ISF/15/02 Agenda Item 4.1 4 February 2015

Innovation Scotland Forum Universities Scotland 5 point Action Plan for enhancing university/ business engagement Purpose This paper sets out the university sector’s action plan for further enhancement of university/business engagement with the aim of meeting the ambition set out in Scotland Can Do. Background Scotland’s university sector shares the ambition set out in Scotland Can Do for Scotland to become a world-leading entrepreneurial and innovative nation. Whilst Scotland’s performance is already strong in many areas, with universities working with 19,000 Scottish businesses every year, if we are to meet this ambition there is an ongoing need to enhance our strategy and operations. This plan sets out additional actions being taken forward by universities, in partnership with business and the support agencies. These actions are set out in the context of broader strategic developments including the development of Innovation Centres and Catapults, the enhanced role of Interface, the ongoing extension of easy access to IP through University-Technology.com, and the implementation of Horizon 2020 as an innovation programme. This plan was approved by the Principals of Scotland’s Universities on the 27th of January 2015 at the US Main Committee meeting. This plan reflects the enhancement actions which universities can lead on. It also recognises that there are other issues which restrict company formation and growth where the response requires to be led by others, including:

• securing a strong supply of growth capital for emerging high-potential companies in Scotland; • identifying and deploying management capacity to support companies in their growth; and • increasing substantially the number and range of Scottish businesses which have an appetite for innovation-led growth. In all of these areas universities have an important contribution to make, including providing evidence of the issues based on their experience of supporting company formation and growth. Across all the actions set out in this plan and in addressing those issues led by others, therefore, Scotland’s universities are committed to working through sustained, deeply embedded partnerships. Priority action areas This action plan has been developed through the Universities Scotland Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee and approved as Universities Scotland policy. The plan encompasses the following key work streams: • Engaging in sustained dialogue with each of Scotland’s priority economic sectors through Industry Leadership Groups to ensure barriers to effective partnership are systematically identified and tackled. • Harmonising and simplifying contract, project and partnership negotiations through the development and adoption of business-friendly template contracts and agreements. • Simplifying business access to university knowledge and supporting an informed understanding of the knowledge exchange process. • Raising awareness of the opportunities for business arising from university knowledge, including advocating the potential contribution to product and process innovation, in order to help stimulate the demand for innovation and problem solving from Scotland’s company base. • Expanding our role in company formation through enhanced start up and spin out programmes which draw on the intellectual assets and skills within Scotland’s universities.

Recommendations The Forum is invited to note: • the attached Universities Scotland action plan which addresses a number of the issues identified in the Forum’s previous meetings and workshop; and • that Universities Scotland will monitor progress against the plan through its RKEC and updates will be provided to ISF periodically. Publication • This paper will be published as part of the output of ISF meetings. Further information David Lott ([email protected] or 0131 225 0704) Universities Scotland Dr Charles Marriott ([email protected] or 0131 557 6233) Universities Scotland

Action Plan An initial plan of action for each of the key streams of work is set out below. The actions will continue to develop over time in response to changing requirements and opportunities. A status update against the action plan will be presented to each (quarterly) meeting of Universities Scotland Research and Commercialisation Directors Group (RCDG) and, in summary, to the Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee (RKEC). 1. Engaging in sustained dialogue with Scotland’s priority economic sectors Action

Responsible person

Meet with each Industry Liaison Group (ILG) to identify existing good practice and issues requiring attention and to begin consideration of potential solutions to those.

Convenor RKEC

Integrate agreed actions into ILG strategies as those are refreshed.

Timescale

Status

Jan – Apr 2015

Underway

ILG Chairs (TBC)

TBC

TBC in initial meetings with ILGs

Co-ordinate university engagement with Innovation Centres to ensure identification, communication and sharing of best practice.

Convenor RCDG

Ongoing. 2nd meeting of group due Jan 2015.

Innovation Centre Administrative Hub Group established.

Develop discussion and action planning fora with business sectors and areas not represented in or actively engaged with ILGs.

Convenor RKEC

As required from January 2015

Convenor RCDG

Convenor RCDG

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2. Harmonising and simplifying contract negotiations Action

Responsible person

Timescale

Status

Develop and adopt standard contracts and guidance for Scottish Funding Director of Interface Council’s Innovation Vouchers Programme

Complete by February 2015

Working group with business and multi-partner involvement active.

Review and enhance template contracts and guidance for other business/university interactions

Chair of RCDG Contracts Group

TBC

Ongoing

Implement enhanced template contract arrangements for SME’s in all Scottish universities

Convenor of RKEC

By summer 2015

Under discussion

Encourage application and appropriate use of “Lambert” process and revised template agreements as soon as these are available (expected Spring 2015)

Past Convenor of RCDG

From Spring 2015, (March Update)

In progress

Note: the enhanced contract and negotiation arrangements will also be shared with the Innovation Centres through the mechanism outlined in workstream 1 above.

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3. Simplifying business access to university knowledge Action

Responsible person

Streamline and enhance business referrals between Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Interface and Universities

Director of Interface

Develop and implement an enhanced “FAQ” resource base to assist Scottish companies in their interactions with universities Provide staff within the national Enquiry Fulfilment and Research Service [EFRS] call centre a script that would help enhance the direct referrals to Interface or to academic institutions.

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Timescale

Status

Completed by December 2014. Enhanced referral tracking in place

Report delivered

Director of Interface with Chair of RCDG Contracts Group

To be presented for approval, March 2015

In progress

Director of Interface

Spring 2015

Script completed. Usage being monitored.

Recommendations from harmonisation report incorporated into this Action Plan

Develop a “post-project referral protocol” to ensure businesses are referred on seamlessly to the next appropriate part of the innovation support ecosystem (including Scottish Enterprise and Highlands & Islands Enterprise) following interventions such as Innovation Vouchers and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships.

Convenor of RCDG

Progress report due March 2015

In preparation through Interface

Implement “post-project referral protocol” in all individual HEIs and Innovation Centres.

Convenor of RKEC

Summer 2015

Pending previous action

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4. Raising awareness of the opportunities for business arising from university knowledge Action

Responsible person

Timescale

Status

Develop and promote exemplar case studies based on successful REF 2014 impact submissions

US Senior Policy Officer

Complete by Feb 2015

Parliament showcase event held Jan 2015.

Consider final review reports from Scottish ERDF-funded innovation support projects and develop plan for enhancing future practice accordingly

Convenor of RCDG

Spring 2015

Reports being collated

Multi-partner workshop to identify effective ways to raise business awareness of and demand for innovation and plan further action

Convenor of RKEC

Spring 2015

Proactive promotion and matching of technologies on ut.com website to individual Scottish businesses to raise awareness of opportunities.

Director of Interface

Progress report due March 2015

In progress

Develop and promote a central website page on university facilities / Director of Interface Progress report due In progress assets that are available on a “commercial style” basis to help raise March 2015 awareness of opportunities to businesses and business advisors Note: the promotion of ut.com technologies and university facilities/assets will also be shared with the Innovation Centres through the mechanism outlined in workstream 1 above.

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5. Expanding company formation Action

Responsible person

Timescale

Status

Deliver 90 new start-up companies through the Enterprise Campus programme by the end of 2017

Director of ERI (as lead contractor)

Nov 2014- Dec 2017

Programme launched Nov 2014. First cohort underway

Deliver 30% plus incorporation rate within Converge Challenge top 30 based on increased outreach into staff and student populations;

Director of Converge Challenge

2015-2018, through annual cohorts

Enhanced programme launched Jan 2015

Review scope for increased and enhanced start-up and spin out activity and bring forward recommendations

Chair, US and Scottish Enterprise Liaison Group

Jan- Jun 2015

Work in progress

Develop and adopt a standard approach to the interaction between universities and Scottish Enterprise / RSE Enterprise Fellows

Senior RCDG nominee

Recommendations due Spring 2015

Working Group established

Double the size of cohorts receiving bespoke training through Converge Challenge

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