RED's partners
To achieve excellence in research, transfer knowledge and innovations to the outside world and foster a culture of enterprise, the University of Bristol works in partnership with key partners:
- Worldwide Universities Network (WUN)
- SETsquared Partnership
- South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA)
- Knowledge Exploitation South West (KESW)
- Western Arc
- Expert Solutions South West
- Business West
- Winner of Winners Business Plan Competition – Universities of Bath, Bristol and the West of England (UWE)
- Research Councils UK (RCUK) Knowledge Transfer Portal
Worldwide Universities Network (WUN)
The University of Bristol is a partner in the Worldwide Universities Network, an alliance of internationally reputed, research-led universities with the aim of promoting a global research culture through collaborative academic activity.
SETsquared Partnership - the Universities of Bath, Bristol, Southampton and Surrey
The SETsquared Partnership is the collaboration of the Universities of Bath, Bristol, Southampton and Surrey, which was established to encourage successful enterprise and entrepreneurship, build new businesses and work more effectively with industry. As research-intensive universities, our enterprise activities derive from our research base, although support is also available to entrepreneurs from outside of the universities. With a combined research staff of 6,500 and a research budget of £266 million, the resulting contribution to the UK knowledge economy is far greater than we could achieve individually. As a proven leader in the development of the UK's knowledge economy, the Partnership creates new technology businesses, supports the wider business community through its Business Acceleration Centres with access to the universities' knowledge-base and mentors, and equips new entrepreneurs with the education to be the UK's enterprise generation.
SETsquared objectives
- To create real commercial value by identifying, protecting and exploiting world-leading intellectual property from combined research base.
- To enable and develop entrepreneurial potential, both for staff and students and for others, through training and education.
- To deliver social and economic impact in all areas of the enterprise agenda.
- To continue to create new businesses and social enterprises and to ensure true stakeholder value.
- To further foster interaction between the research base and industry
SETsquared achievements
- Over the last two years the SETsquared Partnership has floated four companies with a total market capitalisation of more than £160 million.
- More than 200 hi-tech start-ups supported through the SETsquared Business Acceleration Programme offering low-cost office space and mentoring.
- Four out of five ventures come from local business communities.
- Helped ventures to raise more than £25m in early-stage funding.
- University spin-outs include over 100 academics across the four universities.
For more information about the SETsquared Partnership, click here
South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA)
SWRDA’s goal is to improve the economy of the South West. This involves giving people the skills they need, encouraging enterprise and improving communications. We also promote the strengths of the region and help people to regenerate their communities. All our work is guided by the Regional Economic Strategy.
Knowledge Exploitation South West (KESW)
KESW is a three year £3.7 million SWRDA-funded programme designed to increase productivity, profits and jobs in the South West of England.
The project is a partnership between the South West RDA and HERDA-SW and draws on the vast knowledge resources contained within the region's universities and colleges.
The three year programme outlines detailed proposals to help higher education and south west businesses work together:
- Helping businesses to gain access to specialist expertise and new technologies developed in universities and colleges which will help them increase productivity and expand, so creating new jobs.
- Supporting the development of 'knowledge entrepreneurs' - people who will develop higher education 'bright ideas' to create new businesses and jobs in the region.
Western Arc
The Western Arc Bioscience Exploitation Platform was created in 1997 to provide a means for the identification, protection and successful exploitation of complementary bioscience expertise from the five participating Universities - Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, the University of the West of England (UWE) and the University of Wales College of Medicine (UWCM). Since then, Western Arc has established itself as an integral part of the Technology Transfer activities of the participating organisations and has been involved in filing over 25 patent applications, the conclusion of 10 licensing agreements, the generation of over £1.1m in licence and royalty income, the establishment of 8 spin-out companies and the generation of over £15m in research grant applications.
Expert Solutions South West
Expert Solutions South West is a new website designed to help businesses access the knowledge and expertise they need to innovate and grow.
'Winner of Winners' business plan competition
Business West
Business West is a catalyst for business growth. It stimulates, advises and supports the region's businesses, injecting fresh energy and valuable resources. It also provides impetus to the region as a whole, working hard to create an outstanding environment - an environment that fosters prosperity and creates a better quality of life for all.
'Winner of Winners' business plan competition
There's never been a shortage of ideas with commercial potential springing out of the West's top universities. But now there is more chance that the academics behind them will get the recognition and the support they deserve. That's thanks to a new collaboration between the universities of Bath, Bristol and the West of England, called the Winner of Winners Business Plan Competition.
All three universities have made it their business to raise the profile of enterprise and encourage entrepreneurial activities among staff and students.