At a recent conference on knowledge transfer organised by the Association for University and Industry Links (Auril), David Sweeney, the Director of Research, Innovation and Skills at the Higher Education Funding Council for England, called on academic institutions "to be the engines of recovery" and "to drive the post-recession economy".
These words have a powerful resonance and place an added emphasis on both businesses and academic institutions to work in collaboration in order to help revive the UK economy.
The problem for many businesses looking to collaborate with an academic institution, particularly within a tough environment, is understanding where and how to start on this road to innovation. Many SME's in particular have desires to innovate but have had little or no experience of the process.
The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) programme provides a platform for companies wanting to begin the innovation journey. KTP works with businesses of all sizes and across all sectors of the UK economy and gives businesses the opportunity to access the knowledge and skills of academics within UK universities and colleges.
Driven by the specific needs of each participating business, the scheme takes a structured but flexible approach. Each Partnership employs one or more high calibre Associates (recently qualified graduates) on a specific project. The Associate works within the business for the lifetime of the project and from the start is charged with the ownership and delivery of the project.
In a move to encourage SMEs that have had little or no experience of innovation, the government has recently opened up the option for businesses to work with the programme on shorter-term projects. These shorter projects, lasting approximately 10 to 40 weeks, offer organisations the opportunity to undertake projects to help drive forward business transformation and stimulate growth within a short time frame - aiming to address specific business issues and begin the process of embedding a culture of innovation within the company.
In a move to encourage SMEs the government has recently opened up the option for businesses to work with the programme on shorter-term projects
Having tasted innovation through shorter KTPs, companies may wish to participate in longer, more strategic projects. KTP projects lasting from 12 months to three years aim to provide organisations with a richer experience of innovation - and it is here that the culture can begin to shift significantly - as innovation as a way of thinking is fully anchored within the company. KTP projects at this level can mark the difference between being a leader or a follower.
One company to take advantage of the knowledge and skills that reside with the UK's knowledge base is Ruislip-based Wright Machinery Ltd. The company provides bespoke design consultancy, manufacturing installation and commissioning of conveyor machinery to major food manufacturers around the world including Kellogg's, Walker's Crisps and Tesco.
To remain competitive, the company needs to continually innovate to improve its quality and speed of delivery and drive down costs. To this end, the company undertook a two-year KTP with two graduate Associates and the London South Bank University (LSBU).
The aim of the first Associate's KTP project was to design, develop and produce a new vibratory conveyor and reduce the overall manufacturing costs of the current line of products. The second KTP Associate was tasked with developing a company-wide planning, scheduling and control tool to generate achievable delivery dates within budget.
Working in collaboration with the LSBU, the company developed a new range of modular conveyors using innovative patented technology and introduced IT tools for design, planning and scheduling, creating cultural changes in operations. As a result, the company achieved significant new sales and increased profits from new products and cost savings due to the improved manufacturing and operational efficiencies.
James Walsh, Managing Director, Wright Machinery said of the project:"The principle of KTP has been excellent and we are delighted with the expected outcome. For businesses embarking on a KTP project, the benefits are exponential."
KTP is a tried and tested model, which has helped businesses survive three economic recessions and has worked with over 5,000 companies. With even greater opportunities being presented to facilitate knowledge transfer there is no better time for business to gain a competitive advantage and take the innovation journey.
For more information visit www.ktponline.org.uk
