No matter how simple it looks on the surface, most technology only works because someone somewhere has spent hours, days and sometimes years making it all work.

Developing a new product or service and bringing it to market is no easy task and needs a very special team of people to drive it forward.

The national new business failure rate is astronomical. Some experts suggest that up to 95 per cent of all new businesses collapse in the first three years of trading.

Imagine how hard it must be to convince financial backers, manufacturers and potential customers that a completely new idea will not just work but will make substantial amounts of money.

Sussex is more fortunate than most regions because it has an incredible resource for new technology businesses on the outskirts of Brighton.

The Sussex Innovation Centre (SInC) on the University of Sussex campus is a hotbed of advisers, entrepreneurs and technical wizards.

With more than 40 companies based on site, SInC offers a huge amount of support to people with good ideas.

Companies that are accepted into SInC are, statistically, much better off than those who choose to 'go it alone'.

With a near 95 per cent success rate, SInC offers any new technology company an excellent opportunity to achieve its maximum potential and it doesn't stop there.

This year alone, two companies have 'graduated' from SInC and have been sold for several millions of pounds and there are a lot more tenant companies just like them that will go the same route.

Others, like Brighton-based ATS (Applied Technology Systems) have moved on from SInC and successfully carved out a niche in the business community.

ATS, like many other ex-SInC companies, has retained close links with the centre.

Paolo Vecchi, managing director of ATS, recently returned to the centre to donate an Axis digital security camera that allows centre staff to monitor the centre's reception area from the comfort of their desks.

The new closed-circuit camera system runs directly from their networked PC desktops and the hardware costs just £300.

Mr Vecchi said: "I wanted to put something back. The centre has helped me in so many ways, it was a pleasure to give them this new system.

"I am sure it will improve security and make the centre more efficient."

The Innovation Centre is always keen to talk to entrepreneurs and welcomes people who want to discuss their business ideas.

SInC expertise includes project management, financial and bookkeeping advice, a team of graduate researchers, business planning expertise and much more.

If you have got a good idea then you could do yourself a favour by calling the Sussex Innovation Centre on 01273 704400.

You never know where the call could lead you.

For more information about the Axis security camera system call 01273 243895.

www.sinc.co.uk
www.applied-tech.com