Businesses are enjoying the fruits of working with universities, including accelerated R&D, tax benefits, funding support, specialist facilities, expertise, and new product and service development.
The benefits delivered to businesses from working with UK universities are increasing all the time. The evidence is clear; the Higher Education-Business Community Interaction data from 2013-2014 shows a continuing increase in knowledge exchange and commercialisation activity between UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and the private sector, and the UK continues to climb the World Economic Forum's rankings for university-industry collaborations. Businesses are enjoying the fruits of working with universities, including accelerated R&D, tax benefits, funding support, specialist facilities, expertise, and new product and service development.
"We aim to build strong links between our research and development teams and leading academic groups, so that we can rapidly convert their cutting edge science into innovative products that meet the needs of our customers."
Jenny Barnett, Director of Healthcare Innovation at Cambridge Cognition
For those businesses looking to start working with universities, it can be a little daunting to make the first approach, or find out what universities have to offer in the first place. To help SMEs use knowledge exchange with universities to boost their business, and know how and when to engage, PraxisUnico, the UK's professional association for knowledge exchange and commercialisation, is running a free workshop, funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, "Working effectively with universities".
The one day workshop on 1st March 2016 is aimed at R&D Managers, Product Managers and/or Technical Officers who work in SMEs and haven't previously worked in collaboration with universities. The course will highlight the various services and mechanisms which are available to businesses, as well as funding and tax benefits that can be delivered through collaborative working with HEIs.
Examples of collaborative links with universities include 'contract research', consultancy services, use of facilities and equipment, training and professional development, and longer term strategic partnerships. This approach to collaborative knowledge exchange can be summed up by Carl Perrin, Director of Coventry University and Unipart's Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering: “Its aim is to deliver partnerships that benefit both [university and business], to deliver impact through knowledge exchange. As a two-way process with industry, knowledge exchange needs to work collaboratively, and to facilitate that collaboration as equal partners."
"The interaction is ongoing and has brought commercial, scientific and technical benefits to both of us" Greg Prescott, MD, Campden Instruments
"Working effectively with universities" runs from 09.30 until 15.30, with a networking session and university showcase from 15.30-18.30. Interactive sessions will cover:
· Why work with a university
· How to find and approach the right university partner
· What products and mechanisms can universities offer
· Funding available
· Structuring successful agreements
The workshop takes place at the NCVO in London, a short walk from Kings Cross train station. Register or find out more information.