WORCESTERSHIRE companies are being urged to be part of a ground-breaking programme aimed at encouraging innovation.

The Innovative Actions West Midlands programme is open to any business, inventor, public or private sector organisation that has a West Midlands' registered address.

It has been designed to provide a platform to test highly innovative and sometimes uncertain solutions to everyday problems.

Amanda Orchard, Innovative Actions programme manager at regional development agency, Advantage West Midlands, which is behind the scheme, said it was "vitally important" to assist any individual or business who had the capacity and determination to innovate.

"Innovation is not a luxury but a necessity in today's global marketplace," she said.

"It is in everyone's best interests to think of better ways of doing things. The Innovative Actions programme is all about funding people's ideas, with the aim of making a real difference to the way the region manages economic development.

"We have substantial funds on offer which can be utilised by innovative companies across the region. "

The programme does not fund direct product development or prototyping.

For more information click on: www.innovativeactions.org or phone 02476 236284.