The new Tradeshow Access Programme (TAP) from UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) shows a strong commitment to supporting SMEs in the medical technologies sector.
UKTI will make grants available to fund visits by small companies to major trade shows in the coming year, including medtech-related events such as Hospitalar, Rehacare and Medica.
Figures released by the Office of National Statistics show that UK exports have risen by 6.1% over the last three months.
Lord Davies, Minister for Trade, Investment and Small Business, said: "In the year since I became a Minister, I have met hundreds of innovative businesses, many of them SMEs, whose fortunes were transformed by going global. It is good business sense not to tie your firm's future to one market alone.
"UK firms should make a New Year's resolution to find out about the real help on offer via UK Trade & Investment. Make 2010 the year when you take it to the world."
UKTI helps firms to reach overseas markets by offering grants under its Tradeshow Access Programme (TAP) of up to £1,800 for businesses to take part in trade shows overseas.
Ron Archibald, Director of the Tradeshow Access Programme, said: "We are on course for the best year for the TAP programme, supporting more businesses than ever before. Given the value of the pound, it's a good time to export and we are helping firms to get directly to their customers."
The new TAP list includes grants for 12 trade shows relevant to medical technology companies:
China Medical Equipment Fair (CMEF) 18/04/2010
Hospitalar 25/05/2010
Fime 11/08/2010
Aid & Trade 26/08/2010
Hospimedica Asia 15/09/2010
Analytica China 15/09/2010
Nanotech Northern Europe 27/09/2010
Rehacare 06/10/2010
Advamed 18/10/2010
Medica 17/11/2010
ComPaMED 17/11/2010
Arab Health 2011 01/01/2011
Lord Davies