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From sporting icons protecting their brands to companies forging ahead with new technologies, materials and training equipment to deliver a more competitive edge, the world of sport is big business.

This year’s World Intellectual Property Day celebrates IP in sport with a campaign, Reach for Gold. Organisers, the World Intellectual Property Organisation, explained: “Business relationships built on IP rights help to secure the economic value of sport. This, in turn, stimulates growth of the industry by enabling sporting organisations to finance the events we savour, and by providing the means to promote sports development at the grassroots.”

Interface supports businesses as they develop and create new technologies, products or services which push the boundaries of sporting achievements further, faster and higher, often aiding athletes and sportspeople behind the scenes.

Recent statistics from the European Patent Office show that innovation is thriving in Scotland with an increase in the number of applications filed in recent years. Almost 300 patent applications were received from Scottish companies last year, a 7% rise on the previous year, with medical technology, digital communication and computer technology featuring strongly. A fifth of all applications came from small and medium-sized businesses, which shows that innovation is an important part of developing businesses of all sizes.

When collaborative projects generate IP it is important to be clear from the start who owns it – the business, the university, or jointly. Interface’s role is in matching up businesses with suitable academic partners, so we don’t get directly involved in IP agreements. However, we have paved the way for smoother collaborations by ensuring that all 19 of Scotland’s universities use standard and accessible legal templates, developed by Universities Scotland and Interface, for projects funded through the Scottish Funding Council’s Innovation Vouchers.

Here are some of our sporting achievements:

So, to give your business the competitive edge: ready, get set, go-innovate!

Fifteen years ago, the disconnect between small businesses and universities collaborating for R&D was obvious, however the solution on how to solve it was not.

There was no tried and tested model to follow, so when Interface was established in 2005, by Dr Siobhán Jordan and a small team of “connectors” to bridge the gap, they began by having conversations with the academic community and the business world to find out what both needed.

A well-defined challenging proposition, clear objectives and research and development projects to match strategic aims, capabilities and capacity was on the list from academia. Top requirements from businesses were expert knowledge to help solve issues in production, processes or services, options for funding, responsiveness through a clear time frame and peace of mind over intellectual property.

Interface has succeeded in bridging the gap with impressive results by addressing all of these wishes through its value proposition of impartial translation, passion for excellence and, above all, building relationships based on trust through people.

Today the picture is of a thriving environment of business-academic collaborations which have resulted in some ground-breaking research and development.

Interface has translated over 4,500 company-led propositions (expertise search specifications) to challenge academic teams from all disciplines. 2,900 unique businesses have established informative discussions with academic partners leading to many productive partnerships. Companies supported by Interface add an estimated £64.2 million GVA into the economy each year through new services, processes, products, or efficiencies leading to cost savings.

The Interface model, of a regionally-based team for Scottish universities and research institutes, has been held up internationally garnering interest from Australia, Poland, Denmark and other countries facing the challenge Scotland has successfully overcome.

Small and medium-sized enterprises play a crucial role in contributing to the economy and 95% of companies Interface supports have 50 or fewer employees. Not many of these companies will have R&D departments, and only some will have an individual dedicated to the role.

Research and development is sometimes viewed as being only for big businesses producing pioneering products, however even the smallest enterprises have the potential to make a big impact through innovation and collaboration.

Former medical student Chris McCann who is now making in-roads in the NHS and the U.S. with Current, a wireless, wearable device for monitoring patients’ health in hospitals and communities was helped by Interface. After a referral from the Digital Health & Care Institute Innovation Centre (DHI), Interface sourced expertise in the University of the West of Scotland. Through advising on funding, a Scottish Funding Council Innovation Voucher was awarded to help offset the cost of the project. The collaboration with the University generated proof of concept data around use of ultrasound to monitor patients’ hydration levels, which helped the development phase of the device.

Also receiving significant support from Interface was fruit and vegetable wholesaler, Malcolm Wood, whose “eureka” moment to stop waste starch clogging drains led to an innovative filtration system, Peel Tech. An introduction by Interface to academics at Abertay University helped develop the initial demonstrator model. Peel Tech has been commercialised and is now selling to fish and chip shops and other retailers, winning several awards for its innovation and environmental credentials.

As is often said in business, from small acorns grow mighty oaks and the impact of Interface connections are supporting pioneering Scottish companies and academics.

Creating new products, services or processes can be challenging, particularly for smaller businesses where time and money are in short supply. 

Tapping into universities is one way that small and medium-sized businesses can get ahead, but knowing who to ask and working out which institute offers the help a business needs can be daunting and time consuming. 

A free and impartial matchmaking service started in Scotland in 2005 and has helped hundreds of organisations across all sectors, including tourism, creative industries, energy and food and drink, to increase their profits, maximise their exports, and become more competitive in the marketplace. 

Interface connects businesses and organisations to Scottish universities, research institutes and colleges that can best provide the knowledge companies need. 

Lorna Watson is Interface’s Business Engagement Executive located in Tayside.

“We have worked with thousands of businesses and organisations and have very positive feedback about the experiences of partnering with academics. We would love to help more local businesses meet their goals in this way,” Lorna explained. 

“The benefits include business growth, job creation and security for existing staff, increased turnover, new or improved products, processes or services, and entry to new markets, all of which help strengthen businesses and contribute to their future success.”

Among the businesses Lorna has worked with are Highland Boundary, a craft distillery based in Alyth, near Blairgowrie. Co-founders Marian Bruce and Simon Montador identified a gap in the market for Scandinavian-inspired spirits with the botanicals sourced from local woodlands. Although they had significant experience in scientific research and business, they were keen to tap into academic expertise to develop new products.

Lorna spent time with the company understanding their needs and translating these into a initial project scope. Heriot-Watt University’s International Centre for Brewing and Distilling expressed an interest in working with the company and Lorna introduced the teams.

Funded by a Scottish Funding Council Standard Innovation Voucher administered by Interface, an MSc student at the university investigated ways of including the woodland botanicals to maximise flavour and consistency.

The company recently launched its first products. Marian said: 

“By accessing the expertise at Heriot-Watt University we were able to try out different botanicals to produce new flavours of spirit with distinct Scottish flavours reflecting Perthshire’s “big tree country.”

“Now that we have launched our first product, Birch and Elderflower Wild Scottish Spirit, we want to build the company and create employment in an area where manufacturing jobs are few and far between.”

“Lorna’s knowledge of academic expertise in Scotland and ability to translate what we needed was a huge help. We wouldn’t have known where to start, or had the time to search for the right expertise, so Interface’s support saved us valuable time and resource.”

Lorna added:

“We are really fortunate in this country to have some of the world’s top performing universities; four Scottish universities are listed in the world’s top 200, and they want to work with businesses large and small all over Scotland. Businesses can work with any one of the 23 universities and research institutes, so that is a fantastic choice of specialist knowledge in just about every subject area you can imagine.

“Sometimes people think that research and development is just for large corporates, however we match all sizes of companies with academic expertise with really positive results for both the business and the academic institution,” said Lorna. 

Interface has introduced over 2,850 businesses from across Scotland to academic partners. 

Some 83% of businesses collaborating with academia recorded reduced operating costs, increased productivity, profits, export, turnover or new/safeguarded employment. For areas where the economy is fragile, academic collaborations are making an important contribution. 

Business can also access specialist facilities such as 3D printers, microscopy, human performance labs, wave tanks, virtual reality and textile printing. 

The Interface team can help with information about funding options to offset the cost of collaborating with academia ranging from funding aimed at early stage feasibility studies and testing, to support for larger projects. 

For more information on Interface please visit interface-online.org.uk, or contact Lorna Watson Lorna.Watson@interface-online.org.uk and visit www.highlandboundary.com to find out more about Wild Scottish Spirit.

Ivan McKee, MSP, Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation, visited Interface’s Edinburgh office today (Tuesday, 18 December). He met Interface Director Dr Siobhán Jordan; Louise Arnold, Business Engagement Executive, (Interface); Mykay Kamara, Founder and CEO of Welbot, a company supported by Interface; along with Sam Deere, Chief Technical Officer (Welbot).

Interface introduced Welbot, a wellness management software provider, to multiple universities for a variety of research and development projects for the digital platform, including extracting knowledge and insights from data and machine learning, developing an application roadmap, marketing and incorporating psychological and behavioural sciences.

Read more about Welbot’s collaborations with universities here.  

Businesses will benefit from investment of £5 million into the national Interface programme, helping to match them to Scotland’s world-leading academic expertise.
 

Established in 2005, Interface connects organisations from a wide variety of industries to universities, research institutes and colleges. Funding will come from the Scottish Funding Council, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Companies supported by Interface contribute an estimated £64.2 million (gross value added) to the economy each year and the programme has introduced almost 3000 businesses to academic partners.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the funding at the official opening of the Roslin Innovation Centre, where she also met businesses that had benefited from the Interface service.

She said:

“Scotland is home to some of the most highly-rated research institutions in the world and we continue to invest to ensure this leads to practical industry innovation. This further investment from the Scottish Funding Council and the enterprise agencies in Interface will help to amplify our talent and expertise by connecting national and international industry with all of Scotland’s universities, research institutes and colleges.

“This boosts productivity, profits and exports and creates jobs, and many companies that have benefited from Interface funding say their project would not have happened without its support.

“This additional £5 million will help nurture links between world-leading research and innovation, which provide a competitive edge for industry, and support valuable inward investment and exports.”

Dr Siobhán Jordan, Director of Interface, said:

“There is huge potential in partnering businesses with our world-leading academic institutes to develop creative solutions for commercial problems. Businesses don’t always know how to tap into academic expertise; this funding will ensure that Interface can continue to make valuable connections leading to transformational collaborative research and development.  By fostering new connections between industry and academia we can tackle economic and societal challenges in innovative ways.”

Prof. Andrea Nolan, Chair of Interface Strategic Board, said:

“We welcome the new investment in Interface from SFC and the enterprise agencies to realise our ambitious plans for the next five years to increase business-academic collaborations and develop impactful long-term partnerships to bring even greater benefits to Scotland’s economy.”

John Kemp, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said:

“Interface plays an important role in supporting an innovative economy to create future jobs and prosperity. I’m delighted that SFC and its economic development partners are able to make this investment and look forward to seeing the benefits it will bring to Scotland.”

Background

The Interface programme is funded by the Scottish Funding Council, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. The Scottish Funding Council will invest £4.5 million, Scottish Enterprise will invest £450,000 and Highlands and Islands Enterprise will invest £282, 341.

Case studies are available online.

Photo courtesy of The Scottish Government.

Within the last year, Innovation Vouchers valued at more than £24,000 were awarded to fund five individual collaborative projects between Scottish businesses and colleges who have been working hand in hand to develop something new, innovative and often ground-breaking. 

These projects included:

Douglas Morrison, STEM and Innovation Lead at City of Glasgow College, said:

“The scheme rightly recognises the vital role that colleges play in supporting local businesses to develop their workforce and introduce new products and services.”

Innovation Vouchers have helped to fund three industry-led collaborative projects with City of Glasgow College.

The College is collaborating with Altitude Thinking to develop, construct and test a prototype of a programmable drone that will be used to navigate Scottish waterways whilst producing accurate, real-time reports on pollution levels and water conditions.

The £5,000 Innovation Voucher will allow the partners to look at engineering development for subsequent drones with enhanced capabilities to remove litter and other pollutants from waterways using suction pumps.

New College Lanarkshire and charity New Rhythms for Glasgow also received £5,000 through the scheme to develop an online service platform for disadvantaged and excluded people who wish to either use or contribute to the creative industries in the local deprived area.

The charity in North Glasgow provides music and arts workshops and opportunities for people living in areas of high deprivation who experience a range of barriers to accessing creative industries.

John McNair, Head of Regional Business Development at New College Lanarkshire, said:

“This is a great opportunity for the College and NRG to collaborate and co-create a targeted digital technology solution that supports the charity’s aim of providing a more sustainable and innovative service.”

Fashion designer Karen Hamilton was able to collaborate with the Learning Lab at Dundee and Angus College, which is a facility promoting the use of innovative technology through hands-on learning, after £5,000 was awarded to the collaboration. She was provided with guidance, expert knowledge and practical supervision of the use of equipment as she endeavoured to develop innovative lace fabric using 3D printing.

Brian Riley, Business Advisor, Dundee and Angus College, said:

“The project has provided an excellent opportunity to engage in applied research – something not normally associated with the college sector – using internal resources and academic staff with expertise in digital and related areas of work activity. It represents a fine example of commercial and academic partnership and will serve as a good model for future such collaborations”. 

A very different kind of collaboration between The Reindeer Company Ltd and Inverness College UHI is that of “The Secret Lives of the Cairngorm Reindeer”. This collaborative project, which has recently been granted a £5,000 Innovation Voucher, will use cutting-edge tracking technology to enhance reindeer management and to enhance the experience of people visiting the reindeer herd in the Cairngorms as well as the online experience. The collaboration is in its early stages, so it is a case of “watch this space”.

James Frew was awarded a Scottish Funding Council Innovation Voucher to collaborate with West College Scotland (WCS) to develop a new innovative training planning process, including monitoring certification renewals, developing individual training plans and measuring the impact of training through AMI (Achievement Measurement Indexing).

Andrew Fogarty, Head of Energy and Engineering, West College Scotland, said: “The SFC Innovation Voucher has allowed James Frew and WCS to positively collaborate to implement business improvements and develop more meaningful relationships that are mutually beneficial. In doing so, our staff at the college have been able to use this knowledge to work with other organisations to help them improve and enhance the products and services that they offer.”

The impact of the project will lead to improved training interventions linked to individual training plans and business process improvements. It is envisaged that whilst improving the relevance of training interventions, significant cost savings and improved efficiency will be realised through a more planned and systematic approach to training.

By taking a more structured approach to developing people through training, the project will impact on the motivation of key staff and will increase employee satisfaction.

Dr Siobhán Jordan, Director of Interface, said:

“Funding through Innovation Vouchers can be beneficial for college lecturers and staff enabling them to work with businesses and organisations on real-life challenges as they research and develop products, services and processes.

“We can help colleges by giving assistance on how to access Innovation Vouchers and guide them through the process of applying for this important source of funding.”

The approval process normally takes only three weeks from the date of submission to the Funding Panel’s decision.

Information on Innovation Vouchers can be found here: https://interface-online.org.uk/how-we-can-help/funding

Digitising workflows will bring transparency to the supply chain.

Edinburgh Napier has joined forces with Eyecademy to use blockchain technology to develop verifiable records for the supply journey of ethically-sourced food.

The collaboration with the Glasgow-based leading data and analytics provider will be among the first projects undertaken at the university’s new Blockpass Identity Lab, which uses cutting-edge blockchain research to drive innovation.

A blockchain is a growing list of records or blocks, which is secured using cryptography and resistant to modification.

The new research project aims to use the technology to overcome difficulties around the provenance of organic produce, reassuring consumers of ethical sources, countries of origin and producers in the journey from farm to table. In this application, blockchain technology can be used by countries like Scotland to protect and promote national brands on the international stage.

The collaborative technology could also be used in further applications to follow supply journeys for raw materials from a variety of industries, connecting producers, distributors, regulatory bodies and consumers.

The collaboration is supported by the Scottish Funding Council’s Innovation Voucher scheme, which is administered by Interface, who work with businesses to translate their ideas into dynamic briefs for academics.

Professor Bill Buchanan, Director of the Blockpass Identity Lab, said:

“Edinburgh Napier is keen to work with innovative companies like Eyecademy around blockchain to take full advantage of this new world we are creating.

“The application of blockchain and tracking methods will allow us to create a trustworthy trail for food and thus support both the providers and their customers.”

The Blockpass Identity Lab was built at Edinburgh Napier’s Merchiston campus as part of a £600,000 collaboration between the School of Computing and Hong Kong-based Blockpass, who are using blockchain technology to develop platforms which allow users to retain control of their personal data.

Liam Bell, the lead blockchain researcher in the lab, said:

“We are delighted to integrate Eyecademy into the lab, and will continue to work with them in the development of their product.

“They have a long track record of success in the industry, and see great potential in the integration of blockchain and advanced cryptography with food provenance.”

Brian Rutherford, Operations Director of Eyecademy, said:

With more than 10 years of experience providing data and analytics solutions in Scotland and nationwide, we are excited to be working with the world-leading collaboration of the Blockpass Identity Lab.”

“Using innovative technology to provide and develop business solutions is at the heart of what we do, and we are confident that our combined efforts will continue to push the boundaries of Scotland’s technological growth.”

Edinburgh Napier has a strong track record of success within the Scottish Funding Council’s Innovation Voucher programme.

Dr Siobhán Jordan, Director of Interface, said:

“There are numerous mutual benefits to business partnering with academics as demonstrated by Edinburgh Napier University and Eyecademy. Through tackling real-life challenges and opportunities, they can learn from each other and grow their knowledge and expertise.

“Funding through Innovation Vouchers can be pivotal for companies as they research and develop products, services and processes, enabling them to tap into our world-leading universities.”

Photo from left to right:  James King, Petra Crocker

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships have been helping UK businesses innovate for over 40 years and are one of a range of initiatives which support knowledge sharing between universities and industry.

A Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) is a three-way collaboration between a business, university/research institute and graduate who leads a strategic project aimed at tackling a particular challenge within the business.

KTPs are open to business in all sectors, and usually last from one to three years. The partnership can bring many benefits to the business, including solutions to long-standing issues they may not have had the expertise, resource or time to tackle, major cost savings and innovative developments which can support the company with additional revenue streams, new machinery or breaking into new markets.

Embedding knowledge into an industry setting in this way has many advantages for all three parties. Apart from the company benefits mentioned above, having a graduate, known as a KTP Associate, based in the business can bring about a change in the culture and attitudes towards innovation, inspiring other employees to share and exchange their knowledge and ideas. The company not only gets a KTP Associate but access to an academic expert and the host university department.

For the KTP Associate, valuable hands on in-depth project experience in a relevant sector is gained over the course of the project, and in some cases permanent employment with that company at its completion. For the academic institute, apart from being a source of funding, it opens another route to graduate employment and builds valued relationships directly with industry.

KTPs are one of the vehicles which Interface promotes to support businesses which want to partner with academic expertise in a longer-term partnership, often following an initial feasibility or proof of concept project funded by an Innovation Voucher.

Through Interface support, over 40 KTPs have been enabled with various Scottish university partners across different industry sectors. In fact, one of the companies we’ve supported is working with their fourth KTP Associate, having realised the benefits of bringing academic expertise into the workplace. There are currently around 100 KTP Associates in Scottish companies and with the continued backing of the programme from UKRI opportunities to expand this number in the next year.

Allowing world-class knowledge to be embedded into a business can bring about impressive results, which are celebrated annually to showcase the valuable contribution of all forms of knowledge exchange including KTPs. The Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards, hosted by Interface, recognise the impacts from final year students, postgraduate students or Knowledge Transfer Partnership Associates in increasing innovation in business through a dedicated category.

Winners have included Lee-Anne McGee, KTP Associate from Abertay University, who helped to redesign and validate an innovative starch filtration system, Peel Tech, which also won the Innovation of the Year in 2017. Malcolm Wood of Ivan Wood & Sons, a Fife-based fruit and vegetable wholesaler, came up with the idea of a compact and affordable filtration system as new legislation was brought in preventing fast food outlets from disposing of starch in drains.  

The project Lee-Anne led on reduced waste materials and generated sales of the system within the UK and Europe. Lee-Anne also implemented a Food Quality Management System for Ivan Wood & Sons, which resulted in significant cost savings to both the company wages and packaging. She impressed the judges by developing a high quality vegetable stock from the recovered starch to be sold as a new product to the food service industry. Lee-Anne continues to work with Ivan Wood & Sons and Peel Tech as a Technical Manager since the KTP finished in early 2017.

The previous year, Laura Kreiling, a KTP Associate from University of Strathclyde, won the Building Skills Through Knowledge Exchange Award after she undertook a 24-month long project to significantly improve engineering resource estimation at Alexander Dennis Ltd, the UK’s leading bus and coach manufacturer. The new tool she developed reduced the amount of time spent on forecasting resources from several days to just 30 minutes, saving the company thousands of pounds.

This year’s winner was Petra Crocker, a KTP Associate from Edinburgh Napier University, who worked with Multiply UK Ltd in Edinburgh to create a real-time digital consumer tool to drive both the expansion and reputation of the company as industry experts in planning and insight.

KTPs are one of a range of funding initiatives available through Innovate UK, the UK Government’s innovation agency. The cost of a project is shared by the business, and public sector funding which in Scotland can include a contribution from the Scottish Funding Council.

If improving competitiveness and productivity are important to a business, then working with a graduate in this way could be a clever connection to make.

University links with Hypervine to explore potential of blockchain

A new collaboration aims to develop blockchain solutions to the data recording problems which can jeopardise complex construction projects.

Edinburgh Napier University is teaming up with newly-formed Hypervine Ltd following a series of industry scandals which have highlighted the need for strong audit trails for undertaken work.

A blockchain is a growing list of records or blocks, secured using cryptography and resistant to modification; technology which can reduce the risk of problems like documents being lost or actions not followed up.

The new Blockpass Identity Lab at the university’s Merchiston campus uses cutting-edge blockchain research to drive innovation.

Technology company Hypervine, based in Glasgow, focuses on digitising construction to improve the reporting and recording of data, enabling companies to adapt to fast-changing economic, environmental and governmental policies.

The university’s collaboration with the company will investigate ways in which blockchain can incorporate security into complicated construction processes, create trust, build compliance and boost productivity.

Professor Bill Buchanan, Director of the Blockpass Identity Lab, said:

“The nature of the construction industry is that there are many stakeholders involved, and making sure that each part of the process is working as it should can be difficult.

“A blockchain solution will aim to integrate digital signing into the key parts of the process.”

Liam Bell, the lead blockchain researcher in the lab, said: 

“The application of blockchain into the construction industry – where strong levels of trust in the process are required – is a natural one.”

The collaboration comes after the sector was hit by negative headlines locally and nationally following events like the Edinburgh PFI schools crisis and the Grenfell Tower tragedy in London.

The annual spend due to construction errors is estimated to be around seven times the total annual profit of the UK industry.

Paul Duddy, CEO and founder of Hypervine, said:

“Digitising infrastructure, construction and facility maintenance industries through blockchain technologies will yield significant improvements across the sector that will have wide ranging positive economic and social economic impacts for both private and public sectors.”

Hypervine and the university’s School of Computing were brought together by Interface – which works with businesses to translate their ideas into dynamic briefs for academics – and the collaboration is supported by the Scottish Funding Council’s Innovation Voucher scheme, which Interface administers.

Ruth Oliver, Business Engagement Executive at Interface, said:

“Edinburgh Napier’s School of Computing was a natural choice for Hypervine Ltd; Professor Bill Buchanan is one of the world’s leading lights in blockchain technology and, together with researcher Liam Bell, offers a wealth of experience in supporting businesses and organisations in the practical application of this technology.

“Hypervine is helping construction companies build faster, safer and more cost efficiently through digitising the industry. Exploring how to incorporate secure methods of recording data in complicated supply chains and transactions is a key element of this.”

She added:

“Partnerships with academia can propel companies onto the next stage of their development, enabling them to enter new markets, win additional business and grow their business.”

The collaboration runs until the end of November.