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Moira Forsyth - Innovation & Enterprise Services Rural Innovation Through Knowledge Transfer

Moira Forsyth offers innovation and enterprise services in rural areas, facilitating knowledge transfer between universities and private sector companies. Overcoming challenges such as limited markets and lack of networking, the aim is to strengthen levels of innovation and commercialization in small and micro rural businesses.

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Moira Forsyth - Innovation & Enterprise Services Rural Innovation Through Knowledge Transfer

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  1. Moira Forsyth - Innovation & Enterprise Services Rural Innovation Through Knowledge Transfer

  2. Why Innovation? 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”

  3. Why Rural Innovation? • 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.

  4. South of Scotland

  5. What do we do?

  6. How do we do it? • 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

  7. OBJECTIVES 2013 - 2015 Hard Targets 250 new leads (new enquiries). 107 academic searches. 42 funded research projects. 22 Development Projects Soft Targets Cultural Change – Engaging with universities. Confidence to innovate and take risks. Switch Universities on to Opportunities in Rural Areas.

  8. What have we achieved April 2013 – Feb 2014? Achieved Target +/- Number of Enquiries 162 105 +58 Number of Academic Searches 75 57 +18 Number of Collaborative Discussions 63 57 +6 Number of Research Projects 16 17 -1 Number of Development Projects 0 3 -3

  9. Some Examples… Gourmet Butter Company

  10. Annandale Distillery

  11. What next and why am I here? • 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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