Great Western Research A catalyst for collaboration

1
Great Western Research A catalyst for
collaboration

• Jill Sheen (SW RDA) and Keith Hallam (University
  of Bristol)
• 25 April 2008

2
What is it?

• 14.1m project over 5 years (2005 2010)
• World class excellence 3 research intensive
  universities in the SW (Bristol, Bath, Exeter)
  involvement of other HEIs in region
• 130 PhD studentships co-funded by Business and
  RDA (3.95m)
• Joint supervision
• 51 themes where each HEI had 5/5 RAE
  (Materials, Sustainability, Psychology, Applied
  Maths, Creative Arts, ICT from Sept 07)
• HEFCE 20 fellowships and PG training network

3
Why did we do it? SWRDA perspective

• Encourage Business spend on RD, especially in
  SMEs
• Need to align research strengths with regional
  priorities
• Create critical mass to bring in research funding
  collaboration between HEIs
• Strengthen relationship between businesses and
  universities
• Regional project ensure all HEIs can
  participate

4
HEI perspective Materials theme

• English China Clays taken over to become Imerys
• Reorganisation of laboratories leading to
  equipment being unavailable
• With Exeter, approached SWRDA to relocate
  equipment to Exeter and Bristol
• Materials Centre South West
• However, no provision for staff
• GWR funding PhDs and Fellows

5
What has happened so far?Businesses

• Early days for seeing impact (interim evaluation)
• All 130 studentships allocated
• Well over target for SME involvement (38 out of
  target of 28)
• Critical mass for large companies
• Most themes worked well (not creative industries)
• Fostering existing relationships catalysing new
  relationships

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What has happened so far?HEI collaboration
case study 1

• Particle-Polymer Interfaces in Nano/
  Microcomposites
• Imerys, Bristol and Exeter (MCSW)
• For car, aerospace, industry in general, polymers
  require perfect dispersion for maximum
  performance
• Need to use FIB to image these (MCSW)
• This has already spun off to include University
  of Birmingham for manufacture

7
What has happened so far?HEI perspective case
study 2

• Development of Sustainable Binders for Masonry
  Construction
• Castle Cement, Bristol and Bath
• Microstructural studies enable specification for
  improved performance in the construction industry
• The programme has already expanded to include
  Ibstock Brick, Cornish Lime, Singleton Birch and
  shellfish industries in the West Country

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What has happened so far?HEI perspective case
study 2

• Following this research, Cornish Lime and Coombe
  Fisheries (West Country SMEs) approached Bristol
  for assistance
• Coombe Fisheries Disposal of their waste
• Cornish Lime Limes for specialist application in
  conservation
• Business Link has been approached for support to
  develop a kiln for lime production in Bodmin

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What is the future?

• Examine themes - target technologies
• Replicable if strategic will
• Momentum and reputation marketing and
  networking
• Part of whole institutional strategy with
  portfolio of activities bringing businesses and
  HEIs closer together
• Part of regional strategy for investment with HE
  role of regional Science and Industry Council
• National agenda