Web Tools for Knowledge Transfer
- Minimizes administrative costs of collaboration to match potential business partners
- Enhances profitably by raising awareness of funding available for collaboration between business and higher education
OCC designed a web-fronted database to help academics and businesses work more effectively together. It was developed to benefit business and academics as part for the Government's Business Support Programme.
Database brings together different players
A key part of the programme is to increase UK productivity by funding business support programmes for Technology and Innovation, Access to Finance and Best Business Practice, Regional investment. Support is included for R&D, and Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP).
Benefits to business
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships benefits British businesses and
knowledge bases (universities, research institutions and colleges)
by:
- assigning a KTP associate (a graduate) to work with a business
for 1-3 years on an agreed project supervised by the knowledge
base
- fresh research transferred into the business, increasing
productivity and competitiveness.
- providing graduates with business experience which can lead to
qualifications such as NVQ in management.
OCC designs web-fronted database
Dave Pippard, Technology Transfer & Innovation's Managing
Director, asked OCC to become the company's IT partner for the KTP
product. As Mr. Pippard explains,
"We needed a web-fronted database that could be accessed by
academics, businesses, government stakeholders and the public.
Authorised partners need to enter live data via the website, which
passes through to a secure database for analysis and report
generation. Automated emailing assigns tasks to associates,
and tracked by all those involved in a specific project."
Automated processes added to system
The database synchronises with the master KTP database, thus,
information is fresh and backed up. OCC's sister company, Oxford
Internet Consultants (Oxinet) developed the web aspects of the
system and automatic emailing. Oxinet hosts the system on their
secure servers and continues to support it.
Dr. Reynold Greenlaw, at OCC advises:
"The project was completed before the 6 month's deadline. The
project shows that technology can automate statistical
calculations, sending emails, track tasks and generate
reports."
To find out more about how a web-fronted database with automated
processes could help your organisation or if you are thinking of a
similar project, please call for a FREE initial consultation
on 01865 305200 or email me: info@oxfordcc.co.uk.
* The DTI (The Department of Trade and Industry) is now part of
the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS).).
