This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Commercialisation of university research
10/01/2005
A project which aims to help businesses benefit from university research and commercialisation opportunities is to receive funding worth £570,000.
The Strathclyde Entrepreneurial Network (SEN), run by the University of Strathclyde, aims to promote research collaboration and knowledge transfer with its graduate community to create new business opportunities.
Announcing the investment today under the Scottish Executive Expertise, Knowledge & Innovation Transfer (SEEKIT) programme, Deputy Enterprise Minister Allan Wilson said:
"SEEKIT is part of a pipeline of support designed to improve the competitiveness of our small and medium enterprises through their engagement with the science base.
"It helps Scotland's public sector research bodies to work effectively with business and helps ensure that great ideas transfer into the marketplace, benefiting the economy.
"I believe the advanced support the Strathclyde Entrepreneurial Network will provide will prove crucial to small and medium sized businesses in the West of Scotland in particular.
"By providing access to the expertise at the University of Strathclyde, SEN will encourage former students to establish and grow businesses and university enterprises. In turn, these will help create and support jobs which are vital to the long-term health of our economy."
Alasdair Mackay, Head of Business Development Services at Strathclydem, said:
"The University is already highly successful in encouraging entrepreneurship amongst its staff, students and alumni through a variety of methods such as the Research and Consultancy Services, Strathclyde University Incubator and the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship.
"However, this funding will allow us to be more proactive and to look at innovative ways to engage with industry and the best ways to facilitate our alumni's business opportunities.
"We don't want entrepreneurship to end with graduation - but to continue throughout our alumni's working life."