Nexxus Scotland

Julie Thomson, Knowledge Transfer Officer, Innovation & Research Office, University of the West of Scotland (formerly University of Paisley)

A: Exploitation and application of knowledge is at the heart of the knowledge transfer agenda - it's fundamental to every Higher Education establishment today. The University of Paisley has knowledge transfer firmly imbedded in its strategy as these activities contribute positively to the development of a sustainable research infrastructure and culture across all schools whilst also supporting complementary business streams and enhancing the University's financial position. 
    

My knowledge transfer role is to coordinate and promote knowledge transfer activities across the University. This involves accessing funding routes to enable industry to work with academics.  There are a number of excellent schemes and initiatives which the University can tap into to drive forward innovation within the University and collaboration with external parties. An essential part of my role is meeting academics to find out their expertise/capabilities as well as engaging with local industry to enable match-making.  This also involves the negotiation of contracts and ensuring protection of the University's intellectual property. 

Knowledge transfer activities can be anything from getting graduates with skills into occupations where they can use them, dissemination of new research findings, enabling industry to tap into the expertise of academics or providing research to inform public policy as a few examples.

A: There is no typical day, the great thing about the knowledge transfer job is that it is extremely varied. 

I regularly attend events held by local initiatives in the West of Scotland to engage with local industry and promote the expertise at Paisley. Nexxus is one such initiative that has helped us to network and learn more about local companies in Scotland and ways where the University of Paisley can collaborate with them, eg through taking innovations forward or using the University's expertise to provide solutions or develop new products or processes. 

Coming from a science background, I'm extremely interested in life science opportunities for the University - we have had very interesting discussions recently with a leading West of Scotland bioscience company and there may be opportunities for us to work together to pool our expertise in an exciting new area of science. The University has a broad range of expertise in the life science sector from thin film coatings which have bio/haemo compatible properties to medical ultrasound sensors as well as our Neurovascular Inflammation Group (NIG) providing ground-breaking research on neurovascular regulatory mechanisms and their disturbance during disease processes such as rheumatoid arthritis.

A: Organising this years 3rd Annual Research Conference.  This year's conference was different from previous years, with its ‘Bigger, Brighter, Better' theme and introduction of innovative features such as a Staff Research Award Ceremony and a marquee (complete with chandeliers!) which gave a lively atmosphere enabling engagement of academics and students. For the first time we invited external companies and organisations to attend. We're often too quiet to shout about our successes and so we wanted to take this opportunity to showcase our research across all schools of the University and by both academics and research students alike. The conference was met with enthusiasm by external people who were not aware of the broad range of research activities at the University as well as assisting in productive future collaborations.

A: As many people will know, the University is at an exciting time, the forthcoming merger with Bell College on 1 August 2007 is fast approaching. Together, we'll form the largest new University in Scotland and will have the largest school for nursing and midwifery in Scotland. Members of the Innovation and Research Office here are keen to engage with our new colleagues at the new Hamilton Campus to support them in their research and commercial activities as well as finding opportunities for collaboration with companies in the Lanarkshire area. 

Outside of this I'll continue my discussions with a number of companies in projects relating to Knowledge Transfer Partnerships and applying for SCORE, SMART or Proof of Concept funding etc to take the University's innovations forward and pursue any opportunity for spinning out companies. 

In addition, we're launching a new match-making scheme using the Fresh Talent initiative to enable companies to access the language skills and cultural experience of our international students to help them use their degrees to stay in Scotland and at the same time enable Scottish businesses to expand or enter into international markets.

A: I have always had an interest in technology since I did a Masters in Technology Management at UMIST in 1999 and was involved in the launch of a new state-of-the- art medical innovation during my 5 years working in industry.  My job has made me aware of the outstanding support structure available to entrepreneurs, universities and businesses through local initiatives in the West of Scotland and it inspires me to launch my own technology some day. Working here, I get to be involved in new innovations and technologies on a daily basis. I would love to devise a new groundbreaking medical technology which has huge benefits to society.  However, like most entrepreneurs, having that ground-breaking idea is all that stands in my way..........