Communicating research to industry: How to write a great project summary
31 Oct 2019
In recent years many companies have expanded their open innovation initiatives, with universities capturing the spotlight as an invaluable source of new technologies and game-changing breakthroughs. However, as part of a global web of science and innovation, it can be difficult for academics to get their research in front of the right people in industry. Attracting interest from relevant research and development (R&D) professionals, who often have limited time to evaluate each academic discovery that lands on their desk, is a challenge. Effectively communicating science to industry is crucial to the successful commercialisation of university research.
Engaging students in knowledge exchange: 10 million what works competition
28 Oct 2019
Universities and Science Minister Chris Skidmore announced a £10 million competition to help boost the benefits to students of getting involved in knowledge exchange activities.
The joint call, by the Office for Students (OfS) and Research England, will support a range of projects exploring how students benefit from involvement in knowledge exchange – the work universities do to share their knowledge and skills outside of the academic community for the benefit of society and the economy.
University knowledge exchange is a success story. It covers a range of activity: partnerships with businesses, engagement with communities and third sector organisations, and professional training. In 2017-18, English universities generated over £3.7 billion from knowledge exchange activity. As part of this, they helped to create over 3,500 graduate start-up businesses, attracting over £146 million of investment.
RTTP interviews: Anji Miller from LifeArc and the 2019 LifeArc-AUTM Technology Transfer fellows
15 Oct 2019
This Autumn, we caught up again with Dr Anji Miller CLP RTTP, Senior Business Manager at LifeArc, as she introduced to us the all-female 2019 LifeArc-AUTM Technology Transfer fellows. Seven very inspiring women who are making the move from the lab to Technology Transfer.
Reflecting competency and experience in Knowledge Exchange/Technology Transfer with the RTTP accreditation. We interviewed Dr Anji Miller CLP RTTP, Senior Business Manager at LifeArc, about her route to RTTP, how Candidate RTTP can help early-career KE practitioners plan their professional development, and tips and suggestions on how to successfully apply.
New RTTPs and Candidate RTTPs in Quarter 3 2019
14 Oct 2019
It is truly fantastic to see such a wide variety of newly accredited RTTPs and Candidate RTTPs join their respective groups this September. Although we see many more female KE practitioners this quarter (70/30), the demographics include both academic and industry, and backgrounds in Chemistry, Biology, Software, Finance, Product Design, Engineering and Mathematics. The latter being particularly exciting for PraxisAuril as we welcome our first RTTP specialising in Mathematics.
HEIF hits new heights as KEF roll-out is confirmed for 2020
14 Oct 2019
PraxisAuril has welcomed announcements by Chris Skidmore, Universities Minister, that signify a ‘new strategic direction for university knowledge exchange funding’ including a rise in HEIF to £250 million from 2020/21.
The announcements, which were made at Research England’s Engagement Forum in London (26th September), confirm the place of Knowledge Exchange alongside teaching and research as a core university mission. This underpins the central role given to KE in the Government’s Industrial Strategy (2017).
Staff Development
19 Sep 2019
I’ve always been interested in learning and development, whether that’s my own development or helping others to grow and develop. The first job I had in development was many moons ago and focused on PhD researcher development. Some of the happiest memories of my working life so far are from experiential learning activities, where newly-formed teams of PhD students would work together to save the World from imminent ‘nuclear disaster’ (using ropes and buckets); build parachutes for eggs, or stand blindfolded in a field whilst one of their team tried to move them from A to B using just a whistle. I’m not entirely sure that last one would get through health and safety these days though…..
Is there an appetite for global university-industry collaboration?
11 Sep 2019
If long-distance relationships are hard enough, imagine trying to start and maintain a collaborative research project between teams in academia and industry who are based on different sides of the globe. It might make things easier if you can find a partner in your neighbourhood (or country), but science is a global enterprise. Getting innovation out of academic labs and onto the market requires collaborating with industry across borders.
New member welcome: Summer 2019
14 Aug 2019
We are delighted to welcome our new members to the PraxisAuril network!
General aspects of working in HE
30 Jul 2019
I went to university in 1990 as an enthusiastic, naïve 18 year old. Twenty-nine years, two degrees, four universities and eight jobs later, I am still here. Older, wiser, enthusiastic (but now with added cynicism) and almost certainly institutionalised.
I’ve been based in hospital labs as a researcher, taught human anatomy to medical students, and physiology to physicists. I’ve networked, negotiated, met deadlines, dangling from zip wires and shown PhD students the wonders of teambuilding games such as ‘floaty stick’ and ‘egg drop.’
For 16 years, I worked at one of the largest Russell Group universities in the country, until four years ago I took a leap of faith to start a new job and new life at Lancaster University; a university much smaller than I’d been used to, but one which instantly felt like home.
Best Practice in Knowledge Exchange
22 Jul 2019
Kala Kennedy, Knowledge Exchange Facilitator at Cranfield University, reflects on the first meeting of the KE Best Practice Group (KE BPG). The KE BPG was set up to provide support for KE professionals to discuss roles and responsibilities and exchange advice on some of the issues encountered day-to-day.