06 March 2008
A unique new initiative was launched today, which will help businesses of all shapes and sizes gain access to world-class expertise, technology, and research from Northern Ireland’s Universities and Colleges, thereby assisting them to boost their competitiveness, develop new products and increase market opportunities.
The “Connected” project is an exciting new initiative by Queen’s University, the University of Ulster and the six new Further Education Colleges, to help businesses improve their performance by providing access to a broad portfolio of knowledge and technology support services.
Speaking at Belfast Metropolitan College, Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey said: “Connected is the first knowledge transfer project in the UK to be delivered as a partnership between the Higher and Further Education sectors. I am particularly proud of my Department’s role in supporting and funding this ground-breaking initiative.
“Through Connected, businesses now have coordinated access to the full portfolio of expertise represented by the six Regional Colleges and the two Universities - in terms of research, product development, knowledge transfer, innovation and training - thereby assisting them to boost their competitiveness, develop new products and increase market opportunities.”
Collaboration between businesses and academia can bring significant business benefits and there has never been a better time for Northern Ireland to nurture business-academia collaborative opportunities. With the launch of Connected, businesses can now access a direct link to the academic institutions that can help them.
“Until now, it’s been difficult for companies to find out what’s going on in our universities and colleges and how the work of the HE/FE sector can support business development. Connected will help create new partnerships between Northern Ireland companies and academia that will in turn benefit our economy” says, Lynn Connaughton, Connected Business Development Manager
This type of collaboration between the FE sector and the Universities, in particular, is firmly grounded in the recommendations of the Regional Innovation Strategy “think-create-innovate” in which the creation of “ever stronger links […] between higher and further education and the business sector” is a key commitment for NI Government; as well as being in keeping with the Department for Employment and Learning’s Skills Strategy “Success through Skills”.
The launch took place at Belfast Metropolitan College and was attended by representatives of the Further and Higher Education sectors and local businesses.
Notes to Editors to Include:-
1. “Connected” is the outworking of the Department for Employment and Learning’s “Higher and Further Education Collaboration Fund” established last year following close consultation with the Northern Ireland Business Alliance, the Further and Higher Education sectors, and the Economic Development Forum.
2. The fund, which is initially worth £1m per annum over three years, aims to ensure that the Higher and Further Education sectors can identify and meet, in a coordinated and holistic fashion, the knowledge transfer needs of businesses in particular, and also of the wider community.
3. Under the Programme for Government, the Department for Employment and Learning is committed to making this funding stream permanent from 2010/11, subject to a review of the 3-year “Connected” pilot project in 2009.
4. Photographs of launch available at request.
