Innovation UK > News > Innovation UK Vol6-1 > Beta Technology - The value of knowledge exchange

The UK has a rich knowledge base of universities, research centres and industry and leads the way in many fields of scientific research and development. Beta Technology (Beta) has a strong track record of supporting the UK knowledge base to access new technology and partners in Europe. To enable this, Beta has built up its own network of European and national policy-makers, academia, industry-driven research centres and SMEs across a number of sectors: the environment and low-carbon technology; materials; food; agriculture; health and bioscience. This network is now expanding outside Europe into other countries such as Australia, Russia and Brazil.

EXCHANGING KNOWLEDGE FOR COMMERCIAL ADVANTAGE

Increasingly, there is the opportunity for ideas, knowledge and technology to be applied in different sectors and markets. Businesses quite often focus solely on their core sphere of knowledge and need external influences to help them identify valuable know-how and connect into new markets. The case study at the end of this article illustrates this point. The UK?s research strength in its universities and research organisations is often not realised in the exploitation of the knowledge they have developed. This is where bespoke intelligence gathering and analysis can be used to facilitate new opportunities for industry that they would not naturally have developed.

DEVELOPING NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

Beta?s sector knowledge and experience, combined with our network of experts from across Europe can be used to review market opportunities, identify relevant basic and applied research activities and emerging technology innovations. This exchange of knowledge can help our clients to position themselves in new markets and identify new opportunities.

A ROUTE TO INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION

For over 15 years, Beta has been a leading provider of support and advice for organisations submitting European funding applications. This experience, together with our links into European academia and industry, has been successfully applied to develop and support large multinational consortia as well as research programmes.

SUPPORTING LONGERTERM TECHNOLOGY AND BUSINESS STRATEGIES

Drawing on experience and relationships with key technology developers and policy makers, including the UK government and the European Commission, Beta can support clients to raise their profile and develop longerterm innovation and technology-based strategies. Gathering and sharing intelligence on the emerging priorities of the European research agenda has been a valuable service provided to a number of corporate clients within the UK and beyond.

CASE STUDY

The National Laboratory Service (NLS), part of the UK?s Environment Agency, approached Beta for an external, expert opinion on identifying commercial and collaborative opportunities in Europe. This support provided the NLS with an understanding of European markets and funding opportunities, and how to raise their profile through accessing networks and potential partners.

?Beta has enabled us to navigate in a completely different way. We are now able to better market our capabilities and talk to others about collaborative research?

Ian Rippin, Commercial Director, NLS.

Beta Technology
Jayne Evans
Tel: 01302 322633
E-mail:
Website: www.betatechnology.co.uk