The Manufacturing Advisory Service – West Midlands (MAS-WM) has unveiled plans to invest a further £500,000 into its new product development gateway programme.

The scheme has so far helped eight companies bring their creations to market, MAS-WM said.

MAS-WM said it will now meet with a further 50 businesses between now and the end of the year with a  view to providing mentoring support and matched development costs.

Roy Pulley, NPD project manager, said: “The West Midlands is alive with innovation and new product ideas, yet turning them into reality is extremely risky and costly, preventing many firms from making the most of their groundbreaking concepts.

“NPD Gateway gives manufacturers access to key areas of support. This includes a structured process and methodology to mitigate technical and commercial risk, one-to-one mentoring and funding towards bringing in specialist assistance with design, prototyping, market research and securing patents.”

Products including an anti-flare BBQ technology, a new cocktail range, advancements in LED lighting for film and theatre, and the Raptor, a three-wheeled electric stand-on vehicle, have all been assisted by the Gateway scheme.