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Proof that business/university collaborations are productive has been shown by the fact that in the four regions of Scotland – Perthshire, Tayside, Ayrshire and Dumfries & Galloway – covered by two Interface Business Engagement executives, funded by Scottish Enterprise, who work with companies to enable access to university resources, 62 collaborative projects have been established in the past 18 months with a value of more than £487,785.

Added to this, the Interface service helps businesses to improve products, streamline services and develop processes which will enable them to increase their profits, maximise their export potential and create and safeguard jobs in these areas creating further benefits for Scotland’s society and economy.

An Interface survey1 showed that engaging academic support is beneficial to businesses. In that research, 79% companies which had engaged with academia have, or expect to increase their turnover as a result of their project. Fifty per cent of companies stated that their development project would not have gone ahead without academic collaboration.

Dr Siobhán Jordan, director at Interface, comments:

“Such findings demonstrate that where companies do engage with Scottish universities they experience positive outcomes. Therefore, it is a missed opportunity that almost three out of four rural businesses are not currently engaging with universities as, clearly, there is benefit to be had. There may be several reasons for this – they have not heard of Interface, they do not realise that collaborating with Universities can develop their new ideas, they are focused on other means of building their businesses, they do not think they have time and so forth, but we are determined to continue building on the progress we have made to date.

“The Interface Business Engagement executives have been in place for two years now and are delivering positive results. It is encouraging to note that in 2014 the number of collaboration projects was up by 150% on the previous year, from 20 in 2013 to 50 in 2014.

“As well as assisting  companies find academics who can help them develop their products and services, our Business Engagement executives are also able to advise businesses on a range of funding opportunities, notably the Innovation Voucher Scheme which provides businesses with funding of £5,000 – £20,000 to offset the costs of their project. Since the scheme was created in 2009 more than £4.5m has been distributed to encourage and support business and academic collaborations.”

Interface works throughout Scotland, connecting organisations of all sizes and from all sectors to the right academic expertise which enables them to increase R&D activity, which, in turn, leads to the creation and development of new products, services and processes.

This free service has connected almost 1,800 businesses to Scottish academia, helping them to become more competitive and enabling them to increase their profits, maximise their export potential and ultimately become more sustainable.

1 In 2013 Interface carried out a survey of 142 companies which had worked with universities and research institutes.

CASE STUDIES

Annandale Distillery Company Ltd – Dumfries and Galloway

Loadfast Systems Ltd – Perthshire

Tsarina Imperial Dacha – Ayrshire

Trellis – Perthshire

A successful scheme that matches small Scottish businesses with world-leading university expertise has been expanded.

Set up in 2009, the Scottish Funding Council’s Innovation Voucher Scheme provides small and medium-sized businesses with up to £5,000 to work with academic experts to develop their businesses or solve problems that are holding them back. Over 800 businesses have benefitted since the scheme began.

Now, more innovations are set to build on the success of the vouchers. The scheme is to be piloted across Scotland’s 13 regional colleges for business operating in the construction sector. The scheme will also be opened up to include research institutes for the first time.

In a separate development, the existing links between small businesses and universities have opened the way for Masters and PhD students to be placed inside a growing company to accelerate the rate at which they can develop new products and services. Students also gain through the potential to make their mark in a growing company and the chance to be involved at the heart of the business from the start.

Deputy First Minister, John Swinney said:

“Innovation is one of the key enablers of growth and supporting it in all its forms is explicit in both the One Scotland Programme for Government and in the Scotland CAN DO approach. The Innovation Voucher Schemes have been instrumental in providing financial support for many projects and access to academic expertise and facilities. Scotland is internationally recognised and respected for its quality, innovation and collaboration with businesses and educational establishments. I am delighted that this programme is expanding to include Scotland’s colleges, adding value to the Scottish economy and helping to develop our areas of industrial strength.”

Laurence Howells, chief executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said:

“The Innovation Vouchers Scheme has been a huge success, linking hundreds of Scottish small businesses with universities’ expertise.

“Entrepreneurs have been able to develop their products in ways they would have struggled to do by themselves. It’s produced brilliant innovations like a small rapeseed oil company being able to sell its products in Harvey Nicholls because they could demonstrate its antioxidant levels and a folding guitar you can take on an aeroplane. I look forward to seeing the exciting developments that construction companies can make through working with colleges.”

Dr Siobhan Jordan, director of Interface, said:

“We are delighted that SFC has instigated these new developments to assist even more businesses and academic teams to collaborate. In particular we are very excited about the new scheme which will help post graduate students understand businesses and in turn embed new innovation and skills in small companies” 

For more information on funding or to apply for any of these schemes please visit interface-online.org.uk/how-we-can-help/funding

A growing number of businesses are benefiting from collaborating with Scotland’s Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), figures released have shown.

Interface – The knowledge connection for business, matched more than 200 businesses to Scotland’s universities and research institutes to develop a range of products and services last year – a 19% increase in the number of businesses supported on the previous year.

The impact on the Scottish economy last year was £17m and those collaborations helped create 360 jobs across Scotland, including in rural areas. Most notably, it was also found that academic partnerships with Highlands & Island businesses contribute £3m to Scottish economy, with £2.2m staying in the Highlands & Islands.

Creative industries and businesses working in food and drink sector accounted for almost half the businesses involved in the academic collaborations assisted by Interface, with energy, engineering and technology making up around a quarter. Businesses working in tourism, life sciences, agriculture, social enterprises and chemical sciences also worked with academic experts on product or service developments.

Dr Siobhán Jordan, Director at Interface, said: “We are at a really exciting time for innovation in Scotland and Interface is playing a key part in making sure that businesses know about the benefits of working with the Higher Education Institutions, from testing new products or services to developing existing ones.

“There are some fantastic examples of this, from the development of a cascade chute system for transporting materials vertically, to a commercially viable tank-based seaweed cultivation system – both deserved winners of the 2014 Interface Excellence Awards.

“In fact, 79% of the businesses we have helped have seen an increase in turnover and a growing number have returned to work with academics and researchers to further develop a product or service, having realised the benefit from the first time round.

“Since we were established in 2005 we have had more than 2,700 enquiries from companies resulting in more than 1,000 collaborations.

“However, many companies are still unaware that they could work with higher education institutions in the first place, or of the knowledge, specialist facilities and technologies which exist and which could make a real difference to their business.

“Collaborations could range from simple product development using off the shelf technologies to ground-breaking research which can impact on an entire sector of industry.

“The businesses can bring a new aspect of research to a Higher Education Institute, and they can bring about solutions to real-life social issues, so these collaborations are mutually beneficial.

“Businesses can be concerned about the costs of working with universities and research institutions. There is a range of funding opportunities which Interface administers through Scottish Funding Council’s Innovation Voucher and Follow-On scheme, so I would encourage businesses to speak to us about what may be available to them.”

Collaborating with Scotland’s Higher Education Institutions has helped to secure more than 60 jobs across the Highlands & Islands over the last three years, and that number is expected to increase to more than 100 by 2017.

A new report looking at the impact of Interface in the Highlands & Islands found that nearly a third (31%) of businesses that had undertaken an Interface-facilitated project said that between 2011-2014 63 jobs were created or secured as a direct result of working with the organisation; and by 2017 a further 54 positions will also be safeguarded.

Since Interface was established nine years ago, more than 120 collaborative projects have been completed with companies based in the Highlands & Islands, which are reported to have contributed £2.2m to the local economy.

In addition to the safeguarding of jobs, the report which was compiled by BiGGAR Economics, found that almost two-thirds (61%) of business owners questioned for the report believe they will be increasing their number of employees over the next three years.

“Businesses should be aware of the positive effects that working in collaboration with Interface and Scotland’s universities can bring them, said Dr Siobhán Jordan, director at Interface.

“Of the companies based in the Highlands & Islands that we have helped to establish projects with the universities, 86 per cent said the collaboration has had a positive impact on their business; more than a quarter (28%) have developed new products to bring to market; and the same amount feel that their exporting potential has increased.

“The loss of jobs, regardless of location is always devastating, but in some areas across the Highlands & Islands it can have a notable effect on communities, so to be able to say that more than 60 positions have already been safeguarded as a direct result of undertaking collaboration projects is significant,” she said.

More than four in ten businesses (44%) expect their profits will increase as a direct result of linking in with Interface.

Fergus Ewing, Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism added:

“I’m very encouraged by the findings of this study.  Since 2005 Dr Jordan and the Interface team have been facilitating collaborative projects between Scottish businesses and experts within our academic communities.

“This study provides proof positive of the economic benefits realised by businesses in the Highlands and Islands that have used Interface as a conduit into our HEIs, with almost three-quarters (72%) of businesses saying that their projects would not have gone forward had it not been for the Interface service.”

Charlotte Wright, director of Business and Sector Development at Highlands & Islands Enterprise concluded:

“Interface has delivered tangible commercial benefits for the businesses it has assisted and these benefits have been translated into substantial quantifiable economic benefits for the Highlands & Islands economy amounting to more than £2m GVA a year and over 60 jobs since 2011.

“The fact that these companies have gone through the brokerage process with Interface and are now realising the benefits that working with the organisation in tandem with Scotland’s universities is testament to the service it offers.

“We must encourage more businesses to consider collaborating with universities and research institutions, and help them realise what assistance they can access, from funding and academic expertise, to the use of facilities or student placements.”

Other findings include:

For SMEs, navigating their way around all the organisations and agencies that can offer help and advice – and knowing exactly who does what – can be a somewhat daunting experience. 

Scotland’s business support landscape has changed dramatically over the past few years, and in response to the Government’s Innovation Scotland strategy, created by Scottish Funding Council, Universities Scotland, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Interface has added additional services for businesses looking to access academic support.

The Interface support to business includes;

Over the past nine years, Interface has had almost 2,600 enquires from businesses looking for support with projects, which has led to nearly 1,000 collaborations with Scotland’s Higher Education Institutions.  With the development of the Innovation Scotland, and in line with their strategy, Interface will use their existing experience to simplify and enhance businesses’ experiences of working with academia, while also encouraging enhanced innovation and entrepreneurship.

What’s new?

Interface has long been known for matching businesses to the right academic expertise, facilitating projects and partnerships that help solve a business challenge while simultaneously providing access to funding opportunities.

Now, as a key delivery partner for Innovation Scotland, Interface is helping businesses access existing university assets such as technologies that can be easily adopted and commercialised. Information on available technologies can be found on the University Technology website, www.university-technology.com.

The website gives businesses a single location to find the new technologies that Scotland’s HEIs have to offer. Adopting these ‘off the shelf’ technologies can enable a business to reduce its R&D related costs and resources while simultaneously cutting lead time to market. In addition to this, University Technology’s Easy Access portal offers access to a selection of IP at no cost, to enable companies to evaluate it and put it to use quickly, with reduced risk.

Another aspect of university assets are the cutting edge facilities that are available for business use throughout Scotland’s HEIs. From wave basins and wind tunnels to 3D printers and milling machines, Interface are compiling a list of the resources and facilities that can be used by businesses to test and develop their ideas.

From ongoing discussions with the Innovation Scotland partners (Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Funding Council and Universities Scotland) in conjunction with other business support organisations including Business Gateway, Interface is also developing more user-friendly guidance notes and legal templates, such as intellectual property agreements, which will better support businesses looking to engage with academia.

Interface will also be working in partnership with the new and developing industry led Innovation Centres to support their activity and ensure that even more businesses can take advantage of the opportunities associated with academic partnerships.

For those industries not supported by specific Innovation Centres, Interface will engage with their established industry leadership groups to stimulate demand for mutually beneficial business and academic collaborations.

So whether you’re looking for business support, information on funding options, new technologies to commercialise or use of cutting edge university facilities, all the information is now available to you on this website or you can contact Interface on 0131 651 4791 for a free consultation.

A recent NESTA report highlighted the five themes for smaller countries that support and foster business innovation;

– 1.  The importance of downstream innovation, not just basic research

– 2.  Openness to the world, its ideas and opportunities

– 3.  A government whose wider policies support innovation and technology

– 4.  Strong but flexible institutions

– 5.  A sense of national mission

Over the past few years, the activities undertaken by the Interface team to support businesses and Scottish academics to collaborate have evolved considerably and chime with the key themes from the NESTA report.  Our core mission since inception remains “to enable business-academic collaborations for economic and societal benefit”.    

Through our local business engagement staff, Interface supports companies of all sizes and sectors throughout Scotland, the UK and internationally, encouraging them to collaborate with Scotland’s academic knowledge and expertise.  We also enable groups of businesses from key industry sectors to work together to provide critical mass and greater impact as a result of academic collaboration; the Interface Food & Drink’s Common Interest Groups are an excellent example of this.

Through our promotion of university assets, both technologies and facilities, we are actively encouraging downstream innovation; enabling businesses to commercialise technologies, intellectual property and assets and ultimately become more innovative.

Underpinning the Interface service is a continued programme to catalyse and connect with more businesses; the administration of the Scottish Funding Council’s Innovation Voucher scheme; and the development of mutually beneficial relationships with each of Scotland’s eight Innovation Centres.

The support that Interface offers, the connections that we can make and the opportunities that come from academic collaborations have been demonstrated time and time again resulting in significant economic and societal impacts.

Over the past nine years, and having facilitated almost 1,000 collaborative projects, we have helped businesses to create and improve products, streamline services and develop processes which have enabled them to increase their profits, create and safeguard jobs, maximise their export potential and ultimately become more sustainable.

Our core mantra is “get it right for business” and so we are excited about the new developments that are emerging in Scotland; developments that will improve and simplify the experience of businesses who work with Scotland’s universities to develop and exploit innovative ideas. Together with our partners; Scottish Funding Council, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Universities Scotland; Interface supports practical ways to facilitate more connections between businesses and academia.  It is a win win for all, so if you have an idea you want to explore, a product you would like to develop or just need some expert and impartial advice, contact us, and see how we can get it right for you.

Scotland’s universities are at the forefront of innovation. This increasingly includes the dynamic business model known as “social enterprise”. From Glasgow Caledonian University and their unique MSc in Social Enterprise, to increasing numbers of students, academics and researchers contacting Social Enterprise Scotland, we’re seeing a real awareness, engagement and enthusiasm for academic collaboration with social enterprise.

Firstly let’s be clear about what a social enterprise is on the ground. The quick definition is: “an independent business that exists specifically to deliver a social and/or environmental purpose”.

Social enterprise is best explained by successful, working examples like The Big Issue, The Wise Group, Kibble Education and Care, Glasgow Housing Association, Link Group Ltd, Capital Credit Union, The Grameen Bank, Mondragon Corporation and the Homeless World Cup. These all aim to make profit like any private sector business and see profit as a good thing – but they reinvest every penny back into social/environmental purposes. The social mission is clear, they operate ethically and crucially they’re asset locked. They’re in almost every community in Scotland as a practical, working reality.

The social enterprise could simply be a Limited Company or a registered charity, a Community Interest Company (CIC) or a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO). It could be a co-operative, credit union, housing association or community-owned development trust. Social enterprise is a diverse community – but it’s one united in improving lives and our environment.

Social enterprises of all shapes and sizes can benefit greatly by engaging with universities and colleges and exploring ways to work together for mutual benefit. Impartial and free services like Interface are ideally placed to take this forward, by providing a central point of access and matching academic expertise with businesses. We’re keen on all social enterprises finding out ways to benefit from academic research and expertise and we look forward to helping build these relationships.

For more information visit www.socialenterprisescotland.org.uk

Or contact Duncan Thorp, Policy and Communications Officer, Social Enterprise Scotland

0131 243 2654 / duncan.thorp@socialenterprisescotland.org.uk