Dr Joe Irvine is the UHI Head of Knowledge Exchange. His role is to ensure the provision of the UHI knowledge transfer function in order to increase UHI’s ability to maximise value from innovation from both internal and external clients whilst continuing to deliver and develop innovative links with industry.

1. UHI Research and the
Knowledge Economy
Dr Joe Irvine – UHI Head of Knowledge Exchange

2. What is the “Knowledge Economy”?
• Knowledge = key resource
• An information society in a knowledge
economy
– A crucial factor in production– A crucial factor in production
– The fastest-growing sectors of all
economies are knowledge-based

3. A Strategic Priority

4. Current Economic Downturn
“Our country should make more use of its scientific excellence, so that
innovation becomes a motor for long term growth and change.”
Vince Cable, Strategy for sustainable growth, June 2010
“… higher education and research are the solution to the recession.”“… higher education and research are the solution to the recession.”
President Nicolas Sarkozy, July 2010
“Britain is a world leader in scientific research and that is vital to our
future economic success.”
George Osborne, Oct 20th 2010

5. The Knowledge Base
Universities,
research institutes,
corporate labs
Innovation
Highlands and Islands Innovation system
Innovation
infrastructure
Broadband
Meeting spaces
etc
Business Sector
Innovative companies
Public Sector
HIE, SFC, etc
Human networking

6. Research and
Scholarship
New knowledge
Publications
Processes
Materials
Technology
Networking/Events
Consultancy
CPD
Collaborative
Research
Contract Research
Licensing
Knowledge
Society
Govt
Policy-
makers
Small
Companies
• Jobs
• New Products
• New Processes
• New Services
• Turnover
• Profit
Other Factors
University Innovation
Scholarship
Researchers
Technology
Know-how
Innovation
Skills
Licensing
£Spin outs Large
Companies
• Profit
• R&D Expenditure
• Enhancing Business
• Innovation Culture
Other Factors
Research Outputs Knowledge Exchange
/commercialisation
activities
Economic
Activity
Economic
Impact
Research
Joint
ventures
(Modified from Cullen 2007)

7. Value to the H&I economy?
• New products, processes, services,
business systems
• Diversity• Diversity
• Competitiveness
• Sustainability
• High quality knowledge based jobs

8. What’s in it for researchers?
• Closer ties to industry
• Academic benefits
• Research impacts• Research impacts
• Source of income
• Patents
• Licensing opportunities
• Start-up and spin-out companies
• KTG revenue

9. 80000
100000
120000
140000
160000
£
KTGawarded 2009/10
0
20000
40000
60000
HTC
Shetland
Moray
Orkney
Inverness
Lochaber
LewsCastle
SDRC
Perth
NAFC
SMO
EO
NHC
SAMS

10. Intellectual Property
• “The outputs of creative endeavour”
• Different types of:
• Inventions
• Designs• Designs
• Brand names
• Original creations
From BBSRC IP leaflet and www.intellectual_property_guidewhat _is IP.html

11. Protecting IP?
Type of IPR Subject Matter
Patents New technical concepts,
inventions
Confidential information
/knowhow
Ideas, information
More information on IPR at www.ipo.gov.uk/
/knowhow
Copyright Text, graphics, software,
data compilations, art,
music, etc.
Trademarks™ Brands (product or service)
Image and reputation
Design rights Form /Shape

12. Protecting Intellectual Property

13. Activity Patent Confidential
information
copyright Design
right
Trademark
Using others’ research papers,
publications, etc
Preparing and collating research
results
Publishing or presenting research
Industrial design projects
Contract research
Consultancy projects
Relevance of IP in day to day work
Consultancy projects
Starting discussions on a
collaborative project or contract
research
Receiving important confidential
information
Giving out confidential information
Developing computer software
Revising or providing a manual or
computer assisted drawings
Preparing notes for lectures
Responding to telephone queries
of a technical nature
From SFC’s 1st steps in KE workshop

14. Barriers to disclosure of IP
• Freedom to publish
• Lack of incentive/reward
• Lack of policies, systems and processes

15. UHI IP framework
• Employer owns the IP
• Reward the innovator• Reward the innovator
• Revenue sharing

16. Encouraging new commercial ideas

17. Further R&D Licence
Spin-out/
Joint venture
Researchers
Innovators
Contract,
Rewards,
Incentives
Proposed UHI Commercialisation Process
Invention
Disclosure
KE Evaluation
UHI KE team
(may also offer advice/assistance
on confidentiality issues,
funding, etc.)
Commercialisation
Panel
Assign
IPIP Panel Protect IP
*Where innovations are not progressed the innovator may be assigned ownership of IP
Not progressed* Not progressed* Not progressed*

18. Summary
•Knowledge Economy
•Knowledge Exchange
joe.irvine@uhi.ac.uk Tel: 01463 279 287, Mobile: 07796930049
•Intellectual Property