Our Aims for this Session

• Learn how to identify potential Public Research Organisations (PROs) to collaborate with

• Offer guidelines on selecting PROs to work with• Provide you with good practice guidelines for collaboration

activities• Outline the range of EU and National funding available, so that

you can initially assess their suitability; and provide contact details for you to explore the option more fully

In a Nutshell

Identifying Good Partners

Exercise

• For one of the Businesses or projects in the class, in groups, come up with ten ways to identify potential HEI partners for this business/project (5 mins.)

Sources

• The internet!• Your Own Communication Channels: website, newsletters • University Research Portal sites eg http://eprints.ulster.ac.uk/• University Technology Offer sites eg http://openulster.com/• Scientific/Academic Publications• Patents• Scientific Conferences• Seminars and other form of direct interaction• Projects within the EU Framework Programme• Intermediaries - local• Intermediaries - EU• Internal Company Contacts – your staff!• Professional Social Networks eg Linkedin

So what makes a “good” partnership??

What makes a good partnership?

Research Shows

Good outcomes are a result of demonstrated commitment

Our Advice

Our Advice

• Start small (especially for first time SMEs)• Recognise the differing motivations• Avail of Funding• Treat collaboration strategically• Align interests• Organize for lasting relationships• Provide the right professional skills• Establish clear intent• Use standard practices (next session) and communicate regularly• Achieve effective management of intellectual property• Provide relevant training

Small Scale Collaborations - In a Nutshell

Preparation

• Meeting of University Professor & Senior Management

• Objectives of project collaboratively defined• Discreet and not complex• Define the project tasks• Agree intermediate Milestones• Aim is to solve the company’s organisational or

technical problem

Some Case Studies

http://oi.ulster.ac.uk/information-for-business/support-for-business/innovation-vouchers/case-studies

More Video Case study

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pudH0Ut38I&feature=player_embedded

The University perspective (Waterford IT)

Shasta Baby Products – Innovation Voucher

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ape1boxZWAY

Large Scale Collaboration

Guiding principles

Publish without delay

Competent use of available knowledge

Prioritise training new Graduates

Effective steps to secure commercialisation

How to achieve Positive Outcomes

overcoming common difficulties such as diverging cultures, volatile relationships

address human tendency to “keep things close to the chest.”

understand and respect what is important to others as well as to themselves

Keys to Success

• Eliminate problems early,• Negotiate IP management, • Agree ownership of results, • Decide on exclusivity of use,• Provide for equitable

compensation,• Ensure fair returns in the event of

successful commercialisation

Collaborative Research Agreement

What is a Collaborative Research Agreement??

In groups, outline what you think might/should be included in a CRA

• What will be key considerations for an SME?

• What will be key considerations for a HEI

What’s included in a CRA

• Definitions, identification of parties, objectives and partner selection

• Confidential information• Scope• Resources• Funding and pricing• Governance and coordination• Reporting

Identifying Funding

7th Framework Programme

&

National Sources

What is the 7th Framework Programme

http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/home_en.html

7th Framework

The Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) bundles all research-related EU initiatives together under a common roof playing a crucial role in reaching the goals of growth, competitiveness and employment; along with a new Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP), Education and Training programmes, and Structural and Cohesion Funds for regional convergence and competitiveness. It is also a key pillar for the European Research Area (ERA).

The broad objectives of FP7 have been grouped into four categories: Cooperation, Ideas, Peopleand Capacities. For each type of objective, there is a specific programme corresponding to the main areas of EU research policy. All specific programmes work together to promote and encourage the creation of European poles of (scientific) excellence.

Local Sources of Funding - NI

• Invest NI• Knowledge Transfer Programme• Innovation Vouchers• Intertrade Ireland

Invest NI support for Innovation Collaboration

Technical Advisory Unit (TAU)

Technical Development Incentive (TDI) Scheme

Innovation Vouchers

TAU - What do they do?

Guidance & support on a wide range of technical issues:

•Technical information and problem solving

•Advice and information on technical and legislative issues

•Intellectual Property advice

•Management Systems (quality, environmental, safety etc)

•Technical Compliance Issues eg CE Marking

Financial support:

•Technical Development Incentive (TDI) Scheme

•Innovation Vouchers

Technical Development Incentive

Financial support to SMEs to address technical and quality

related issues such as:

•New technologies or processes

•Product & process problem resolution

•Product approval/ type testing

•Intellectual Property

•Improved product design & performance

•Quality/Integrated management systems

•Max grant of £5,000 (at up to 50% of project costs)

•Projects costing between £500 and £15,000 • Further information – Kieran McGuinness 028 9069 8818

Innovation Vouchers

£4000 voucher to encourage small registered enterprises to engage with a Knowledge Provider to develop an innovative solution to a business issue

Companies can apply for up to 3 vouchers for different projects but may only have 1 ‘live’ voucher at a time

Pooled voucher option for collaborative projects (up to 10 companies)

Around 700 vouchers issued to date

Knowledge Providers

41 Knowledge Providers throughout Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland

Universities, Colleges, Institutes of Technology and other research bodies

More information at www.innovationvouchers.com

The company chooses which Knowledge Provider to use

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP)

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships is Europe’s leading programme helping businesses to improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills that reside within the UK knowledge base.

KTP

KTP Features

• Project length 12-36 months

• At least 1 Graduate (KTP Associate)

• Associates recruited jointly and employed by the University

• Project located on company premises with joint company and academic supervisor

• Academic Supervisor spends ~ ½ day per week on the project

• Funded by Government grant and the company partner

KTP Costs - 1 Associate for 1 Year

+ Graduate salary available (company decides) £27k

+ Associate Development circa £6k

+ Travel and Subsistence

+ Equipment and Consumables

+ University Expertise circa £10k

Total package circa £43k• Cost to SME per year ~£17k • Cost to Large Company ~£26k

KTP

KTP

Intertrade Ireland Fusion

Similar to a KTP BUT on a Cross Border basis

FUSION, support packages worth up to £29,500/€33,150 are available for you to undertake a 12 month innovation project.

Partnered with a third-level institution with the specialist expertise you need and a high calibre science, engineering or technology graduate.

A graduate is employed by you and is based in your company throughout the project with mentoring from the academic partner and InterTradeIreland FUSION consultant.

Questions?