“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” - Benjamin Franklin

Learn Engage CreateModule : Preparation

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme.This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may

be made of the information contained therein.

Preparation There are no barriers that you cannot overcome with correct

preparation.

• 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

Our aims for this session

"Give a man a fish, and you'll feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you've fed him for a lifetime.“ - Confucius

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• Your Own Communication Channels: website, newsletters • University Research Portal sites e.g. http://eprints.ulster.ac.uk/• University Technology Offer sites e.g. 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 e.g. LinkedIn• For CCI especially:

– clients, current cooperation partners and end consumers

So, what makes a good partnership?

Just getting along?

Research shows a Good Partnership =

Good outcomes are a result of demonstrated commitment

TRUST STABILITY

Our Advice for Good Partnership• Start small (especially for first time SMEs)• Recognise the differing motivations• Availability 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

– See, especially in reference to CCIs, http://www.tag-games.com/

There are lots of case studies, search google video with the term “innovation voucher”

If you know the business make-up prior to course, identify some similar type business case studies

More video case studies …

The University perspective (Waterford IT) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pudH0Ut38I&feature=player_embedded

Shasta Baby Products – Innovation Voucher http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ape1boxZWAY

Large-scale Collaboration

Guiding principles

• Publish without delay

• Prioritise training new graduates

• Competent use of available knowledge

• Effective steps to secure commercialization

How to achieve Positive Outcomes• Overcome 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 yourself

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 would be the key considerations for an SME?– What will be the key considerations for an HEI?

What is 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

• Horizon 2020

• National Sources

What is the Horizon 2020 Programme?http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/

Horizon 2020 in a nutshell…• Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU Research and Innovation

programme ever with nearly €80 billion of funding available over 7 years (2014 to 2020)

• It promises more breakthroughs, discoveries and world-firsts by taking great ideas from the lab to the market

• Horizon 2020 is open to everyone, with a simple structure that reduces red tape and time so participants can focus on what is really important

• Horizon 2020 stimulates SME participation across the whole programme, yet with a particular focus on close-to-market support

Local Sources of Funding - NI

• Invest NI

• Knowledge Transfer Programme

• Innovation Vouchers

• Intertrade Ireland

Invest NI support forInnovation 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 • TDI is 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 Essential Features

Credits: KTP Office at Queen’s University Belfast

Some KTP Specifics• 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 Use by Company Size

KTP Use by Domain

If you are a CCI

look in ALL departments …

not just, for example, Design!

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

References to Pearltrees• Pearltrees is a visual and collaborative curation tool which will

provide you with much more in-depth information on this module’s topic.

• Specifically please visit: http://www.pearltrees.com/learnengagecreate/preparation/id12742878

Any questions whatsoever?

Thank you for your attention!

<insert presenter's name & contact details>

Further extensive material, case studies, exercises, links and more can be found on www.lec-project.eu

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme.This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which

may be made of the information contained therein.