Knowledge Transfer & Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

1. Knowledge Transfer & Knowledge Transfer Partnerships Philip Ternouth

2. KTP’s are ‘Europe’s most successful Knowledge Transfer Programme…’Why ?How do they work ?

3. Presentation Outline • Overview of Knowledge Transfer • Outline Programme • objectives and achievements • Why it works

4. Knowledge Transfer • Use of Knowledge Generated in Universities to increase:- • Range of Products and Services produced by industry • Competitiveness of Business & Manufacturing Processes • Skills & Capabilities used by Business • BUT • Note importance of “Knowledge Exchange”

5. How Knowledge Transfer Happens

6. University Industry Links • Patents and Licenses junior partner of knowledge transfer for Innovation • Other channels 2-3 times as significant • Licensing Incomes dramatically skewed and less than 3% of US research funding • Source – Hughes, A (2003) “Knowledge Transfer, Entrepreneurship and Economic Growth; Some reflections on Policy Implications in the Netherlands: Knowledge Transfer developing High Tech ventures EIM Business Policy and Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs The Hague

7. Effectiveness of Knowledge Transfer • The most effective form of Knowledge Transfer is People Transfer • Patenting, Licensing and spin-out development are far less important than Business University collaboration • KTP’s are deliberately designed to use people as the means of transfer.

8. KTP Mission • ‘To strengthen the competitiveness, wealth creation and economic performance of the UK by the enhancement of knowledge transfer and skills and the stimulation of innovation through collaborative projects between business and the knowledge base.’

9. Introduction • 1975 launched as Teaching Companies Scheme (TCS). • 2003 Knowledge Transfer Partnerships replaced TCS and Colleges & Businesses Partnership scheme (CBP). • 4000+ programs completed • 1000+ live in 2006

10. What is a ‘partnership’? • A relationship is formed between a company and an academic institution (‘Knowledge Base’ Partner), which facilitates the transfer of knowledge, technology and skills to which the company partner currently has no access. • Each partnership employs (one or more) recently qualified people (Associate) to work in a company on a project of strategic importance to the business, whilst also being supervised by the Knowledge Base Partner.

11. Projects vary in length between 12 and 36 months. The Associates are either postgraduate researchers; university graduates; or equivalent.

12. Partnership Structure

13. Features • Project length 12 – 36 months • Associates recruited by KB and Company partners • Employed by KB partner • Project located at business premises with company supervisor • KB Supervisor spends ~ half day per week at company premises

14. Knowledge Basebenefits • Income • Published papers • Teaching materials, case studies and projects (82%) • New research themes - commercial relevance (80%) • Staff development – commercial awareness (88%) • Higher degree registrations • Graduate career opportunities • IP – negotiated with the company • Strategic relationship with company

15. Economic benefits • Benefits per Associate project: • Annual profit up >£227k (highest £20m) • Invest. in plant & machinery >£106k (highest £7m) • New jobs created ~ 3 • IP applied commercially > 65% • New research projects initiated ~ 3

16. Company benefits • Benefits per £1m Government spend: • Jobs created 77 • Company staff trained 263 • Annual increase in profit before tax > £3m • Investment in plant and machinery > £1.5m

17. Company benefits • Increased Capabilities & Profits • Long-term, strategic relationship with KB partner • Recruitment of the ‘right’ people • Transfer of knowledge/expertise • Embedding of innovation culture

18. Key Criteria • Project must be of Strategic Importance to Company • Good Business Case • Genuine Knowledge Transfer • Interest and Challenge for Academic Partner • Training & Learning Experience for Associate – genuine “Commercial Exposure”

19. The Associate • Recently qualified with: • First degree ~ 77% hold 1st or 2(i) • Higher degree ~ 38% • NVQ level 4 • Average age 28 years

20. Example – HE 1 • Company: CDL Limited • (15 employees) • Knowledge base: Aberdeen University • (Department of Physics) • Project aim: To develop a sub-sea surveying system based on laser technology for providing measurements for the fabrication and installation of pipeline jointing-pieces. (1 Associate).

21. Example HE 1outcomes • Company outcomes: Annual profits increase >£150k • 4 new staff • KB outcomes: 5 undergrad and 1 post-grad. projects IPR agreement to share profit Access to test tank facility Enhanced teaching • Associate outcomes: MSc degree Development Manager

22. Example – HE 2 • Company: Priory Group (Previously Farleigh Schools) • (4,000 employees) • Knowledge base: University of Bath • (Department of Education) • Project aim: To develop and implement a computer based information and distance learning facility. Asperger’s Syndrome (1 Associate)

23. Example HE 2outcomes • Company outcomes: Increased Corporate IQ of Asperger’s Syndrome • Now at centre of AS Community • Able to offer development of e-learning to other organisations • KB outcomes: Case studies for the Masters programme 3 published papers Developed new certificate programme in special needs care and support Enhanced teaching • Associate outcomes: MPhil Offered job but moved to Education

24. Why it Works • People Based (not technology) • Well developed & understood operating model • Researchers • Company • Supervision of Associate • Translated into other Countries • Eg THRIP in South Africa

25. Knowledge Transfer & University Benefits • Increased Collaboration with Business • Relevance of Teaching and Research • Public Research Income • Increase Industry Sponsored Research Income • Increased Employability of Graduates • Identification of new Research Problems • Consultancy / Licensing Income • Develop “Enterprise Culture” • Entrepreneurship Education