COMMERCIALISATION & INNOVATION
The commercialisation of university research has been identified as a strategic priority by government, economic development agencies and higher education institutions as a route to increasing economic competitiveness. There are a number of commercialisation and technology transfer routes including spin-out companies, start-up companies, technology licensing to existing companies, contract research and consultancy services. BiGGAR Economics has worked with both economic development agencies and universities in developing and assessing commercialisation activities.
PROJECTS
- evaluation of the North East's Collaborative Innovation Partnership (CIP) which aims to effect knowledge transfer of regional university/college research and knowledge strengths into the region's business base, particularly to SMEs;
- evaluation of the North West's Innovation Vouchers programme which encourages business-knowledge provider interaction by awarding vouchers to businesses to be used to commission work from a university, college or private sector knowledge provider;
- appraisals of four Northern Way Innovation Programme project proposals: building a sustainable future for the UK in Printable Electronics; NorthernNET Innovation Technology Platform; Carbon Abatement Technology and Carbon Capture & Storage; and Northern Wind Innovation Programme;
- evaluation of Motivating Merseyside Business to Innovate, an ERDF and NWDA funded brokering initiative pairing SMEs in Merseyside with company mentors or academic teams who worked with them to help them to become more innovative;
- a review of Technology Ventures Scotland (TVS) the forum that aims to provide high level policy input through its engagement with the public, private and academics sectors;
