Ajay Kapadia Knowledge Transfer Manager Advanced Composites 28 th April 2015 Introducing the Knowledge Transfer Network
The Knowledge Transfer Network Connecting people to accelerate innovation Strategic Interdisciplinary Entrepreneurial Commercial Connecting people who wouldn t usually meet to solve innovation challenges. Bringing together businesses and researchers from different sectors. Linking people with new ideas and technologies to partners and customers. Introducing innovators to public and private funders and investors.
Addressing societal challenges and growing new technologies Chris Warkup CEO We are eliminating silos to make it easier to assemble multidisciplinary teams so that we can do more, and do it well. David Lockwood Chair The half-life of knowledge is shortening, so we must connect business with research faster than ever before. 16 Industry communities Core thematic networks covering key application areas and underpinning technologies 20 Cross-sector groups Interdisciplinary programmes building communities around priority challenges 60,000+ Members An engaged online community of innovators served by a single platform 15,000+ Delegates per year Hundreds of events bringing people together to make magic happen
Clustered communities, groups and business programmes Focus is on bringing together groups that would not normally meet Materials Chemistry Environmental Services Agri-Food Biosciences Health ICT Electronics, Sensors & Phototonics Defence & Security Space Built Environment Transport Energy Sustainability, H2020, International, Access to Finance, Design Creative Industries Digital Economy Design
Clustered communities, groups and business programmes Business programmes Sustainability Design Horizon 2020 International Access to funding & finance
What do we do? Helping companies take advantage of innovation opportunities by: Signposting companies to public funding (Innovate UK, EU, MoD, ESA,.) opportunities Signposting companies to private funding opportunities Putting companies in touch with private organisation who offer services in public funding project application, administration and management Putting companies in touch with potential partners (RTOs, SMEs, Academia) from the network who may have technology that can help companies During visits, offering a view on the technology being presented and making suggestions based on knowledge and experience gained from working in the industry After learning about your needs, keeping an eye out for anything that may be of interest to the company and similarly (with their permission) making others aware of the company s offering/services
What do we do (Cont d) If the company and others in the network identify similar needs, putting together groups/workshops/reports to address common issues to benefit the community as a whole Giving company access and helping them find the correct expert from 140 Knowledge Transfer Managers in different disciplines, at least one of whom should be able to answer the innovation enquiry or will know someone in their network who can Posting technology request on KTN Composites noticeboard (anonymously if required) Organizing scoping workshops for Innovate UK Competitions Carrying out market or technology reviews for public bodies Pushing technology from the research base to industry when both are ready Independent in all of the above, not aligned to any organization, industry sector, material or process All services offered to UK based organisations free of charge
Composites on _Connect https://connect.innovateuk.org/web/composites
Similarities and differences to a French Pole Publicly funded National rather than regional but with regional hubs All technologies and sectors key difference Cross cutting themes (e.g. resource efficiency, sustainability, high value manufacturing) Independent of knowledge providers, RTOs, Universities Membership model but membership is free and open to anyone hence many more members Virtual network organising events etc Can be a partner in H2020 collaborative projects for Exploitation and Dissemination WP Sponsored by Innovate UK rather than regional government Much larger, currently 150 staff
Thank you Ajay Kapadia ajay.kapadia@ +44 7964 566380