £50,000 in grants.

The event will outline details of three schemes aimed at helping local businesses innovate and develop new products.

The Advantage Proof of Concept Fund (APoC) is a regional fund worth nearly £6m offering innovation grants of between £5,000 - £30,000. The grants are intended to fulfil businesses’ new product development requirements including the construction of prototypes and market assessments.

The fund is administered by the Central Technology Belt and managed in Herefordshire and Worcestershire by MHSP. It has already delivered more than £275,000 to ten companies in the two counties since it launched in November.

Companies will also find out how they could apply for Index Vouchers, which offer up to £5,000 to purchase academic support from a host of universities in the West Midlands, and get involved in the Innovation Networks Scheme, which offers businesses support worth up to £15,000 in areas such as business set up, training and finance.

Ian Page, the event organiser and business development adviser for MHSP, said: “To date we’ve received some outstanding – and very diverse – applications for the APoC, testament to a strong culture of innovation across the two counties.”

The free breakfast event starts at 8.30am and lasts an hour. Places are limited to 20 and anyone interested in attending should contact Ian Page at MHSP on 01684 585200 or email ianpage@mhsp.co.uk