1. www.scottish-enterprise.com Moira Forsyth - Innovation & Enterprise Services Rural Innovation Through Knowledge Transfer

2. www.scottish-enterprise.com Why Innovation? Innovation Technology & Engineering RuralTourism Financia l Services Creative Industries Forest & Timber Technologies Energy Life Sciences Food & Drink Textiles Scottish Government Economic Strategy: “Strengthening levels of innovation and commercialisation, including improving the links between our universities and private sector companies” “Solidarity, Cohesion, and Sustainability”

3. www.scottish-enterprise.com Why Rural Innovation? Over 85% of Scotland’s rural businesses are small or micro. Highly dispersed business base = lack of networking Markets are limited in scale and there is limited competition. Less knowledge intense industry = high % land-based businesses Lack of regionally-based HEIs Fewer regionally-produced graduates. Two-tiered Innovation System. Low levels of innovation Few high growth businesses Lack of engagement with the knowledge base.

4. www.scottish-enterprise.com South of Scotland

5. www.scottish-enterprise.com What do we do?

6. www.scottish-enterprise.com How do we do it? 2 Business Development Executives based in rural areas. Intermediaries Identify gap in the knowledge/resources Search for a partner Academic partner match Route to support Paperwork Facilitate Follow up

7. www.scottish-enterprise.com OBJECTIVES 2013 - 2015 Hard Targets 250 new leads (new enquiries). 107 academic searches. 42 funded research projects. 22 Development Projects Soft Targets Cultural Change – Engaging with universities. Confidence to innovate and take risks. Switch Universities on to Opportunities in Rural Areas.

8. www.scottish-enterprise.com What have we achieved April 2013 – Feb 2014? AchievedTarget+/- Number of Enquiries162105+58 Number of Academic Searches7557+18 Number of Collaborative Discussions6357+6 Number of Research Projects1617-1 Number of Development Projects03-3

9. www.scottish-enterprise.com Some Examples… Gourmet Butter Company

10. www.scottish-enterprise.com Annandale Distillery

11. www.scottish-enterprise.com What next and why am I here? Funding ends March 2015 Recognition that additional resource is required Plans in place to continue for another 6 years (2015 – 2021) Looking at additional barriers to engagement with HEIs. Greater cohesion with our partners in Highlands & Islands Enterprise Sub-sector focus – agri-tourism, agri-tech etc Learning from you!!