SULSA wins SFC funding to drive collaboration with business

The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) Strategic Priority Investments in Research and Innovation Translation (SPIRIT) programme involves universities and businesses working together in a series of innovative knowledge exchange projects aimed at key sectors of the Scottish economy.

 

SULSA has been awarded a grant of £1.26 million for the Bioindustry Skills, Knowledge and People Exchange (BioSKAPE) project, to be managed by the University of Aberdeen on behalf of SULSA.

 

Scotland has been identified as one of the top five emerging locations in the world for life sciences, with the industry worth £3 billion a year to the Scottish economy and employs an estimated 32,500 staff. However, companies have highlighted problems in recruiting graduates with the practical knowledge necessary to work in what is a highly regulated industry.

 

BioSKAPE, which has been developed by SULSA with the support of Bioindustry Association Scotland, and the Life Sciences Advisory Board (LiSAB), will facilitate a number of new initiatives.

The project will see the introduction of an industry-partnered PhD programme that will address skills needs and promote industry-academia collaboration, a pilot academia-industry people-exchange programme, and a new series of industry-academia master classes and technology showcases.

 

The SFC will also support a 12-month industry placement scheme for undergraduate students in SULSA universities through a £380,000 award announced last month. (For more information on this part of the scheme click here).

 

Michael Russell, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, said:  “The considerable economic benefits of the impressive projects that will benefit from this funding are beyond doubt. Students benefit from industry expertise and knowledge, informing their research and development, while industry staff will be able to develop their skills no matter what stage their career is at. Our universities have an important role to play in helping us emerge strongly from the current economic downturn. As well as ensuring our people have the skills they need as individuals and to grow our economy, they are also businesses in their own right, generating around £2 billion a year. They support research and development in the business community and attract young people to live and work in Scotland.”

 

Dr Liz Rattray, Deputy Director, Research & Innovation, University of Aberdeen and Project Manager for SULSA-BioSKAPE, said: “The £1.26 million funding which is being awarded from the SFC will be an enormous boost to SULSA. Knowledge and people exchange is a powerful mechanism to advance collaborative projects and bridge the cultural barriers between industry and academia.  Our initial call for projects for the PhD programme has had overwhelming support from industry.”