Universities: Opening Doors to Business

Did you know that by working with universities your organisation could gain access to a wide range of opportunities and resources? Including: Funding • Industry projects • Graduate & student placements • Knowledge and expertise Research & Innovation • Training & Development • Consultancy Access to state of the art equipment & technology • Facilities & Venues And much more...

This booklet comprises of a number of projects and initiatives available to businesses, giving a brief introduction to some of the types of support and opportunities available. This list is not exhaustive and new projects and initiatives are continually being developed throughout the universities on an ongoing basis. The Dragon Innovation Partnership (DIP), a collaboration between Swansea Metropolitan University, Swansea University and University of Wales Trinity Saint David aims to assist businesses and organisations in reaching the relevant expertise and resources from the universities and help in facilitating development. The strength of the Partnership lies in the diversity of expertise and resources across the three universities, as well as the synergy of knowledge they share.

The Business Development Officers that make up the Partnership are: Lisa Lucas,

Swansea Metropolitan University  [email protected]  +44 (0)1792 481163 Cal Heath,

Swansea University  [email protected]  +44 (0)1792 606060 Dave Guite,

Swansea University  [email protected]  +44 (0)1792 606060 Duncan Gardner,

University of Wales Trinity St David  [email protected]  +44 (0)1267 676861

For more information on The Dragon Innovation Partnership and for more information on any of the projects, initiatives or opportunities available through working with the universities please contacts the team using the contact details listed above. Alternatively, please visit the website at:  www.dragonip.ac.uk

Ehealth Industries Innovation Centre (ehi²)

Software Alliance Wales (SAW)

The Institute of Sustainable Design (ISD)

ehi2 Centre works with companies in creating new, innovative ehealth products and services with global market potential. It provides businesses with opportunities to test, adapt, improve and evaluate ehealth products and services in a safe and reliable environment to maximise their competitive advantage. It ad-vises and assists companies and where needed, facilitates ac-cess to clinicians, academic experts, NHS organisations, and national NHS IT and ICT programmes. It works with the NHS and other health systems to identify needs for new products and services.

Software Alliance Wales (SAW) offers subsidised ICT Business Workshops, ICT and Software training, Industrial Student Placements and an ICT company certification scheme to businesses across the Convergence areas of Wales. SAW’s diverse portfolio and business reach allows companies across the region to network and share best practice. The project builds on the principles of successful ITWALES initiative, which is renowned for its student placements and support for Welsh ICT business.

The Institute of Sustainable Design (ISD) is a pan-Wales initiative that helps businesses to help themselves. At ISD, we provide expert advice and support to qualifying businesses and individuals looking to develop commercially sustainable routes to the energy, engineering, life sciences and creative industry markets.

 [email protected]  www.ehi2.swansea.ac.uk  01792 606838

For more information visit: www.softwarealliancewales.com  [email protected]  01792 295881

Through a combination of workshops, seminars and oneto-one business mentoring sessions, our business, design and technical advisors can give you the capacity, confidence and industry connections to innovate in-house and drive your business to a profitable future. ISD offers workshops and mentoring in the following areas: • Enterprise design • Advanced CAD • Rapid prototyping For more information or to book your place on a workshop please visit www.isdwales.com or contact Nadine Davies at [email protected]

Advanced Communication Technologies (ACT) ACT will support R&D and knowledge exchange for SMEs & micro-enterprises that want to capitalise on new internet-related business models & associated communication technologies based in West Wales and the South East of Ireland. The Ireland-Wales cross-border area suffers from a relatively weak RTDI base, particularly amongst the indigenous SME /micro-enterprise sector. ACT, via its three-tiered activity approach of seminars, specialist workshops & specialist supports, will tackle this by combining the expertise & resources of the project partners and their associated stakeholders. The partners representing regional government, educational sector & enterprise-support will create an initiative that is unique in Ireland & Wales. This will enable the multi-sectoral SME beneficiaries of ACT to explore ways to build communication technologies into their business strategies. Key research areas that ACT will focus on are brand creation, ‘word-of-mouth’ marketing, User Generated Content (UGC) & ‘Freemium’. Through the seminars and specialist workshops and supports, participating SMEs will be assisted in developing skills and competencies thus enhancing their competitiveness outlook.

Access to Masters (ATM) The ACT project is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Ireland Wales Programme (INTERREG 4A) “ACT will support businesses based in West Wales and South East Ireland to create a stronger online presence”  [email protected]  [email protected]

The aim of ATM is to support the provision of Masters level higher level skills to meet identified skills gaps. The project enables businesses and predominantly SMEs to access Masters level students to assist in research and development, by linking taught Masters projects with needs of businesses. Participating companies could benefit from; access to fully funded highly skilled postgraduates; an opportunity to increase research capacity and market exposure and PR opportunities. Contact us on:  01792 513460/ 01792 481163  www.higherskillswales.co.uk/atm/

The Institute of Life Science (ILS) The Institute of Life Science is Wales' premier purposebuilt medical research and business incubation facility. It is a partnership between Swansea University, Welsh Government, the NHS, IBM and other business partners. The vision for the ILS is to advance medical science through multi- and interdisciplinary research and innovation for the benefit of human health, and to link those benefits to the economy by encouraging interaction with other organisations in a spirit of Open Innovation. The first phase of the ILS vision delivered a state-of-theart building housing over 200 professional specialists in medical research, business incubation and technology transfer. It also brought a High Performance Computing infrastructure through an effective collaboration with computer giant, IBM. The second phase of the vision boasts a further 6000 square metres of facilities to build capacity, expertise and infrastructure for the benefit of the health and wealth of the nation. ILS Phase Two houses a range of fully operational business incubation units, a new Clinical Research Facility and an Imaging Suite. It is home to the innovative Centre for NanoHealth as well as the College of Medicine's public health, population sciences and health services research and associated facilities and initiatives including the Health Informatics Research Laboratories, the NHS Wales Research Informatics Laboratories and the ehealth industries innovation centre (ehi²). The ILS is partly funded through the European Union Convergence Funding Programme and has a special interest in assisting Welsh SMEs.  [email protected]  01792 513705

Academi Hywel Teifi Academi Hywel Teifi work in partnership with a number of organisations offering a wide ranging programme of courses across the region. There are courses at all levels catering for people who want to start learning Welsh as well as those who wish to improve their Welsh or make further progress in their learning. They provide specialist services for delivering Welsh language training for the workplace. Many employers now see the advantage of communicating bilingually and are looking to increase the skills of their staff through Welsh in the Workplace training. They can offer a comprehensive advice service and help you plan a suitable training programme for your employees.  [email protected]  01792 602070

Work Based Learning in Engineering A practical study solution for those in employment What do we offer? • Learning modules designed around the employers’ needs • Flexible, bite size learning at CQFW level 4 to 7 • 10 to 20 credits per module • Taught (3 days over 3 weeks) or on-line options, plus work based assignments

Let us know your Up-Skilling, IPD and CPD requirements and we will get back to you.  [email protected]  01792 602625

Is there funding available? YES - this programme is funded by the EU’s convergence European Social Fund, through Welsh Government (conditions apply) • • • • • • • • • • •

Opportunities for those in employment to gain higher level skills and key competences Vocational education, attractive to those in employment Providing training across engineering disciplines, which is user– friendly, accessible, engaging and enjoyable for students An innovative way of providing high quality University level learning in the workplace Applying academic concepts and theories to projects within the working environment Providing technical knowledge and understanding, with benefits to both employee and employer WBL offers opportunities for Up-Skilling, Initial & Continuing Professional Development Accredited qualifications - credits gained can be used towards Professional Chartered Registration & Post Graduate Qualifications Allows employees to fit their study around their working requirements Increasing employee effectiveness Helping businesses remain competitive

CIRIC The Creative Industries Research and Innovation Centre (CIRIC) based in Swansea Metropolitan University, was established in 2005 and is a knowledge transfer centre for projects that support the creative industries in Wales. Current projects include Moving Image Wales, which has a Red One camera and supports the digital media industry, the Textiles Technologies Project, which supports the textiles and apparel industries, CIME, which supports business through creative intervention and ACT (Advanced Communication Technologies) which advises companies on the use of emerging technologies. In addition, IPCRES is also based in CIRIC and is developing and disseminating research about durational and event based practices. Alongside the numerous projects operating within CIRIC, there is also a Design Bureau, with water jet cutting, laser cutting and fabric printing services.  www.smu.ac.uk/ciric  [email protected]  01792 481241

University of Wales, Newport

Prifysgol Cymru, Casnewydd

Cutting & Fabrication Centre The Knowledge Transfer Centre in Cutting and Fabrication Technology of composite materials and Non-destructive testing (NDT) is part of the knowledge transfer activities at SMU. With facilities to manufacture components in both traditional materials (metals / plastics) and composite materials, linked with the university’s facilities in NDT, this new development provides a powerful resource for the manufacturing industry. The centre has particular experience and expertise in near to market product engineering and testing, with a track record of research that has direct economic benefit to Welsh industry. Specific activities include: • Composite prototype manufacture. • Comprehensive destructive and non-destructive testing and analysis facilities. • Advice and guidance on manufacture and testing of composite components. • Feasibility studies for testing strategies.  [email protected] [email protected]  01792 481168 / 01792 481000 Ext. 4412

Active Communities Through Interregional Opportunities and Networks (ACTION) The key theme of this Interreg funded project is social enterprise development, and in particular, the design and piloting of ‘social franchise’ concepts. The project will be working to identify innovative ideas and successful social enterprises which trade within Carmarthenshire and County Waterford and then working with these sector groups to ‘franchise’ their activities, with all their associated social benefits, to appropriate groups within the partner region. www.irelandwales.ie/projects/priority_2_theme_2/action  [email protected]  01267 676748

Go Wales Graduate Opportunities Wales offer a variety of services to help recruit and retain graduate staff. You could benefit from offering work experience to a student or graduate, take advantage of the financial support for recruiting a graduate through a work placement or advertise a vacancy free of charge. GO Wales also offer SMEs in Wales a Graduate Training & Development Fund to help with the cost of training graduates.  http://www.gowales.co.uk/en/Employer  01792 481109 / 01267 676829

Mentoring our Workforce

Lateral

Elevate

'Mentoring our Workforce'is part of the Work Based Learning Programme, funded by the EU’s Convergence European Social Fund, through the Welsh Government. The module is designed to identify and train appropriate members of staff to act as work-based mentors. The module aims to enable participants to gain awareness of issues involved in mentoring and to improve individual performance in the workplace. Mentoring our Workforce will also enable the participants to identify and pilot a mentoring process that meets the needs and culture of the workplace.

Liberating Aptitudes by Technology Enhanced Recognition and Accreditation of Learning aim’s to support the development of staff working in small to medium sized enterprises in Wales. This project will support your workforce in identifying and claiming credit for their own experiential learning.

The Elevate CYMRU project is part of the Work Based Learning programme, funded by the European Social Fund, through the Welsh Government. The project aims to build a Pan Wales approach to the leadership and management high level skills needs of micro, small and medium to large sized businesses (including Retail). Accredited training is delivered through four University led networks encompassing the Convergence areas of Wales. If you are a private sector company based in the Convergence areas of Wales then support provided by the programme is either fully or part funded. Each student will be supported by a personal tutor and no prior qualifications are needed.

 [email protected]  01267 676813

'LATERAL' is part of the Work Based Learning Programme, funded by the EU’s Convergence European Social Fund, through the Welsh Government. Laura Stafford  [email protected]

 [email protected]  01267 676811

ASTUTE Advanced Sustainable Manufacturing Technologies (ASTUTE) aims to enable the manufacturing industry in West Wales and the Valleys to grow by adopting more advanced technologies, and at the same time improve its sustainability by reducing its environmental impact etc. This will be achieved by a Partnership of Universities throughout Wales that will harness the engineering, science and business expertise within them to improve the economic prosperity of the Convergence Region. ASTUTE has been part-funded by the EU’s Convergence European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government. The £27million project targets the aerospace and automotive sectors, as well as other high technology manufacturing companies to create sustainable, higher value goods and services and bring them to a global market. The project is led by Swansea University, in collaboration with the Universities of Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardiff, Cardiff Metropolitan, Glyndwr, Swansea Metropolitan, and the University of Wales, Newport. The ASTUTE team can assist companies throughout the different stages of the manufacturing process with Business Advice and Assistance or Applied Industrial Research in: • • • • • • •

Design and Innovation Modelling Analysis and Simulation Materials (Metals, Ceramics, Polymers, Bio-materials, Composites, Coatings), Manufacturing Route Lifecycle Analysis Market Deployment

STEM Projects with companies can range from a few weeks up to a year, thus enabling a substantial input to a business. If you are a manufacturing enterprise (self-employed, SME or non-SME) in West Wales and the Valleys, please contact us and we will be happy to explain the various options for helping you.  [email protected] www.astutewales.com

Swansea Metropolitan University and Glyndwr University offer a unique opportunity for experienced and skilled people, already working in large companies and SME’s, to gain access to a part-time degree in engineering. This project provides engineering-based businesses with the opportunity to develop a workforce with the high-level skills needed to benefit from rapidly changing technology across a number of engineering sectors. Intensive development in engineering science and mathematics, coupled with recognition of existing skills and knowledge by APL (accreditation of prior learn-ing) enables employees to gain a University of Wales BEng honours degree by part-time, fast-track study.  [email protected]  01792 481168

LEAD Wales LEAD Wales is a highly successful leadership development programme specifically designed for ownermanagers of SMEs to enhance their leadership skills and take their business to the next level. The programme is fully funded by European Social Fund and Welsh Government, and delivered by Swansea University to SME owner-managers situated in the Welsh Convergence Region. Delegates are matched with their own Business Coach, attend Action Learning Sets and Masterclass Workshops. The programme is practical and an opportunity to work on the Business rather than in the Business. Contact:  [email protected]  01792 606738

Welsh Centre for Printing and Coating In addition to extensive facilities for commercial & packaging printing WCPC has created a Knowledge Transfer for Functional Materials. With open access facilities supporting the use of printing as a major disruptive technology for efficient, environmentally friendly advanced manufacturing for applications as diverse as automotive, garments, packaging and point of care medical diagnostics. This allows the opportunity for conventional print facilities to move in to new market sectors. Current work on printed electronics and biosensors offers exciting and interesting opportunities for both industry and graduates. This compliments the existing support that the WCPC already offers to companies on areas such as quality and productivity improvements, process mapping and solutions to specific problems. Contact us on:  [email protected]  jttp://www.swan.ac.uk/printing  01792 295091

Centre for NanoHealth The Centre for NanoHealth is a £21.6 million open innovation environment facilitating companies, researchers, NHS clinicians and aca-demics to develop new generation healthcare using Nanotechnology. The Centre offers state of the art facilities and equipment; research and academic strengths and expertise; and access to collabora-tions and networks. For more information visit: www.nanohealth.swansea.ac.uk Contact us on:  [email protected]  01792 602985

Swansea Nano Swansea Nano is an open access facility dedicated to providing solutions to industrial problems. Our expert team can offer advice, technology feasibility reviews and technology demonstrations to industry on a no cost basis. The centre has access to over £10m of equipment. To find out how these facilities can help your company visit us at Swansea University – or for a no obligation consultation on your industrial problems, contact Swansea Nano today. Contact: Dr. Owen J Guy  [email protected]  01792 513181 Facilities & Expertise Swansea Nano Knowledge Transfer Centre provides fast turnaround R&D support and open access to state of the art facilities to industry. Including the following: • • • • • • • • •

Materials Analysis Photonics Photovoltaics Test & Measurement Semiconductors Fabrication & MEMS Sensors Lighting Surface Characterisation & Imaging

The Welsh Intelligent Polymer Processing Consortium for Functional Applications (WIP2C). WIP2C is a pan-Wales collaborative project that brings together research expertise in the field of intelligent/functional polymers and their use in fields such as Display Technologies, Novel Computing and Brain Computer Interfacing. As well as applications, there will be focus on volume production; including printed electronics together with simulation and modelling of processing and performance. A series of themed workshops followed by separate focus group meetings are being held during 2012/13 across Wales. Their aim is to identify future work programmes, academic and industrial collaborations and potential funding sources. Anybody working on or interested in the exploitation of functional polymers is welcome to attend. The project is led by the Welsh Centre for Printing and Coating (WCPC) at Swansea University in collaboration with the Institute of Mathematics and Physics (IMAPS) at Aberystwyth University and the Schools of Electronic Engineering and Chemistry at Bangor University. Please visit our website for more information: www.wip2c.org/  [email protected]  01792 295533 This project is funded by the EU’s Convergence European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government.

Textiles Technologies Project The project works with the broad range of disciplines who are involved in the design, development and manufacture of textile related products. This sector is diverse, and ranges from fashion to office seating, architextiles to aircraft interiors, performance sportswear and wearable technologies to textile based art, protective clothing and safety products, and many other areas. Specific activities include: Individually tailored collaborative research and development on textile related product development and processes. Advice and guidance on supply chain opportunities Engagement in technology transfer seminars and workshops. Visit:  http://www.ttpwales.co.uk  [email protected]  01554 748238

School of Digital Media

With ...

GamesLab

"Digital Media is a rapidly changing phenomenon, offering exciting prospects to young people with the right qualifications. The School of Digital Media is committed to preparing students for this new world. We have strong links with industry, use the latest releases of industry standard software and have extensive facilities for the creation of 3D animation, computer games, audio, video and interactive content for the web and digital distribution, all using the latest techniques. The School includes a dedicated team of friendly staff, many of whom are from industry."

Skillset Media Academy Wales is the centre for cuttingedge, vocational media education and training in Wales. A recognised centre of excellence within the UK-wide Skillset Academy network, we offer a range of degree programmes, training opportunities, international partnerships and industry interaction, creating an environment which encourages innovation and creativity. We are a partnership between the University of Wales, Newport; University of Glamorgan, Swansea Metropolitan University and Aberystwyth University, through which we offer programmes and training in all areas of the creative media sector.

GamesLab Wales is a digital games development initiative between University of Glamorgan and Swansea Metropolitan University. The project is funded by Academics for Business (A4B) and aims to inspire and assist games development in Wales. The project is dedicated to kick-starting the games industry in Wales, with state of the art games development and testing facilities based in Cardiff and Swansea. GamesLab Wales offers creative and technical support to existing companies and work based learning opportunities for graduates.

Contact: Paul Hazel, Head of the School of Digital Media Swansea Metropolitan University  [email protected]

Our family of programmes includes Skillset Academi+, an ESF-funded scheme providing vocational training for the creative media industries in West Wales and the Valleys; and Transform@Lab, the MEDIA-funded multi-platform lab for European media graduates. Skillset Academi+  [email protected]  02920 480456

For more information visit:  www.gameslabwales.com  [email protected]

Swansea Metropolitan University, Community Engagement Swansea Metropolitan University has always had a long standing commitment to community engagement. By working closely with the students and staff, numerous links have been made with local groups and businesses. These relationships are important in enriching both the community group and the students’ learning experience.

It has been the Met’s intention to create projects that are sustainable over time and they have been successful in establishing long term projects with groups such as Barnardo’s Cymru and The Phoenix Centre in Townhill. SMU are always looking to diversify the range of projects undertaken and link up students from different departments. Projects such as Young Reading Dragons Literacy saw Performing Arts and Education students working alongside each other and Arts in Action involves Art & Design, Performing Arts and Technical Theatre students delivering creative and engaging projects to school children in the area. With a substantial award from Arts Council Wales (ESF funding through Welsh Government), SMU has been engaging young people who have been identified as NEET with a range of art based projects. They have partnered with established art providers such as YMCA, TAN Dance, Theatr Fforwm Cymru and Oyster Education to create Project Olion. This has enabled a wide variety of projects to be offered to the young people including dance, film, drama, music production and art.

The engagement work at Swansea Metropolitan University equips the students with real-life skills and commercial experience – this will continue to be the priority. See the CARES website for further information: www.smu.ac.uk/cares If you would like any further information about any of the engagement work or have an idea for a project, please contact: Lucy Beddall  [email protected]  01792 482 012

Technocamps What is Technocamps?

BEACON Biorefinery Centre of Excellence

Technocamps is a £6 million project led by Swansea University in partnership with the Universities of Bangor, Aberystwyth and Glamorgan that provides daily and weekly sessions to young people aged 11-19 on a range of exciting computing-based topics such as programming, robotics, cryptography, animation and much more.

BEACON is led by Aberystwyth University in collaboration with partners at Bangor and Swansea Universities. It is backed with £10.6 million from the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government. BEACON will build on research already underway at Aberystwyth University’s Institute of Biological Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) to produce fuels from energy crops such as high-sugar grasses like rye. It will also enable Swansea University to focus on developing their prior expertise in using bacteria and fungi to digest, or ferment, plant matter within the bio-refining process. Bangor University will build on work to develop new materials from plants which can be used to develop innovative products, having recently discovered that compounds found in some local plants can be used to control problems like potato blight. We are seeking to: • Establish links between the business community and academia within Wales • Develop new products and processes that will support economic growth • Create highly skilled jobs in the area of green biotech • Support inward investment • Promote science excellence from Wales

Backed by £3.9 million from the European Social Fund through the Welsh Government, the project delivers a series of outreach programmes to schools, colleges and other educational providers within the convergence area of Wales, inspiring young people to consider the computing-based topics underpinning the STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Technocamps has the long term goal of encouraging them to pursue careers in an area that will drive economic growth in Wales.  [email protected]  01792 606890 Twitter: @technocamps www.technocamps.com

Professor Diane Kelly  [email protected] http://www.beaconwales.org/

Strata Florida Heritage Landscape Tourism Project In April 2011 University of Wales Trinity Saint David received a grant of £177,136 from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development under the funding stream Axis 3: Improving rural life and economy, measure 323 Conservation and upgrading of the rural heritage. Key activities for the project include: • Working with local tourism businesses to include the heritage in their branding and marketing • Enhancing the tourism assets through interpretation and trails • Marketing and community events • Website for visits and the community • Running the Wales National Dig 2012 • Heritage management of key sites Businesses in rural Ceredigion can access information and heritage advice from the Senior Project Officer, Martin Locock  [email protected]  01570 424756

HERCULES - Heritage and Culture for Learning, Empowerment and Sustainable Tourism Summary The HERCULES project pilots an innovative education and community development approach to empower communities to develop sustainable cultural tourism products built on a ‘Sense of Place’ defined as; embracing the distinctive sights, sounds and experiences rooted in a country, including the unique and memorable qualities that resonate with local people and visitors alike (Welsh Assembly Government). HERCULES combines training and community capacity building with a crossborder regional social network to create new sustainable tourism business opportunities and jobs. • • • • • •

Individual community members Local history groups/ community associations Tourism enterprises/ SMEs Welsh/ Irish diaspora Welsh/ Irish societies overseas Cultural tourists

Fiona Davies  [email protected]  01267 676862

Coracle Coracle is an inclusive programme of cross-border activities improving competitiveness in a commercial landscape and employability for creative practitioners in South East Ireland and South West Wales. Development of these higher-level skills for the creative and cultural sector is through delivery of short courses, workshops and organisation of exchanges of knowledge and best practice. The MBA in Professional Arts Management is a cornerstone of the project and will be FREE for those enrolling in 2012. The project is part funded by the European Development Fund through the Interreg 4a programme.  [email protected]

“LCRI Marine. The LCRI Marine project is a collaboration of all the leading academic marine institutions in Wales and aims to enable, support and help build a sustainable marine energy sector in Wales. It provides the independent and world-class research essential to move the marine renewable energy industry forward. The project team is involved in the development and application of tools which optimise the performance of the technology. It also evaluates devices that recover energy from waves, tidal streams and tidal ranges around the Welsh coast. In particular, the group considers the likely effects that these devices have on the environment, such as their effect on seabed communities, sediment transport and marine wildlife”. Contact: Sherryl Bellfield  [email protected]

The Architectural Glass Centre (AGC) The AGC in Swansea is the commercial arm of the renowned Swansea School of Architectural Glass at Swansea Metropolitan University. Services cover most aspects of commissioning, manufacturing, installing decorative glasswork, restoration and conservation. Consultancy includes; design, artist information and potential sources of funding. Commissions include; decorative and stained glass windows, signage and other decorative features. Project management includes the supervision of projects, costings and contracts.  [email protected]  01792 481163

Strategic Insight Programme The Strategic Insight Programme (SIP) is a collaborative, pan-Wales programme, funded by HEFCW, encouraging innovation and facilitating interaction between university staff and public, private and voluntary sector organisations. SIP builds capacity for Welsh Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to establish strategic links with external organisations, demonstrating the benefits of partnerships with HEIs. The programme facilitates this by providing seed funding for short-term placements aimed at developing new cross-sector relationships, encouraging development of strategically beneficial collaborative projects in a supportive environment.  [email protected]  01443 483690

The Dragon Innovation Partnership also work with The Open University... The Open University for business in Wales By listening to and understanding the requirements of businesses The Open University in Wales provides flexible solutions to business critical issues. The Open University (OU) has over 25 years' success in fulfilling organisational needs from large corporates to SMEs across various industry sectors.

Our distinctive approach to knowledge transfer is exemplified by our current partnerships: • The Centre for Electronic Imaging, with e2V • Partnership with the Environment Agency and others on climate change mitigation and adaptation • Collaboration with Rolls-Royce Marine (Ltd) and EMDA in materials engineering

The OU has the training expertise, scale and reach to deliver the management development and business skills to drive your business forward. See our skills courses. The OU offers training courses particularly relevant to your sector with particular strengths in Health and Social Care, IT and Telecoms, Engineering, Energy and Education sectors.

Kevin Pascoe Employer Engagement Development Manager  [email protected]

By identifying the skills, knowledge and behavioural changes needed to optimise your business performance, we build bespoke training courses that impact immediately on workforce practice More than 50% of the university’s research is ranked 'internationally excellent' and 14% ‘world leading’. We have major research collaborations with top-ranked research institutions and with business partners throughout the world. The Open University has major research collaborations with top-ranked research institutions and with business partners throughout the UK and worldwide. These partnerships draw on our expertise in sustainable technologies, exploration science, knowledge transfer, ambient technologies, environmental change management, and life sciences, as well as in business management, public policy development and support for creative industries.

Notes...

Information also available in Welsh, Electronic and Large Print. Please contact: [email protected] 01792 481163