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Showcase for Scottish businesses forming links with world-class academics to drive innovation

Posted: 2nd October 2019

A showcase linking Scottish business leaders with funding and world-class academics is to be hosted by Knowledge Transfer Network’s new CEO Dr Alicia Greated and Scotland’s Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation Ivan McKee MSP.

Transforming Scottish Business will feature a diverse range of companies who have seen their ideas brought to life through investment and collaboration with inspiring graduates and expert academic teams via a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP). KTPs are one of a range of funding initiatives made available by UK Research and Innovation through Innovate UK.

Dr Greated said: “I am really excited to learn more about current projects and celebrate what we are doing through KTPs. This event will be a celebration of what we can achieve through partnerships.”

The KTP partnerships showcased at this event demonstrate the diversity of businesses transformed by this programme which, over the last 40 years, has helped more than 12,000 companies innovate for growth. The event will provide a relaxed opportunity to find out more about how the programme works and how it enhances the innovation capacity of businesses in every sector of the economy.

Firms who will feature at the Edinburgh event include:

Seahills Farm, Arbroath, a supplier of premium quality strawberries to some of the UK’s most prestigious retailers, who partnered with The James Hutton Institute.

Peter Stirling, Chief Executive of Seahills Farm, says: “The KTP programme has allowed us to work extensively to develop new methods that objectively demonstrate our fruit quality. Combined with the great flavour of our product, this work has convinced our customers of the value of fruit as premium quality that appeals to the discerning consumer.”

NATS is the UK’s leading provider of air traffic control services, handling 2.4 million flights and 250 million passengers in UK airspace every year.

The KTP with the University of Abertay explores how gamification and emerging technologies could optimise and enhance air traffic controller training. This includes a range of solutions to assist with everything from initial training for new recruits through to up-skilling experienced controllers.

Established more than 200 years ago, Montrose Rope & Sail is a family-run business supplying bespoke tarpaulin covers and a range of bags for the oil and gas industry.

With Gray’s School of Art, Montrose Rope & Sail are developing, manufacturing and branding a new range of products within the luxury high-end fashion accessories market, utilising the company’s heritage and existing expertise.

Neil Paton, Managing Director, said: “The KTP has given us access to specialist skills and resources through our relationship with Gray’s School of Art. Our aim of reaching new markets with a new brand is now achievable.”

KTN in partnership with Scottish Government and VentureFest Scotland invite businesses to KTP: Transforming Scottish Business, Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh, Wednesday 9th October. Attendance is free but spaces are limited.


To attend register here bit.ly/KTPShowcase, or email karen.souza@ktn-uk.org.

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Business Comment is the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce’s bi-monthly magazine. It provides insight on Edinburgh’s vibrant business community, with features on the city’s key sectors, interviews with leading figures and news on new business developments in the capital.
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