A ‘single knowledge exchange office’: the policy context Professor Albert Rodger Chair, SFC Research and KE Committee

Putting Learners at the Centre Proposals (1) Coherence in support for innovation – Scottish Government to work with the SFC and with the enterprise bodies as appropriate to review support for knowledge exchange and innovation to ensure it is effective, well aligned and genuinely joined up. SFC to develop proposals for a single Knowledge Exchange Office ( KEO).

Putting Learners at the Centre Proposals (2) The KEO would bring together and co-ordinate these separate functions across Scotland, ultimately creating a single business-facing 'one-stop-shop' with standardised policies and procedures and common terms and conditions for licensing, contract research, consultancies, collaborative research and perhaps also for clinical trials. To be achieved within 2 years

Other policy developments(1) Other relevant policy developments: Consolidation of research funding in a smaller number of universities with a track record of world-leading research that levers the greatest levels of research funding from other sources and maximises economic impact. SFC, Scottish Enterprise, and Highlands & Islands Enterprise to explore the development of 'mini- TICs' to ensure excellent university research is better exploited for the benefit of business, industry and the economy.

Other policy developments(2) Other relevant policy developments: Adoption of ‘easy access IP’ by all institutions in receipt of SFC support for research and knowledge exchange, so that as much intellectual property as possible generated by the sector is readily available to business and industry, particularly to Scottish SMEs. SFC and the Industry Advisory Groups which Scottish Enterprise supports to identify opportunities for industry and universities to work together to increase the number of PhD students working on industrially-led projects

Government Questions What would be the main activities of a single knowledge exchange office? What activities are best left to individual universities? Consultation closes 23 December

Some ideas already….. Collaborations around industry groups (cf. Interface Food And Drink), link here to mini- TICs? Collaborations founded on / drawing from research pools? Collaborations to deliver a single ‘shop window’ eg. UT.com, Interface? Formal aggregations of institutions’ KE resources (post 92s)?

Some ideas already….. Shared services to enhance capacity and quality – sharing institutions’ specialisms? A single brand? A single governance structure? An opportunity to simplify the landscape post SEEKIT / ERDF?

Discussion What enhancements would industry most value? Are there structural solutions, as opposed to cultural and behavioural? Are there approaches that are foundations for further strategic development – either industry or publically funded (BIS / Europe)?