AMG Systems – a leading provider of transmission technology – is one of the first companies to be awarded a grant as part of the High Performance Technologies (HPT) R&D Investment Programme under a joint LEP initiative led by Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership (NEP) and South East Midlands Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) to support businesses in the sector. The overall aim is to build a core Ethernet technology base within the UK.
The British manufacturer of sophisticated CCTV transmission solutions and megapixel cameras has been awarded a six-figure sum for enhanced R&D as it continues its growth path into new industry sectors.
As stated, the grant has been awarded under the LEP programme which aims to lever no less than £12 million in private sector investment and create 500 jobs and apprenticeships by March 2018.
Outside of AMG Systems, businesses that have received grant approval to date (to the combined total of £1.9 million) are GE Precision Engineering, Ecospeed Marine and Cosworth.
Dr Alan Hayes – founder and managing director of AMG Systems – commented: “I’m incredibly proud that we’ve been given this grant. AMG’s technology has always been very leading edge. We harbour unique expertise and knowledge within the company and the grant is incredibly significant for us as a business.”
Dr Alan Hayes: founder and managing director of AMG Systems
Hayes continued: “AMG has spent the past few years self-funding a sizeable R&D programme. In 2013, this resulted in us bringing to market a series of multi-service Ethernet switches affectionately known as the ‘AMG Wonderbox’. Working with a defined development strategy, we’ve made the company a Centre of Excellence in the UK for all types of transmission technologies and, in particular, Ethernet. This is very significant in view of the fact that the UK generally lacks technical expertise in the area of designing Ethernet hardware from the ground up. Most of the expertise is located in the Far East.”
According to Hayes, it’s important for the UK to have this expertise on home shores. “We often work on very sensitive security projects,” added Hayes, “where the customers understand and appreciate that the network products don’t contain untoward software which could be a threat. That’s vital.”
The LEP initiative has been made possible thanks to £4 million worth of funding from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund.
The HPT R&D Investment Programme supports businesses based in Northamptonshire and the adjoining South East Midlands area with grants of up to £1 million to undertake innovative large-scale R&D activity.
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