Welcome to the December edition of our KE newsletter. It is definitely a busy and exciting time for KE and KTP (Knowledge Transfer Partnership) activity at DMU engaging with, attending and hosting Leicester Business Festival events. In this edition, we’ve shared some key KE highlights.
In this issue... Upcoming Events New roles in KE
Funding
Internal and External Events
AKT proposal updates
Project updates
New KE Administrator We are delighted to welcome Sue Hayward into the KE team in her new role as KE Administrator. Sue brings with her a wealth of experience and knowledge, thanks in part to her previous role as PA in EBS. Sue’s arrival is timely and very much needed with the growth of and greater emphasis placed on all things KE by government and the university. Sue said “I really look forward to being involved in this exciting opportunity to support the growth of KE and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships within DMU.”
DMU KTP (Knowledge Transfer Partnership) Projects updates We now have 6 live KTP projects supported via Innovate UK. Having recently recruited the KTP Associate for our newest KTP and our first management project in partnership with FABRIC CIO company and academics colleagues Dr Hiu Man Chan and Dr Sally Doughty in Humanities and Performing Arts, this project should be officially starting early 2024. The aim of the KTP project is to develop new business opportunities and increase the earned income potential of FABRIC by reviewing and enhancing their strategic use of a digital infrastructure. We are looking to support proposals for upcoming KTP funding rounds, Round 1 of 2024/2025 KTP funding calls opens 5th February 2024 with a deadline of 10th April 2024, with some projects already being discussed for this round. KTP deadlines are usually every 2-3 months. If you have a potential project please get in touch at KnowledgeExchange@dmu.ac.uk
Visit from African Agriculture KTP (AAKTP) In November we hosted a visit from the AAKTP (African Accelerated KTP) project team. The African KTP is in partnership with the University of Ilorin and Microscale Embedded Limited in Nigeria. The African Academic Supervisor Dr Sunmonu and the AAKTP Associate Mr Mobolaji spent a week at DMU meeting with colleagues in CEM and BAL to discuss the project delivery, identify future collaboration opportunities and provide updates on the project. It was great to see the team meet DMU experts and see how aspects such as Cyber Security can add value to the app the project is creating.
Accelerated Knowledge Transfer (AKT) proposals update The AKT call closed on December 13. We submitted a total of 7 exciting projects this year. Successful projects will be notified in February 2024.
Commercialisation Opportunities & Routes to Funding KE and Commercialisation as a pathway to impact for all disciplines Workshops in January and February 2024. The KE team are hosting an exciting free KE and Commercialisation workshop, delivered by experienced Innovation Consultancy, Oxentia, at the Venue for approx. 100 academic colleagues. This first workshop will take place on 23 January 2024 and a second workshop follow-on session will be on 21 February, for a maximum of 20 colleagues, who will work through their live KE/IP ideas using Logic Modelling.
Workshop 1
Workshop 2
Knowledge Exchange (KE and Commercialisation as a pathway to impact all disciplines!
Logic modelling to maximise REF impact
Tuesday, 23 January 2024 9.30am to 1pm The Venue @ DMU The workshop explores different modes of commercialisation: Latest policy and funding landscape, licensing, spinningout. Also covering differences for nonSTEM disciplines (SHARE), and where to get support.
Wednesday, 21 February 2024 9.30am to 1pm The Venue @ DMU The workshop focus is on helping colleagues build a ‘logic model’ and use ‘Theories of Change’ methodologies to progress live projects/ideas, ideally, to manage and maximise impact! Audience: academics & those involved in supporting research impact
Audience: all academics!
To book your place for one or both workshops please book here
Book your place
Commercialisation Opportunities & Routes to Funding ICE (Innovation Catalysed and Enabled) over £300,000 funding from Research England to fuel Universities to boost the region’s innovation ecosystem. DMU has partnered with University of Leicester (lead) and Loughborough University to provide funded support and new accelerated pathways for university intellectual property and ideas. Supporting academics to commercialise their research, this new regional initiative (over one year) is to develop and pilot a pioneering approach to creating new products, services, and business spin-out based on university ideas. The ICE project will help create an ecosystem to better support our research entrepreneurs and encourage innovation. Further details can be found here Colleagues interested in participating in and pitching for ICE funded project support can contact Anjuu.trevedi@dmu.ac.uk, Head of Knowledge Exchange and Innovation for more information The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) finds and funds exploitable innovation for a safer future. Funding is available to develop and commercialise research, know-how and technologies with potential to be utilised by UK government to strengthen UK defence and security via DASA. Funding calls open throughout the year! This is a great opportunity for DMU academic colleagues to develop and commercialise own research and/or partner with external organisations to help them commercialise their ideas via: collaborative research, contract research, consultancy, specialist facilities use. For more details please see video and visit their website for funding calls. Interested in applying for funds? Please contact mark.smith@dmu.ac.uk or sarah.stevens@dmu.ac.uk in the first instance for more details and support.
Commercialisation Opportunities & Routes to Funding IP & Commercialisation support from EBS (Enterprise and Business Services) EBS have secured services of Derek Palmer, MD of ProspectIP to work with us to support academic colleagues on their IP (Intellectual Property) commercialisation journey over the next 8 months. Academic colleagues interested in finding out more are invited to get in touch with anjuu.trevedi@dmu.ac.uk Head of Knowledge Exchange and Innovation
Internal and External KE Events LBV’s October ‘AI for Business’ event at IBM Leicester was a great success. Hosting the event was our very own Anjuu Trevedi, Head of Knowledge Exchange and Innovation (also one of the Board Directors of LBV). From DMU, Prof Mario Gongora and Prof Tracy Harwood were among the AI experts providing an insight into all things AI.
Internal and External KE Events Understanding the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Process: Navigating Collaborations between Academia and Industry
Thursday 26 October, we held an internal event focused on KTPs; looking at the approach to applications, roles and responsibilities within projects and how our team supports partnerships. We welcomed our local Knowledge Transfer Advisor, Kamran Hussein, to share his insights as a representative of the funder and Professor David Rae shared his excellent first-hand experiences of working on KTP projects and the benefits to academic colleagues. This event was incredibly well attended and has already generated exciting conversations. The content of this event included some new resources that we have produced to help navigate the KTP process: Academic step-by-step guide Storytelling guide for successful proposals:
Internal and External KE Events Leicester Business Festival (LBF) DMU was a joint headline sponsor of this year’s LFB, now in its ninth year. DMU’s KE team supported and hosted a range of events including the LBF launch and the following events at which we engaged with hundreds of existing and potential partners and businesses. DMU events included: LBF Launch British Business Bank’s ‘Your Guide to Start-up Finance in Leicester and Leicestershire’ The event was a great success andsuccess and provided a brief overview of the start-up and funding opportunities available at and via the university such as Crucible, Barclays Eagle Labs, ICE programme. Brewing Innovative Ideas Roadshow: Blaby District Council. Thank you to the KE and Marketing team for all their hard work and as well as the innovation and business support providers who supported the event including Innovate UK, KTN, British Business Bank, the East Midlands Chamber of Commerce, Sir Thomas White Charity, FSB, British International Trade, InnovateUK EDGE. As a direct result of attending the event, DMU is in discussion with a local charity on a collaborative AKT (Accelerated Knowledge Transfer) project. Fingers crossed for a successful application; we will keep you posted!
Upcoming Events Leicestershire Innovation Festival 2024 DMU is again sponsoring the Leicestershire Innovation Festival and the Leicestershire Innovation Awards 2024. The festival was launched in November and will take place between 5 February to 16 Feb 2024. Below are examples of the types of events we are planning during the festival, please engage with the festival and talk to the KE team to make the most of the opportunity to meet businesses, showcase your research and build relationships. Brewing Innovative Ideas Roadshow: Oadby Thursday, 8th February, 9.30am-2.30pm Join us for an exciting day of innovation, collaboration, and inspiration at the Brewing Innovative Ideas Roadshow: Oadby and Wigston. De Montfort University, University of Leicester, and Loughborough University are heading to Oadby and Wigston District Council for a drop-in session with local businesses and organisations. The event will showcase businesses can benefit from working with local universities —be it through placements/ internships, graduate employment, consultancy, CPD programmes or collaborative research such as Innovate-UK grant-funded Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs). If you wish to come along at network with the attendees and chat to them about the great work that you do, please do not hesitate to contact megan.rome@dmu.ac.uk
Upcoming Events Cyber Security for Business: Tuesday, 13th February, 2-4pm Location: De Montfort University, Gateway House, Room 5.39, De Montfort University, The Gateway, Leicester LE1 9BH More information to follow
LeicestershireLive Innovation Awards: Thursday, 15th February, evening Location: More information to follow This year's ceremony is set to honour the finest technology, services, digital breakthroughs, and innovative thinking that our region has to offer. It will also serve as the grand finale of the Innovation Festival 2024. You're invited to submit nominations, whether it's for yourself, your business, or someone you know. If you’re interested in submitting an application, please contact anjuu.trevedi@dmu.ac.uk. Read more and view this year’s categories here: