Applied Knowledge Exchange

Geoff Mulgan, Chief Executive of NESTA (National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts), and Olivier Rouland, the European Commission’s DG Employment and Social Affairs, were among high profile speakers involved in Glasgow Caledonian University’s Social Innovation: New Pathways and Alternative Solutions conference.

GCU is a leading light in working with Social Enterprises and the Third Sector, developing unique Masters level programmes for people working in these areas. GCU is also home to the Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health, involved in pioneering research examining the relationship between social business and health improvement.

Four enterprise areas are to be created in Scotland with an emphasis on some of our most dynamic industries with the greatest potential to create new employment opportunities, stimulate private investment and boost economic growth.

The Government is aiming to support Scotland’s life sciences industries, low carbon and renewables and manufacturing.

More information…

84% of SMEs in Scotland are engaging with higher education institutions, according to Universities UK.

View the full report – Driving Economic Growth

Universities play an important role in providing support to businesses through research and training. This is demonstrated by the breadth and range of industries with links to universities and the variety of activities with which they are involved, including extensive support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Santander UK today launched its new funding programme for fast growing companies.

A loan pot of £200m is being made available across the UK as part of the Breakthrough initiative, which is aimed at supporting the SME market through a range of activities including investing in SMEs, together with a number of other initiatives including University courses, research and development and trade missions.

GCU is a member of the prestigious international Santander Universities network, which brings together almost 1,000 universities, throughout Spain, Portugal, Latin America and the UK. This strategic partnership between the University and Santander has created a range of opportunities for both staff and students to participate in a range of activities and to encourage exchange and interaction between members of GCU and other member universities of the Santander Universities network. Each year Santander sponsors one of the University’s annual Magnusson Awards, which provide a one off grant of up to £5,000.

For more information, contact the Applied Knowledge Exchange on 0141 331 3189 or appliedknowledgeexchange@gcu.ac.uk

In this video produced by Universities Scotland, university graduates as well as prominent voices from business and society such as Jim McColl, Peter Lederer and Heather Reid talk about how they have already worked with universities to achieve their diverse ambitions whether it is improving the competitiveness of their business or inspiring the next generation of school children to become excited about science.

Take a look at: http://www.universities-scotland.ac.uk/index.php?page=our-contribution

Hundreds of people with dementia have spend the day at Hampden Park as part of the football reminiscence project. 

The project is part of ongoing research by Glasgow Caledonian University.

Click on the link to view the short video http://news.stv.tv/scotland/280005-dementia-patients-benefit-from-football-memories/ (please note that the video will start after the short advert is played).

Glasgow Caledonian University’s Applied Knowledge Exchange has published the Winter edition of Exchange magazine.

The magazine focuses on recent business and knowledge transfer activity at GCU. This edition contains details of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) and our work with the energy sector, food and drink companies and our Business Academies with companies.

For more information, please take a look inside the magazine.

An interesting article in the FT on the difficulties in measuring academic impact

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/0ef2fb1e-e400-11e0-bc4e-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1Zp40mrvt

Glasgow Caledonian University’s Applied Knowledge Exchange attended this week’s Offshore Europe conference in Aberdeen, meeting with partners including FMC Technologies and networking with the industry.

During a first day session analysing the Operating Models for the Future, panelists including Oil and Gas UK Chief Executive Malcolm Webb said there were potentially large untapped ‘unconventional’ oil and gas reserves which required investment from the industry and a skilled, international supply chain.

Bob Keiller, CEO of Wood Group PSN, detailed the pros and cons of contracting out operations. He insisted it was important to be an ‘informed buyer’, keeping a close eye on contractor relationships through effective project management.

Global oil and gas solutions provider FMC Technologies is working with GCU to deliver a pioneering five-year research and development collaboration within the subsea oil and gas industry which includes KTPs, PhD studentships and research and development projects to identify new opportunities for safe and efficient oil recovery and to enhance reliability and integrity in the monitoring of subsea installations.

FMC Technologies is to create 240 new research and development and manufacturing jobs in Scotland, many located at its site in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire.

The expansion is being supported with £2.5m in Scottish government grants.

Enterprise Minister Fergus Ewing said: “This decision is testament to the quality and skills of our workforce in engineering and manufacturing. Scotland’s experience in subsea engineering, drilling and fabrication has seen many companies become vital players throughout the world.”

FMC has an R&D partnership with Glasgow Caledonian University – for details, click here.