New directions in universitybusiness partnerships:
Prof Tom McLeish, FRS Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, Durham University
Horizon2020 Innovation Malta, February 2014
Durham – facts and figures
• 15,269 Students
• 11,262 Undergraduate
• 4,007 Postgraduate(2,436 PGT, 1 571 PGR)
• 2,153 International Students ∂
• 3,600 (2800 FTE) staff
• Turnover in excess of £240M
• 130 countries represented
Strategic relations with Business
∂
3
Research:
Durham Strategic Objectives
 To be recognised, internationally, for creative thought and transformative
research of the highest calibre across a broad subject base of sciences, social
sciences, and the humanities
 Each Department …
∂
 the over-arching aim of business engagement activity is to enhance the
quality of research and to further develop the research impact
 the goal is to build long-term mutually beneficial business and industrial
partnerships which will enable the University to undertake co-produced
research
Working Partnerships
The
Company
Durham
University
∂
The
Durham
Company University
Key University Drivers:
undertake excellent research
maximise impact – benefit to society –
economic/social
Characteristics of a
Successful Strategic Partnership
•
•
•
•
•
has to be Win - Win for all parties
long-term partnership
multi-point contacts at all levels
relationship that outlasts individual
research projects
∂
Functions on many levels:
- Generating ideas
- Research Collaboration
- Developing People
- Engaging with the public
“Getting to Know You”
• Partners must have common interests
• Tools to identify these common interests include:
o
o
o
o
o
Mapping existing links
Mapping research expertise to business needs
Analysing student recruitment
∂ patterns
Workshops
Exchanges/ Fellowships/Secondments
• Both parties must invest significant resource – people
and time
• Not a quick process
• One size does not fit all
Faculties, Schools and Departments
Arts and
Humanities
Social Science
And Health
Classics and Ancient History
Anthropology
Science
Biological and Biomedical
Sciences
Applied Social Sciences
English Studies
Chemistry
Archaeology
History
Modern Languages and Cultures
Durham Business School
∂
Education
Earth Sciences
Engineering and Computing
Sciences
Geography
Music
Government and International
Affairs
Philosophy
Medicine and Health
Theology and Religion
Law
Mathematical Sciences
Physics
Psychology
Cross-cutting Institutes
Multidisciplinary teams working on complex problems
Arts & Humanities
Social Science & Health
Science
Biophysical Sciences Institute
Durham Energy Institute
Wolfson Research Institute
∂
Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience
Institute of Advanced Study
Institute for Computational
Cosmology (ICC)
Institute for Particle Physics
Phenomenology (IPPP)
Medieval & Renaissance Studies Institute
Leveraging Core Durham Strategic Capabilities
to meet BIG P&G needs
Surface
Science
∂
R&D
Bioscience
Breakthrough
Manufacturing
Processes
Leveraging Core Durham Strategic Capabilities
to meet BIG P&G needs
Surface
Science
∂
R&D
Bioscience
Breakthrough
Manufacturing
Processes
The Value of Workshops
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University Offering
• Excellent underpinning research capability.
• Buy in and commitment - top down – bottom up.
• Focussed and highly flexible approach
to business engagement.
∂
• Route for easy start – Master agreement – IP and
contractual matters all in place.
• Able to deploy focussed multidisciplinary teams
with low barriers to collaboration.
The Scaffold Concept
INDUSTRY
Properties
Processing
Solid state
Modelling
∂
Materials testing
Model Processing
Flow Rig
Flow computation
Molecular Configuration
Probes
Advanced Rheological
Characterisation
Rheology
Molecular Theory
Polymer characterisation
Synthesis
Synthesis
Scale up
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GOVERNANCE
Steering Committee
Equal membership for both
partners
Projects defined to advance
∂
interests of project partners
Works to secure
appropriate funding
Monitors and disseminates
research results
Durham
Sponsors
Leaders
Managers
(Portfolio
(Funding)
The Co’
Managing a successful partnership
“CEMENT”
Beijing
Skin
model
Biotechnology
Surface
Science
Anti
microbials
∂
Common
Themes
with 3rd
parties
Ligand
chemistry preservatives
Sensors/
manufacturing
Molecular dynamics
modelling (Germany)
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Managing day to day communication
Example of the increase in e-mail exchanges as a relationship develops!
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Nov-09 Apr-10
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May-10 Oct-10
6-Monthly
Nov-10 Apr-11
May-11 Sep-11
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Achievements in 18-24 months
Durham
Agreement

IP Terms

2-Way Sponsor
∂

2-Way Management

Portfolio

2-Way funding support

First Major Project Funded

Status

“CEMENT”
Creating a North East UK Centre of Excellence in Methods and New
Technology for Surface Modification and Cleaning.
• £14.2M project successfully bid for RGF funding
• 4 Partners - P&G lead with Durham, also includes CPI and
an SME partner
∂ £8.8M
• Partner contributions totalling
• £5.3M and £1.27M grant funding respectively to
P&G/Durham (other partners £0.8M)
• Looking to maximise further support funding through:
o
Research Council Funding
o
Technology Strategy Board funding calls
o
European FP7 funding
Durham Portfolio
Exploratory
University Partnering
e.g. Cranfield
Manufacturing
Diagnostics
3-way Business Links
e.g. BAE Systems
Dyson, Invensys, Cisco
Modelling plant
performance
Application Phase
Work Underway
Anti-fungals (with
Syngenta)
3D visualisation
Imaging of Fats
Surface Science £3M
Application
BAE Systems
Dyson
Impact hair
surface
treatment
Systems Biology
(Aging)
In silico modelling
Peking Uni
3-Way Research
Beard/hair tensile
testing
Other
Agent based in
silico models & 3D
Skin Models £4M
Enzyme Sequencing
Anti-microbials
£1M
∂
Graphene
Psychology Consumer
perception
Remote sensing
of counterfeits
Major new projects
Surface Science
(RGF £5.3M Funded)
2+2 Chinese
Studentships
Biodegradable
polyurethanes
Adhesive modelling/Cellulose
modification
Celebrating
Science Event
Alternative
chelants to EDTA
Haircare/beaty
Blueprint
Support
Contract Work. Routine
Analysis
Tipping Points
Major Strategic Program
Example of the opportunities
Links to SMEs
Prizes &
Sponsorship
Curriculum
development
EU Project
funding
TSB Project
funding
Recruitment
and Careers
DTA CASE
Studentships
Proof of
concept
KTP
∂
The
Durham
Company University
Links to other
Partners & Contacts
Student
Enterprise
Industrial
Project Awards
Employability
& Placements
PDRAs
Regional
Growth Fund
KTS/ KTA/ Impact
Internships
Chairs and
Lectureships
Alumni
relations
Schools
Outreach
Industry CASE
Studentships
Research Council
project funding
International
exchanges
TICs
Model replicated with an SME:
Cambridge Research Biochemicals
20 staff SME based in Billingham
•
Recruitment of Four graduates ( 2 Biological Sciences, 2 Chemistry)
•
EPSRC CASE studentship with Dr Steven Cobb (Chemistry, start June
2011)
•
Agreement in place for the use of ∂space and NMR facilities in
Chemistry
•
Commercial Director is involved in Undergraduate teaching (Enterprise
Programme) in the School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences
•
Agreement for use of space and facilities in the Translational Research
Facility in the School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences for the
production of monoclonal antibodies
Spin-out Company: KROMEK
www.kromek.com
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Patented technique for vapour
growth of semiconductor crystals
CdTe, Cd1-xZnxTe
– X-ray, gamma-ray detectors
and substrates for thermal
imaging
– lower cost
EC funded BRITE EURAM project
1994
First crystal grown 1997
Company formed May 2003
Winner of $400,000 Global
Security Challenge 2009
Sales to European airports of
liquid explosives scanners based
on “Colour X-ray” technology 2011
Kromek’s Californian subsidiary
Nova R&D won $1.4M contract
from US Dept. of Homeland
Security in August 2011
Kromek successful in £1M award
under the Regional Growth Fund
in October 2011
Company present value is ca.
£80M
Now over 50 staff at NETPark
Unique 20x20x15mm Pixellated Gamma Ray Spectroscopy Detectors
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Summary
Company University
∂
Company University
Company University
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