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Help through the downturn
02/06/2009
Universities today outlined the ways in which they are helping key parts of the Scottish economy through the recession.
'Innovating Our Way out of Recession' shows how universities have responded quickly and effectively to help ease the worst effects of the recession on business, our students, graduates and wider society.
Some of the activity universities have developed includes:
- Targeted support for small and medium sized businesses to show them how the knowledge and expertise in our universities can help their business to become more profitable
- Use of the facilities within universities to help companies gain access to cutting edge equipment and technology, without the large set up costs
- Bursary schemes for alumni wishing to undertaking masters degrees at reduced cost
- Support to key industries to address the need for new knowledge about the current economic situation and to understand how they can best operate in the current environment
- Providing tailored and specialist information for our graduates looking for employment
- Enterprise 'classes' to boost entrepreneurship
- Redeveloped courses to meet the increased demand for part-time courses and a revision of the curriculum to reflect current issues
Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop was at Nairn's Oatcakes factory to find out how innovation has transformed their business. Nairn's previously collaborated with Queen Margaret University to launch a new range of wheat-free biscuits and are now working on increasing the shelf-life of their oatcakes to expand the export capacity.
Fiona Hyslop said:
"As today's report highlights, Scotland's universities are undertaking wide-ranging activity to help Scotland's people and businesses deal with the pressures of the current recession and ensure that we are best placed to respond to the upturn when the time comes.
"The collaboration between Nairn's and Interface demonstrates how Scotland's businesses can benefit from the knowledge and expertise in our universities to create new innovative products which will allow them to build a stronger foundation for their future.
"I welcome the opportunity to visit Nairn's to see at first hand how such collaboration has and is continuing to transform that business and would encourage other organisations who may benefit from similar support to seek the advice offered via Interface."
Speaking of his involvement with the Scottish research base, Mark Laing, Managing Director at Nairn's said:
"We were first introduced to the excellent research base which exists in Scotland seven years ago, helping us set up a Knowledge Transfer Partnership which enabled us to progress a new successful range of Oat Biscuits.
"We have again used Interface to advise on a partner to work with us on a major project to enhance the shelf life of our Oatcakes to exploit their export potential. In We will also work on "better for you " fats and oils to address the FSA Guidelines on saturates".
Interface, which is funded through Scottish universities by the Scottish Funding Council, is currently working with Universities Scotland and the Funding Council on proposals to extend the reach of its services and create an integrated platform for more businesses to access knowledge and expertise within Scotland's universities.
Professor Anton Muscatelli, Convener of Universities Scotland, said:
"This report only scratches the surface of the things universities are doing which will help to transform the Scottish economy. Universities have been at pains not to make claims for the difference they can make to Scotland's economy which they can't back up. What we're showing today is that the role of universities in transforming Scotland is neither wishful thinking nor speculation, it is very real and incredibly important."
The CBI's Director in Scotland, Iain McMillan said:
"CBI Scotland wholeheartedly supports this proposal. Progressive, forward-thinking businesses will always need to innovate to stay one step ahead of the curve and working with universities helps Scottish businesses to do just that. Businesses in Scotland have been collaborating with universities in numerous research areas for many years and one of the key challenges is finding university research partners that meet their specific needs."