Innovation Network and First Step Awards - information for staff

The University of Glasgow Innovation Network is a £2.3M initiative, designed to increase engagement by Scottish companies in innovation by collaborating with the University.

Led by the University, the initiative seeks to integrate with and build upon existing support networks and facilities, at the same time supporting the University’s Research and Knowledge Transfer Strategy.

One of the principal objectives of the Innovation Network is to increase the participation of academic staff and postgraduate researchers in the knowledge transfer agenda and build on the University’s interaction with industry. 

Small to medium-sized enterprises seeking innovation assistance from universities are often unable to bear the full cost of a contract research project and current knowledge transfer support schemes, such as KTP, may also be beyond their budgets.  Our First Step Awards which provide up to £5k funding for small to medium-sized companies to work with you to increase their levels of innovation has been developed for this purpose.

The University’s Research & Knowledge Transfer Strategy includes knowledge transfer as one of its four main themes against which Key Performance Indicators have been set.

The Innovation Network will help academics to achieve their objectives and highlight their commitment to Knowledge Transfer, which is now firmly on the agenda of the UK Research Councils. 

Find out more:

• Knowledge Transfer Champions
• Innovation Network Academic Briefing Paper (pdf)
• University's Research and Knowledge Transfer Strategy (Research website)
• Knowledge Exchange (R&E staff website)