UHI KT Partner VC Conference

Laura Noble

© Interface

To facilitate businesses of all sizes and sectors to connect rapidly to the skills, expertise and resources available in the Scottish Higher Education sector

•Scottish Enterprise•Highlands & Islands Enterprise•Scottish Government•Chambers of Commerce•Trade Associations•CBI Scotland•IoD Scotland•Accountants, Lawyers & Banks•Networking Groups•Business Advisors

Intermediary Organisations Academic Partners

All Scottish Universities& Research Institutes

Business Community

Referrals

Via intermediaryorganisations

Direct Contact

Via events, word of mouth,

press, etc.

Interface - The Matchmaker for Business

© Interface

© Interface

What support for business is available within Scotland’s Universities?

Research & technology capabilities

Contract research & collaboration

Specialist expertise

Access to equipment & facilities

Consultancy

Industrial placements

Training, support & development

Strategy, marketing & planning support

© Interface

How does this work in practice?

• Identify suitable partners• Establish capability & capacity• Company selects partner• Facilitates introductions• Monitors progress

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Good Partnerships All partnerships are fuelled by trust - be

open and honest and look for win win solution Project Champion Be clear about the solution required &

agree timescales - progress check throughout the project

Activity does not always equate to progress - milestones in place and project ownership needs to be clear

In development:77 under evaluation207 in discussions

Not Progressing:227 after evaluation312 after discussions

31 other outcomes

Interface Filter:• Referred elsewhere• Information / advice• Not suitable

Awareness

Outcomes

Access to facilities

PlacementsConsultancyTechnology

licensesResearch

collaboration

290Projects

1112 ExpertiseSearches

Direct to Expertise Search

786

2276 Enquiries Received By Interface

Refined Specification & Progressed to Expertise Search

326

Current Enquiry Pipeline

228420 not suitable/ did not progress / agree

specification

410 - Information only

106 - Filtered Elsewhere

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Knowledge & People Exchange Opportunities

Student Projects

CASE Studentships

Consultancy

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

Access Facilities

Research Collaborations

Feasibility Study SEEKIT feasibility funding

Innovation Vouchers

SMART

TSB Collaborative GrantsFramework 7

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Customers we have assisted

© Interface

© Interface

© Interface

Laura Noble

laura@interface-online.org.ukwww.interface-online.org.uk