WP4 SURVEY RESULTS

Respondents by country and sector

WP4 SURVEY RESULTS Respondents distance from nearest town

WP4 SURVEY RESULTS Profile of respondents by sector

WP4 SURVEY RESULTS Opinion of local community Most respondents agreed that their community was socially vibrant and active (53%) and that the community had potential to be innovative but needed help in order to become more innovative (56 %) (36%) of the public sector disagreed with the statement that there were lots of opportunities for new business creation in their community 43% of community organisations disagreed with the idea that the community were good at working with public agencies This group also disagreed with the statement that the local community actively supported an innovative business culture.

WP4 SURVEY RESULTS Communities were aware of higher education’s role in providing local learning opportunities (54 %) - but much less aware of Higher Education Institutions working with local businesses (7 %) There was also general agreement across sectors that regional universities need to become more engaged with businesses (47%).

WP4 SURVEY RESULTS There was good awareness of the role of the public sector in supporting innovation (59%) and also knowledge of the public sector and businesses working together in local communities (45%) Top opportunities that respondents thought would help make businesses more sustainable in their local community were: Better collaboration (44%) Better knowledge of funding sources for developing new products and processes (31%) Better support for links between businesses and regional universities (30%)

WP4 SURVEY RESULTS What would help make your community more innovative in creating new employment? Better awareness of funding for new business opportunities; Better communication between businesses and universities Better guidance on funding opportunities to support business opportunities

WP4 SURVEY RESULTS 54.5 % of respondents agreed that effective leadership was very important to the success of community projects However, it appears that this suggestion is supported by more respondents from the private and public sector (60% and 58%) compared to respondents from the University sector (41%)

WP4 SURVEY RESULTS Five key skills respondents thought were important for leaders within their community: 73% creativity and problem solving 63% communication skills 56% understanding and empathy with the local community 56% adapting to different people, groups and situations 46% knowledge of local policy/funding, etc

WP4 SURVEY RESULTS What one thing would help support better links between public bodies, local businesses and regional universities to stimulate innovative development ideas in your community?

WP4 SURVEY RESULTS REMOTENESS DATA (COMPARING DATA BETWEEN RESPONDENTS 0-5K & 100K + FROM NEAREST TOWN OF 10,000 INHABITANTS) General agreement that communities were socially vibrant and active and had the potential to innovate but needed help to do so Difference of opinion over the question “my community actively supports an innovative business culture”. Less remote respondents (48%) agreed with this statement whereas more remote respondents disagreed (50%). When asked whether there were lots of opportunities for new business creation in their community the less remote group had no strong opinion (42%) while the remoter group disagreed (38%) There was also a slightly different stance on whether the community was good at working with public agencies to increase the opportunities for new business creation with the less remote group agreeing but the remoter group having no strong opinion. A Similar response was obtained from the question “My community

WP4 SURVEY RESULTS Is the regional university very involved in research that leads to new products and/or services in my community? 0-5 km group agreed (39%) 100 km group disagreed (42%) Does the local university provide learning opportunities appropriate to stimulating business innovation? Remote group disagreed (42%) More urban group agreed (42%) There was agreement that the regional university needs to become more engaged with businesses but a difference in that respondents nearer to a town agreed (58%) but the remoter group strongly agreed (42%)

WP4 SURVEY RESULTS What one thing would help to support better links public bodies, local businesses and the regional university to stimulate innovative development ideas in your community?

WP4 SURVEY RESULTS What key advice/recommendations would you give to policy makers when developing future strategies aimed at nurturing a more innovative business culture in remote rural and isolated communities?

WP4 SURVEY RESULTS

Data from focus groups at WP3 conference in Skye Which practices and/or processes should we consider to address the implications for policy changes in rural and remote areas (and what are the implications that may impact on the triple helix model)? Simplify policy frameworks Recognise the strengths from collaborative and interdisciplinary working Universities shaped around needs of economic area/region

WP4 SURVEY RESULTS