The UK has world-class research institutions and universities that develop the skilled graduates and the knowledge base which businesses need
Business and university networks
Every year our universities make thousands of new discoveries, many of which have the potential to be taken to market as new products or services. They can also be turned into improved processes, or help businesses understand and communicate with their customers better.
To assist businesses to take advantage of new research and ideas, DIUS is helping to create industry and university networks. We've already helped every university to set up a single point of contact for business.
Managing Intellectual Property
Turning new ideas into commercial opportunities and successes requires enlightened leadership; it also requires knowledge of how to protect your ideas. Many businesses - even large ones - do not realise that ideas which have been publicly demonstrated cannot be patented; trade marks which are not renewed cannot be enforced. DIUS funds the UK Intellectual Property Office which can ensure you, and only you, benefit from your innovations.
On 2 April 2007 the Patent Office was renamed The UK Intellectual Property Office, reflecting its responsibility for protecting businesses and individuals rights over designs, trade marks and copyright, as well as patents. These rights ensure that innovators' ideas are protected, so they can reap fair rewards for their own creativity.
Helping the flow of knowledge
Knowledge Transfer Networks and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships allow businesses to join groups or form partnerships with universities or research institutions to share and take advantage of research findings and newly developed technologies.
The 24 industry-specific Networks already have over 40,000 members, from organisations of all sizes, who share up-to-date knowledge about markets, technologies and funding sources. These Networks cover sectors from creative industries to food production, chemical innovation to environmental management.
Businesses which have a specific project which could benefit from working with research experts should contact the relevant Knowledge Transfer Partnership, to find the right partner to make your idea a success.
Visit Business Link for more about how to access Knowledge Transfer Networks, Partnership and other ways to work with universities and research institutes. Visit Research Council UK’s Knowledge Transfer Portal for details about how business can work with research councils.
Visit the National Physical Laboratory site for information about how it supports business in accessing cutting-edge scientific knowledge, including a free advice helpline.
Turning new ideas into commercial successes
The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) invests in early-stage companies and combines investment with non-financial support to help companies turn their innovative ideas into commercial successes.
Standards and measures
Taking new products to market means ensuring conformity with standards. Selling products such as food and petrol requires absolute accuracy in weighing and other measures. To maintain customer and business confidence and consistent international standards, the National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML) approves new weighing and measuring equipment at the design stage and works with business and Local Authority Trading Standards Services to ensure the equipment works perfectly when installed and maintained.
British Standards can ensure that new products conform with UK standards - from the size of cables to the production of fire-resistant mattress.
