The REACTOR Project ran from October 2016 to September 2019. During that time REACTOR:
• worked with 83 eligible SMEs
• delivered 164.3 hours of events
• awarded 29 grants to eligible SMEs, a total of £249,810 in match funded grants
Reactor offered different types of support to local businesses.
Games development and academic support: REACTOR provided mentoring support through its many events and activities where SMEs could meet with experts in the field of games creation, theory and technology as well as business development.
REACTOR was part of the academic community, with specialisms across the board. At our events this support enabled SMEs to work with these mentors to focus on understanding a particular market or in an early stage of concept development.
Specialist games software and hi spec hardware: The REACTOR incubator space in Cambridge provided a make-space giving access to specialist games software and high spec development and rendering machines to create slick and professional products.
Access to a cross discipline network cluster: Our incubator space created a great place to meet with games developers, technical support and expert academic advice to assist in developing innovative products. Our programme of events and Meetups will introduced SMEs to games development specialist and wider business contacts in the local business development and support network.
REACTOR offered three types of grants to eligible SMEs:
1. 1-2-1 consultancy: support for SMEs wishing to access 1-2-1 consultancy, tailored to individual requirements; help to reduce the uncertainty about an innovation; guidance on solving specific problems and ultimately enabling the business to launch a new product or service. At least 12 hours of bespoke mentoring (maximum eligible costs £1,200; maximum grant £600).
2. Innovation support - product new to organisation: support for SMEs wishing to procure support from any business (large or small), consultant or professional adviser; or from any research entity or university. At least 12 hours of innovation support to launch a product new to the firm (maximum eligible costs up to £12,000: maximum grant £6,000).
3. Innovation support - product new to market: support for SMEs wishing to procure support from any business (large or small), consultant or professional adviser; or from any research entity or university. At least 12 hours of innovation support to launch a product new to the market (maximum eligible costs up to £12,000: maximum grant £6,000).
All REACTOR grants were 50% matched funded by the SME.