DO you have a new product or process requirement but don't know which step to take next?

Integra is a project which might be able to help. It stands for Innovation and Technology Growth Alliance and is a partnership project which provides practical support to small and medium-sized enterprises wanting to assess product and process machinery opportunities which are likely to benefit the North-East economy.

Gary Blackburn of RTC North explained that Integra is a partnership project bringing together the complementary skills of the North-East Innovation Centre, CADCAM Centre, Cleveland Innovation and RTC North.

All manufacturing companies with less than 250 employees and/or a turnover of less than £26m are eligible to apply. The main project requirements are that the ideas received are novel and will benefit the local economy.

"Integra seeks to take a concept from the idea stage all the way through to the market in the case of products or to the factory floor in the case of processes," said Mr Blackburn. "We would positively welcome more companies to join up and benefit from our services."

Integra clients can access a range of services including: idea evaluation, market research, industrial design, engineering design, CAD/CAM, solid modelling and prototype development. These services are provided either free or heavily subsidised.

For more information contact Martin Eastall of CADCAM Centre on ( 01642) 226211.