Knowledge Transfer involving Higher Education Institutions in Wales

1
Knowledge Transfer involving Higher Education
Institutions in Wales

• Karen Turnbull
• Chair of the Welsh Industrial Liaison Officers
  Network

2
Overview

• Setting the Scene Welsh Context
• Knowledge Transfer (KT) examples from Welsh
  Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)
• Challenges ahead

3
Wales at a Glance

• 2.9 million population 5 of the UK
• 99.3 of businesses lt 50 employees
• 12 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)
• Largest HEI 26,789 enrolments
• Smallest HEI 2,057 enrolments
• Higher Education Institutions engaged in between
  7 and 13.5 of key knowledge transfer activities
  in the UK

4
Important Business Sectors

• Aerospace and defence
• Automotive
• Agri-food
• Bioscience
• Construction

• Creative Industries
• Energy and sustainability
• Financial services
• Technology
• Tourism

5
Knowledge Transfer in Wales

• Welsh Industrial Liaison Officers Network
• Third Mission Fund and Strategies
• Knowledge Exploitation Fund
• Centres of Excellence
• Techniums
• Intellectual Property Inventory for Wales
• Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
• GO (Graduate Opportunities) Wales

6
Innovative Doctoral Programme with Businesses

• Project Objectives
• Prepare individuals to contribute to research as
  professionals.
• Develop and recognise the transferable skills of
  researchers.
• Increase the research capacities of SMEs by
  linking with a Ph.D. project.
• Encourage SMEs to undertake research and recruit
  researchers.
• Support development of key technologies in an
  Objective 1 area.

7
Innovative Doctoral Programme with Businesses

• Phase I Bangor (50 Ph.D.s)
• Phase II Bangor, Swansea and Aberystwyth (80
  Ph.D.s)
• Phase III Pan Wales (Ph.D.s and MRes)
• Highly accessible package for participating
  companies (Micros, SMEs and Large Organisations)
• Recognised at the European level as a pioneering
  skills development and RD infrastructure
  project.

8
Sustainability supporting SMEs

• Supporting Environmental Goods and Services
  sector (directly and indirectly)
• Industry gateway for business
• Expertise, facilities, collaborative projects,
  policy
• Next phase
• Sustainability audit environment, economic,
  social. Repeated over time
• Wider collaboration HE, FE, other organisations
• Links to ESF (doctoral programme, CPD)

9
Integration of Socially Disadvantaged People

• ESF Equal project
• Developed and piloted innovative ways to support
  people from disadvantaged groups in to education,
  training and employment
• Partners in Ireland, Italy and Estonia

10
Challenges ahead

• Good practice from Europe to add value to Wales
  in jobs and growth
• Learning from other Knowledge Transfer networks
• Developing networks and partnerships in key
  sectors
• Engagement with international corporations
• More transnational collaborative research