150 delegates attended, with KTP managers from universities nationally, the DTI, Momenta and sponsors including the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), One North East and South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) were represented.

The conference was opened by Prof. Kevin Edge, Pro Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of Bath, (previously an academic supervisor on many KTP programmes). On day one there were excellent and informative presentations by Kezia Parry, AHRC, Jill Sheen, SWRDA, Rob Brightwell, DTI, Dr Debbie Buckley Golder, Momenta, Peter Courtney, DTI, Lawrence Smith-Higgins, Patent Office, and Bob Howlett, KTP National Forum. The day also hosted a group forum session, which discussed ‘ideas for improvements to KTP that will make a real difference’.

On day two technical and topical workshops were held on key national KTP subjects, including: Consultancy and KTP: the Fine Line; Attracting and Retaining the Right Candidates; IP and Patents - are the Universities Losing Out? and KTP as Part of the Broader and University Strategy.

The two-day conference was held in the Ball Room, at the Assembly Rooms, the largest 18th Century Georgian interior space in the city of Bath. On the evening of the first day a civic reception at the Roman Baths welcomed delegates to the city of Bath, hosted by the Chair of the Council, Lorraine Morgan-Brinkhurst, Bath and North East Somerset Council. The impressive venue was very atmospheric, lit by torchlight and whilst the Baths were a little chilly outside the delegates were soon fortified by wine and canapés. The conference dinner followed the reception and delegates moved next door where dinner was held by candlelight in the Pump Rooms, another superb Georgian building. Dinner was complemented by wonderful entertainment in the form of an accompanying pianist and the hilarious Natural Theatre Company, ending in a disco for more energetic delegates.

Feedback from the conference delegates has been very positive, particularly the content of the programme, the opportunity for networking, location and venues.

Presentations, photographs and feedback from workshops are available on the website created for the conference at: www.bath.ac.uk/researchandinnovation/services/ktp/ris-ktp%20conference.htm

If you require further information regarding the conference please contact Paula McGrane by emailing p.m.mcgrane@bath.ac.uk

To mark Northern Ireland’s recent KTP awards ceremony, which paid tribute to the success of KTP in Northern Ireland and celebrated another year of remarkable achievement, this edition of e-transfer takes the opportunity to hear from the sponsors, Invest NI and the news from the event.

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The ability to create new ideas, to evaluate them, and to access the knowledge and skills to develop them, is fundamental to business success.

This process of innovation if exploited properly will improve business survivability and lead to increased profits. Knowledge Transfer Partnerships are seen as a crucial mechanism for achieving this in Northern Ireland.

KTP programmes help business, academia and graduates to benefit from each other's strengths. Businesses are able to access academic insight, the university/college gains experience of the operational and research challenges companies face, while graduates gain a real insight into business best practice and culture.

Northern Ireland companies have a huge resource to draw upon, for fresh ideas. Our science base, our infrastructure and our people are second to none. By placing innovation, knowledge transfer and investment in R&D at the top of every agenda, Invest NI is working to create a more competitive and profitable Northern Ireland economy.

We are delighted with our KTP success to date, currently we have 64 partnerships (partnerships sponsored by Invest NI) involving 70 Associates and this is very much a success story we want to build upon.

KTP is promoted as one of the main technology transfer programmes in Northern Ireland. The range of technology and innovation undertaken, and the success achieved within the KTP programme is a credit to everyone involved – Queen’s University Belfast, University of Ulster, College of Agriculture Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) and more recently the Association of Northern Ireland Colleges (ANIC) and of course our local businesses.

Invest NI will continue to work with its R&D partners and business to ensure that KTP contributes directly to Northern Irelands Regional Innovation Strategy “think/create/innovate” and also helps Invest NI to achieve its key aims and objectives.

KTP has developed into a programme that embraces a wide academic resource and we look forward to seeing an ever more-varied array of projects and partnerships enjoy the very real benefits, which KTP can deliver.

With increased activity from our Further Education Colleges, continued success within the universities and ongoing growth of the programme within the College of Agriculture Food and Rural Enterprise, KTP has never looked healthier. We are looking forward to seeing KTP strengthened and developed and I am confident that we will all find a way to improve upon the success that KTP has delivered in Northern Ireland thus far.

In closing, I would like to express my thanks to all the National sponsors particularly to DTI, who co-sponsor most of our Northern Ireland projects. A special word of thanks also to Momenta and our local Advisers, William Morris and Ken Frame who help progress our applications through the regional stage and PAG.

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Leslie Morrison, Chief Executive of Invest Northern Ireland, who presented the awards, commended the contribution made by KTP to industry saying, ‘when an idea is matched with a high potential business, the explosive effect sparks a chain reaction to jobs, to wealth and to higher productivity; this is what we see every year in KTP’.

Also present was Kevin Knappett from the DTI who added his support to the event and acknowledged the achievements from each Partnership and wished the companies, academics and Associates every success in the future.

The Partnerships receiving awards at the event were: Aromet Group Ltd, Clinivet Nutrition, Copeland Ltd, e.g. information consulting Ltd, Hallmark Solutions, James Killen Ltd, Pollock Lifts Ltd, and Seagate Technology (Ireland) Ltd; all in association with Queen’s University Belfast. Boomer Industries Ltd, Core Systems (NI) Ltd and Garment Graphixs Ltd and their partners in the University of Ulster were similarly acknowledged. A Partnership between Randox Laboratories Ltd and the University of the West of England was also recognised.

In addition to the main business of distributing the NI awards, Alison Wilson and Antonio Lupari, KTP Associates from T G Eakin Ltd and Creagh Concrete Ltd respectively, gave a brief overview of their projects. On the evening, it was announced that Alison’s Partnership between T G Eakin Ltd and the School of Pharmacy at Queen’s has been selected to represent Northern Ireland in the National KTP Awards competition in London in March 2007.

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In December 2001, T G Eakin Ltd embarked on their second, three-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project with the School of Pharmacy at Queen’s University Belfast. Sponsored by the DTI and Invest NI, the aim of this project was to develop a novel adhesive paste which, when used in conjunction with wound drainage pouches, would better manage abdominal wounds, particularly those that generate large volumes of fluid exudate.

This project involved the Associate in a wide range of activities, including formulation of a novel reactive wound dressing for the management of low to medium output wounds (typically burns and ulcers); the design of a system to indicate when dressing changes are required; design of dressing shapes and structures to enhance fitting and effectiveness of the dressing; expansion of the company’s R&D facility; and setting up testing procedures to comply with international regulatory requirements including licensing protocols.

As a result of the KTP developments, the company has appointed a new Product Development Manager, made an investment of almost £500,000 in Research & Development, plant and machinery and employed the Associate, Alison Wilson, on a full-time basis.

The KTP has also provided a new strategic direction for company development in the use of combination bio-adhesive polymers in high-moisture healthcare applications, which could provide novel solutions to other difficult niche healthcare problems.

Dr Paul Eakin, Managing Director of T G Eakin Ltd comments,

“We consider this partnership to have been an enormous success in developing an entirely new product and taking it to clinical trial stage. We have embedded a new capability in the chemistry and rheology of biopolymers and been able to blend this with our own knowledge of adhesives to unlock a combination material which has huge potential in the medical adhesive field”.

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Emma recently completed a two-year KTP project with The Wallich Clifford Community (WCC), a Cardiff-based charity working with homeless people across South, West and Mid Wales. Sponsored by the Welsh Assembly the objectives of the KTP were to strategically shift the funding balance of the organisation from being heavily reliant on statutory funding to having a percentage of independent funding streams. We find out from Emma how she got involved with KTP, the highlights of her project and what she has learnt from her time as Associate.

‘I first graduated in 2003 from the University of Glamorgan with a first class honours in Business Studies. As the degree had encompassed a wide range of topics, I was unsure which career path I wanted to pursue. During the holidays I had worked for Barclays Bank as a cashier and shortly after graduating I was offered a full time position which I accepted, so that I could earn some money while deciding how I wanted to develop my career.

Living at the time in South-West Wales presented me with a further problem in terms of the lack of opportunities not only for graduates but in general. I therefore embarked upon finding a job a little further a field - Cardiff.

I saw the advertisement for KTP Associate with the University of Glamorgan and, intrigued I applied for the position; within two months I had moved to Cardiff and started my partnership in a charity- The Wallich Clifford Community.

The Wallich Clifford Community (WCC) is a homeless charity with specialist projects all over Wales, helping some of the most vulnerable people in society The WCC work to find lasting solutions. Primarily WCC recognised that funding was not infinite and therefore the KTP objectives for my project were to develop business initiatives that would create subsidiary revenue streams. Initially I undertook a lot of market research to ensure that the business ideas and markets were viable. Following this, I assisted with the setting up of the company’s developing business plans and organising all Board Meetings and Working Groups.

As a result, two successful businesses were created namely, an I.T company and Training Company, which in time should bring additional revenue into the charity.

Aside from the massive amount of experience I gained through my two years as a KTP Associate, I also gained an MSc in Marketing and graduated shortly after the partnership ended with a Distinction. Additionally I was able to undertake many professional training courses such as Assertiveness and Customer Service Skills.

Perhaps what confirmed to me most that the KTP project was invaluable, was the offer of three different jobs upon gaining my MSc and on completion of the KTP. Consequently I decided to take a job with University of Glamorgan where I believe I will further my career and put some of my KTP skills into use.

Without a doubt the last two years as a KTP Associate has been priceless; what other job would allow you unlimited training, a further degree and the chance to be involved with such an exciting and unique project?’

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Joint KTP Associate Seminar

The University of Southampton hosted its first KTP Associate seminar on 13 November 2006, run jointly with colleagues from the University of Portsmouth.

The aim of the seminar was to bring KTP Associates from both Universities together, providing the opportunity to network with other Associates and their supervisors; share experiences and good practice; hear from past KTP Associates and consider future career opportunities.

Presentations were given by current and past Associates from both Universities, together with talks from James Best, a Senior KTP Adviser and Lee Fenney, now Managing Director of Sigmala Ltd and involved in an award winning KTP. The event was hosted by Professor Phil Nelson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at the University of Southampton.

The evening provided invaluable networking opportunities, and served to strengthen communication within and between the KTP communities of both universities. The event enjoyed a high level of support, with well over 50 attendees from academia and industry

Professor Phil Nelson commented that “the event provided a great networking opportunity for both Associates and Supervisors, and highlighted the challenging nature of KTP programmes, demonstrating both social and economic impact for the individuals involved and the broader industrial sectors”.

This first event marks the beginning of what it is hoped will become an established and regular event for the two Universities.

Knowledge Transfer: The Larger Partnership

Liverpool University and Liverpool John Moores University collaborated to deliver a workshop for 20 of their KTP Associates on 15 January 2007. The event, organised by Angela Hinchcliffe, KTP Operations Manager at Liverpool John Moores University and Iain Reid, Senior Projects Manager, at the Agility Centre, University of Liverpool’s School of Management, was the first time the Universities have collaborated on KTP Associate training.

Iain Reid said ‘The KTP environment is ever changing, so it is important to share one’s experiences when implementing change, this is a great opportunity for our Associates to share this personal knowledge all under one roof.’

Angela Hinchcliffe also commented ‘ I am really happy that we have been able to work with Liverpool University in delivering this workshop as all KTP Programmes involve an element of culture change and therefore the ability to influence and effect change is a very important skill for Associates to acquire’.

The workshop explored the social and conversational aspects of learning and used this framework to examine some of the issues involved in influencing individuals and groups to achieve organisational change. The workshop was delivered by Elaine Eades, Programme Director for the MBA-HRM at the University of Liverpool Management School and Aileen Corley, Programme Leader for the MA in Strategic HR at Liverpool John Moores University Business School.

Elaine Eades said ‘Core competence for any of the Associates is the ability to influence and deliver change and manage relationships. This workshop is designed to help deliver that’.

The workshop also covered the NVQ Level Four in Management, which Associates undertake as part of their personal development. LJMU’s KTP Associate Angela Burton presented this part of the workshop.

Further information on KTP programmes can be obtained from Susan Thomson 0500 876543.

Bournemouth’s very own KTP Manager is recognised in a prestigious “Who’s Who” publication!

Dr Martyn Polkinghorne, Manager of the Bournemouth University KTP Centre, has been included in the first edition of the Marquis publication "Who's Who of Emerging Leaders".

This is a new publication listing the biographies of 25,000 of the world's most accomplished individuals under the age of 40. Martyn’s inclusion reflects his work both at Bournemouth University and also previously at the University of Plymouth KTP Centre.

Other people to be listed in this publication include visionary business people, award winning doctors, scientists and researchers, renowned entrepreneurs and Heads of State.

Martyn is already listed in both "Who's Who in the World" and "Who's Who in Science and Engineering" in recognition of his pioneering research into knowledge transfer and enterprise activities. Martyn is currently undertaking research into the KTPs that Bournemouth University has delivered over recent years to determine the underlying factors that relate to successful Knowledge Transfer.

‘It's a great honour’ commented Martyn. ‘I'm not quite sure what I have done to merit this inclusion, but it's great that my research and enterprise activities have been recognised on an international level and it all helps to raise the profile of KTP.’

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University of Plymouth celebrate, as KTP is a winner in the Devon Environmental Business Initiative (DEBI) 2006 Awards

A KTP with the University of Plymouth and tyre manufactures Bandvulc Tyres was recognised for its efforts in reducing the company’s carbon footprint with two awards at the 14th annual DEBI awards ceremony held on Thursday 23rd November 2006 at the Met Office, Exeter. The company, who specialise in the recycling of worn tyres, were the overall main award winner and also winners in the low carbon business category.

Andy Vickery, Chairman of DEBI said ‘The DEBI awards has this year really provided a wonderful opportunity to actually see the wide range of excellent activities, projects and schemes that are being implemented by Devon's businesses and community projects. These initiatives all go towards reducing the impact and in many cases enhancing Devon environment. This, as these awards have demonstrated, is done by reducing and in some cases producing renewable energy and providing sustainable tourism activities for the many visitors to Devon’.

Patrick O'Connell, Director of Bandvulc Group said,

‘Last year, our energy costs increased by approximately 40%, but with Matteo's (KTP Associate) help building on the work already started by our technical team we hope to reduce carbon emissions as well as cut our energy bills. This pivotal KTP project will no doubt play a central role in Bandvulc's future growth, strategic change and development. We believe that a successful and profitable business can be a responsible one too’.

For more information on the partnership, please contact KTP Manager, Emma Hewitt on t: 01752 233504 or log onto www.plymouth.ac.uk/businessservices. Further company information can be found at www.bandvulc.co.uk

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7th February 2007

FREE KTP breakfast event

Time: 7.30 am to 9.30 am

Venue: University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton Science Park, Glaisher Drive, Wolverhampton

Increase your company’s profit over breakfast – learn more about how KTP can benefit your business through the Competitiveness Centre at the University of Wolverhampton.

This is the first in a series of business breakfast seminars organised by the University of Wolverhampton’s Competitiveness Centre. The next event is 1st March 07 in the Sandwell/Dudley area.

To reserve your FREE place and to find out more information, please telephone 0800 068 5023 or email competitiveness-centre@wlv.co.uk

www.competitiveness-centre.co.uk

14th February 2007

Myers Briggs Types Indicator Workshop

Time: 09.30 - 17.00

Venue: Park Campus, University of Gloucestershire, The Park, Cheltenham, Glos, GL50 2RH

Workshop to be led by: Darren Caudle Chartered FCIPD and Dr Martin Wynn of the University of Gloucestershire.

Myers and Briggs pioneered the use of profiling techniques to allow us to understand and value each other's perspectives. This one-day workshop provides an opportunity to learn how to use the technique, and employ it in a business environment. Specific outcomes for workshop participants include:

• Information on the basic concepts of psychological types that form the basis of MBTI
• Explore the characteristics of your own type and that of others
• Encourage the valuing of individual personality differences
• Promote opportunities to work more effectively with others

If you’d like to know more, please contact Helen Parsons at the University of

Gloucestershire Business School on 01242 777887, or email ugbsshortcourses@glos.ac.uk

14 March 2007

Knowledge Transfer Parnerships 2007 Awards Ceremony

Venue: London Marriot Hotel Grosvenor Square

KTP Awards 2007 celebrates the achievements of winning Partnerships completed between 1st January 2005 to 31st March 2006. For more information visit: www.ktponline.org.uk/awards/awards2007.aspx

20 March 2007

Horizon Seminar ‘A Sensory World’, Kaetsu Centre, New Hall, University of Cambridge.

Horizon Seminars are organised by the University of Cambridge’s Research Services Division and provide an exclusive look at the new developments in the most exciting areas of science and technology at Cambridge.

The next Seminar ‘A Sensory World: novel sensor technologies and applications’ will showcase a broad selection of cutting-edge sensor technologies, systems and applications. The event will feature prominent speakers including academics, thought leaders and industry experts, and will create a dynamic forum for information exchange and meaningful networking. Dr Simon Aliwell, Director of Sensors Knowledge Transfer Network, will deliver opening remarks.

For more information about the Horizon Seminar series, please go to www.rsd.cam.ac.uk/events/horizon, email horizon@rsd.cam.ac.uk or call Jo Ryan on +44 (0)1223 765404.

Thurs 10th May 2007

The next SW Regional KTP Seminar is being held at Bristol Zoo. Jointly hosted by University of the West of England and University of Bath (UWE is organising).

All Associates based in the SW and their supervisors are welcome to attend. Selected Associates in their second year will be presenting their projects.

This all-day event will also include Keynote speakers (to be confirmed), a buffet lunch and entrance to the Zoo!

£75 per person (cost can come from the Assoc Devt budget with agreement of the LMC).

Excellent opportunity for Associates to practise their presentation skills and companies to learn more about the benefits of KTP!

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