Academic Expertise for
Business (A4B)
Knowledge transfer from Academia to Business Creating Business Impact from your Research
May 30th 2013
Terry Stubbs
A4B Development Manager
Academic Expertise for Business
Introduction
• 6 year programme (part EU funded)
• A4B supports HE and FE in knowledge
transfer activities to industry
• Aligned with Welsh Government
– Sectors
– Grand Challenges
– Innovation Strategy
Academic Expertise for Business
Aims
• To provide support for academic institutions to
strengthen their capability to exploit their
knowledge in partnership with companies and in
so doing foster R&D, innovation and technology
and its commercial exploitation.
• To enhance and accelerate the transfer of
knowledge and the development of innovative
key technologies from higher and, where
appropriate, further education institutions to
businesses.
Academic Expertise for Business
Typical Projects
• Typical activities:
– TCF (in-house) prove demand
– Proof of Concept – University IPR leads to spinout or licence
deal
– Knowledge Transfer – demonstrating capability, understanding
problems, scoping projects. Services to industry should be
outside of A4B project and at full market rate. Consider
vouchers or SMART
– Networking with Business and Academia
– Collaborative Industrial Research and Experimental
Development - Support for addressing an Industry Wide Issue
• Revenue and Capital costs
Academic Expertise for Business
Opportunity
• Funding to December 2014
• Due to shorter timeline looking for pilot
projects that might inform future A4B
programme
• Interested in new ideas to achieve A4B
Aims – An opportunity for you to do
something interesting
Academic Expertise for Business
Process
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Is the project worth doing and does it meet A4B aims?
Key to any discussion will be your evidence base.
If the proposal lacks sufficient evidence then please approach DRI for
assistance. DRI will advise on their processes including how TCF is
administered and the services they provide in support of your application.
I will want to understand the opportunity or problem the idea will address,
business demand, key objectives, potential benefits, strategic fit, estimated
cost and how the evidence supports your proposal.
Providing we are comfortable there is a good basis to progress we will then
work through the proposal logic by considering four key areas: commercial
case; strategic case; technical options appraisal and project plan. This
follows the application format and is normally done in bullet point form.
Once we are satisfied with the project logic you should then complete the
application form with the assistance of DRI.
I will be happy to read through the final draft once it has gone through the
DRI process. Please get a colleague to proof read it before sending over to
me.
DRI will then submit the proposal to A4B for independent appraisal
Academic Expertise for Business
Discussion
• Questions and Answer Session
and …….
• A chance for you to tell us about you ideas