Strengthening the role of universities in supporting SMEs
Sat 20 October 2012
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If the UK is to develop a successful low carbon vehicle manufacturing industry it will need to strengthen and develop its supply chain to encourage new technology providers to establish themselves alongside traditional vehicle makers. To this end, the LowCVP has introduced a theme into its work programme which will look at how universities can best engage with, and support, the SMEs in this sector.
Developing a supportive environment in which SMEs can establish themselves and grow has been a major theme of the LowCVP’s work for some years. A main focus to date has been on helping SMEs to engage with investors and in securing partners to help them bring low carbon technologies to market. However, the LowCVP has identified that SMEs need earlier support in the innovation process to develop the technological and manufacturing readiness levels and believes that this is an area in which academia can play a role.
The UK has a world class academic community with significant expertise in the automotive sector which could be engaged to support innovative SMEs seeking to develop low carbon vehicle and fuel technologies.
There are, of course, already examples of best practice where universities have actively sought out business to develop partnerships to strengthen academic knowledge and develop intellectual property for commercial benefit. These partnerships offer benefits in accelerating the speed at which technologies can be brought to market, giving UK plc a competitive advantage, strengthening the low carbon supply chain and making the UK a more attractive location for inward investment.
As part of the this year’s work programme the LowCVP is extending its efforts to support SMEs by looking in detail at how universities can best engage with them in this sector. Initially this will survey both universities and SMEs experiences of cooperating, to understand their experience of working together and to help identify best practice and how this might be encouraged and replicated. The surveys are currently in progress - with assistance from the SMMT - and the initial results are expected to be available by the end of 2012.
If you would like further information on the work of LowCVP in strengthening SME engagement with universities contact secretariat@lowcvp.org.uk. If you are already a LowCVP member you can find out more information in the LowCVP website members area. If you are a not yet a member of the LowCVP but would like to join the debate, you can find out more about joining here.
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