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Manchester’s innovation ecosystem
INNOPOLIS, an INTERREG IVC project, has organised a study visit and workshop meeting in Manchester between 16th and 20thof May 2011. The scope of the study visit has been to understand the technology transfer that is taking place in Manchester innovation ecosystem and the practices of cooperation between enterprises and academia in University Cities. During the study visit the participants were introduced to ten (10) major organizations that are considered as key actors in the innovation ecosystem of Manchester. The study visit and partners meeting have been hosted by Salford University and Manchester: Knowledge Capital, which are participating to the INNOPOLIS Project as well.
Salford Centre for Research and Innovation
The Salford Centre for Research & Innovation (SCRI) in the Built & Human Environment is funded by the Engineering and Physical Research Council (EPSRC), in recognition of the leading role the University of Salford has played in construction and built and human environment research excellence. Established in January 2002, the centre has received renewed funding until 2011.
SCRI brings together a diverse group of leading international academics from the Schools of the Built Environment, Computing Science & Engineering, and Art & Design. SCRI is positioned within the only, and most highly rated 6* Built and Human Environment (BuHu) research institute in Britain.
Related link: Salford Centre for Research and Innovation
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) Best Practice and Case Studies
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) is Europe’s leading programme helping businesses to improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills that reside within the UK knowledge base.
Related link : Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP)
Innovation Vouchers, University of Salford
Innovation Vouchers are a Solutions for Business product which enable small and medium-sized businesses in England to buy specialist support from knowledge-based institutions to help in the development of new products, services and processes.
Innovation Vouchers make it easier for more small businesses to engage with the knowledge base and, in particular, with universities.
Benefits for businesses include:
- ease of access to knowledge base experts
- new skills and knowledge retained in the businesses
- improved business ability to exploit new ideas
Related links
Innovation Vouchers Business link
Salford Energy House tour and presentation
Salford Energy House is an “old-build” traditional Salford style house, 1920’s, constructed from reclaimed materials to represent 20% of the UK’s current building stock.
The house has been constructed within an environmentally controllable laboratory in which levels of heat, light, humidity and even wind can be independently adjusted and managed; enabling the development and testing of new low-carbon materials, technologies and products.
MediaCityUK
In 2011, the University of Salford will open a unique digital learning, teaching and research space at MediaCityUK. It will be located at the heart of six national BBC departments and hundreds of independent creative, digital and media organisations. Over 1,500 students will enjoy exceptional opportunities to work with media professionals using the very latest industry specified equipment, studios and labs. This is considered to place them in prime position for digital and media careers. The production suites, studios and digital infrastructure have been informed and specified by industry and future proofed for emerging creative technologies. The facilities will have four floors with: HD TV studios, Radio broadcast studios, Digital media and performance labs, post-production suites, a living lab research facility, and meeting rooms with video conferencing The University building will be the only one at MediaCityUK which has a space open for everyone to use. To realise the community potential of this, an ambitious schedule of public events will welcome over 30,000 people a year to MediaCityUK. It is intended to help develop new methods of teaching and to drive interdisciplinary relationships between different schools and programme areas. It will help develop new and creative ideas and will be a true partnership between education and the community.
About MediaCityUK
MediaCity is a city designed specifically around the media industry bringing together all the ingredients that make a great place to live, work and visit. It’s a fairly broad audience – some of those who will come to MediaCityUK might not even use the word media to describe what they do – but it is expected that MediaCityUK’s population will include everyone from TV producers to computer game designers. The desire is for MediaCityUK to be a genuine community, where collaborative relationships can grow and flourish. It’s a concept reflecting the way the industry is moving, as the boundaries between ‘new’ and ‘old’ media become increasingly blurred. This is a brave new world which will require talented people from different disciplines to work together – MediaCityUK is a place where this can happen.
Related links:
Jon Corner
Innospace: Manchester Metropolitan University’s business incubator
Innospace is Manchester Metropolitan University’s business incubator for start-ups and new enterprises.
Is a dynamic and vibrant community of over 120 start-up businesses, supported by a professional office team and excellent facilities. Right in the heart of Central Manchester, they provide the perfect base for new ventures keen to make head way with their ideas and businesses.
Their activities include the support of people with great business ideas and the commitment to turn them into reality. Innospace provide help to early stage businesses that have been trading for up to 36 months.
Innospace has a special emphasis on helping MMU graduates, students and staff to set up businesses: Innospace is MMU’s enterprise flagship – a fundamental part of its 2020 vision and employability strategy.
Read more about Innospace
Manchester Science Parks (MSP)
For over 25 years, Manchester Science Parks (msp) has supported the growth of innovative companies across sectors such as ICT, biotechnology, industrial technologies and digital media.
MSP offer quality business accommodation to innovative, knowledge based companies. On top of this they provide first rate business development support including seminars, networking events, access to academic resources and a free PR service. MSP also provides introductions to programmes, people and funding in order to help companies to grow and to sustain that growth.
MSP offer flexible lease terms and a range of prices to suit business, with tenants able to move easily within MSP accommodation portfolio. MSP have a number of internet service providers who can offer high speed connectivity. Some of the tenants offer discounted services for more specialised requirements, such as enhanced bandwidth or data storage.
Manchester Science Parks (MSP)
Corridor Connections
Corridor Connections is a two year pilot project delivered by Manchester Science Parks Ltd and funded by the NWDA and the Manchester Innovation Investment Fund. Using an action learning partnership model, Corridor Connections will test and develop methods of facilitating cross-sector collaboration in order to stimulate innovation.
It also aims to raise awareness of the value and potential of collaborative approaches thereby generating a stronger culture of cross-sector collaboration than currently exists. The ultimate outcome will be economic growth and productivity for businesses, for Manchester and for the region.
Read more about: Corridor Connections
School of Health, Sport & Rehabilitation Sciences Partnerships
The aim of the School of Health, Sport & Rehabilitation Sciences, at the University of Salforf, is to develop talented and committed professionals who will go out to the real world and make a real difference in the world of health care.
The school considers to have world-class reputation for their interprofessional and holistic approach to the performance and welfare services they provide to elite sport.
They have experts in sports science, rehabilitation and strength and conditioning, but also is the home to a unique blend of health care practitioners including podiatrists, prosthetists and orthotists and physiotherapists.
Schools’ investment in state-of-the-art facilities such as the Human Performance Laboratory, Podiatry Clinic and their well-established Sports Injury and Rehabilitation Clinic, is making the school able to forge strong links with international educational institutes such as Winona State University and form official partnerships with local professional sports clubs, such as Salford City Reds, Lancashire County Cricket Club and Sale Sharks.
During the presentation special mentioning has been made in the research that has taken place with the support of U.K. government-funded Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) and a full-time researcher, on the positive effects of the FitFlop sandals.
Related links
School of Health, Sport & Rehabilitation Sciences
Dr. Phil Graham Smith talks on Research Partnerships on YouTube
ThinkLab
THINKlab is a futuristic and spacious research environment with state-of-the-art facilities. The space facilitates research related to Information and Communication Technologies, providing answers to challenges faced by industry, commerce and the community.
THINKLAB main concept relies on that the future of innovation in research lies in interdisciplinarity. In THINKLAB thinking beyond the confinement of disciplines is essential because the frontier problems of the coming years are too complex to be solved by single theoretical and methodological sets. Therefore the ThinkLab is committed to conducting interdisciplinary research to address complex social, economic and environmental challenges. Research at the ThinkLab aims to develop innovative digital solutions to the challenges faced by industry and the community. ThinkLab’s research efforts are enhanced through creative collaboration with industry, public organisations and academic experts.
Related link
THINKLAB