Transcript Document

Moira Forsyth Innovation & Enterprise
Services
Rural Innovation Through
Knowledge Transfer
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Why Innovation?
Technology
&
Engineering
Scottish Government
Economic Strategy:
“Strengthening levels of
innovation and
commercialisation, including
improving the links between
our universities and private
sector companies”
“Solidarity, Cohesion, and
Sustainability”
Rural
Textiles
Food &
Drink
Tourism
Innovation
Financia
l
Services
Life
Sciences
Energy
Forest &
Timber
Technologies
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Creative
Industries
Why Rural Innovation?
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Over 85% of Scotland’s rural businesses are small or micro.
Highly dispersed business base = lack of networking
Markets are limited in scale and there is limited competition.
Less knowledge intense industry = high % land-based businesses
Lack of regionally-based HEIs
Fewer regionally-produced graduates.
Two-tiered Innovation System.
Low levels of innovation
Few high growth businesses
Lack of engagement with the knowledge base.
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South of Scotland
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What do we do?
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How do we do it?
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2 Business Development Executives based in rural areas.
Intermediaries
Identify gap in the knowledge/resources
Search for a partner
Academic partner match
Route to support
Paperwork
Facilitate
Follow up
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OBJECTIVES 2013 - 2015
Hard Targets
250 new leads (new enquiries).
42 funded research projects.
107 academic searches.
22 Development Projects
Soft Targets
Cultural Change – Engaging with universities.
Confidence to innovate and take risks.
Switch Universities on to Opportunities in Rural Areas.
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What have we achieved April 2013 – Feb 2014?
Number of Enquiries
Number of Academic Searches
Number of Collaborative Discussions
Number of Research Projects
Number of Development Projects
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Achieved
Target
+/-
162
75
63
16
0
105
57
57
17
3
+58
+18
+6
-1
-3
Some Examples…
Gourmet Butter
Company
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Annandale Distillery
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What next and why am I here?
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Funding ends March 2015
Recognition that additional resource is required
Plans in place to continue for another 6 years (2015 – 2021)
Looking at additional barriers to engagement with HEIs.
Greater cohesion with our partners in Highlands & Islands Enterprise
Sub-sector focus – agri-tourism, agri-tech etc
Learning from you!!
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