Transcript Document
The Business of Sustainability Or: “10 minutes on a BSO View” Dr Andrew Toal Head of Business Services Business services Function : to define and support implementation of the Economic and Social Strategy of the University, linked to Corporate Plan Aim : “to become recognised as a leading UK university for the quality and range of its work in economic and social engagement and productive partnerships” • Engagement: build and sustain relationships with business (e.g. ProfitNet) • Assets: manage the university’s IP portfolio (support licence deals; patenting etc.) • Market the University knowledge, skills and capability to industry • Contact: manage a one stop shop for enquiries (the BSID [email protected]) • Activity: Manage a host of projects – SEKE, ProfitNet, BeePurple • Administer funds for commercial projects – PoC, CAF, CommercialiSE, Commercial Fellows • Development Support (BDM’s) - Provide advice and support for commercial projects including business planning, bids, marketing Engaging with business on sustainability • Why engage? – The University has highly experienced academic expertise to offer – The University has high level of interest and energy around the topic – Businesses want to work with us on the issues that they are facing in meeting the sustainability challenge – There are new sources of funds and potential for industrial collaboration to support work which would otherwise go un-funded • How do we go about this? – Conference shows that colleagues are already doing this – Challenge is to determine how best to grow and manage • How do we maximise the opportunities? – Through taking a strategic approach by identifying markets, partnerships and collaborations to develop opportunities in which academics can and wish to engage Many areas of opportunity – some we are already involved with (to be covered in other talks…) • Sustainability of buildings : legislative changes; energy efficiency; low carbon (design; footprint); • Renewable energy and energy efficiency • Resource recovery and resource efficiency • Sustainable development • Earth, Environment, Biodiversity • Funding Sources being Explored: Interreg, FP7, DFID; Dti; Carbon Trust; Seeda; WRAP, Defra; Natural England; Landfill Tax, Local Authorities …. • Key Message: BSO collaborates to support project development Examples of proof of concept & collaboration with business • FIRS (Ferric Iron Remediation & Stabilisation) – electrokinetic technique for containing contaminants and preventing migration through geology – 7 year license agreement with Churngold – 2 year KTP programme – Further innovations developed by the academics • NanoClean – Remediation technology for the treatment of contaminated water – 12 month CommercialiSE funding to develop the concept • Many other projects delivered /under development: compost residue treatments, biofuels, book recycling, consultancy on business land use, sustainable packaging, innovative wooden building materials……. Conclusions • School based BDMs developing a strategic approach to working with academic colleagues and engaging business through identifying markets for research, innovation and consultancy. • Requires an interdisciplinary approach that uses the skills and experience across schools and faculties • Supported by area based and project BDMs (ProfitNet, BSID) which identify companies or public sector partners and promotes the capabilities of the university • This contributes to an improved offering to business by the university and has benefits for academic colleagues _______________________________________________________________ Additional Information available from: www.brighton.ac.uk/business/ [email protected] x 3222 _______________________________________________________________