News
Business Innovation in Cornwall - a Combined Universities' Perspective
Cornwall's Universities and Colleges, working together through the Combined Universities in Cornwall partnership, have put together a paper to set out their perspectives on the main opportunities and challenges we face if Cornwall is to accelerate the pace of innovation-led growth. It attempts to map out the evidence about what our priorities should be and where the opportunities lie, and to give some examples of further action that could be taken. We hope that the ideas it contains will be a useful contribution to the development of Cornwall's approach to innovation.
Innovative businesses grow twice as fast as those who fail to innovate. Businesses which interact with Universities are more than twice as likely to open new markets or increase their market share. Recent growth of innovation in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has been rapid and there are plenty of examples of successful, innovative local SMEs; we don't need to change direction, we just need to accelerate the pace and expand the impact of our efforts.
The paper sets out some clear proposals for action from a higher education perspective, building on what has already been achieved. Investment finance is a major area of need, both to support innovative businesses and to support better networking and collaboration between business and HE. There are also specific opportunities linked to growth sectors and technologies, to the LEP priorities, and to the capacity of the substantial local public sector to drive innovative growth.
The short paper includes: a brief definition of Innovation; the evidence of Cornwall's position; and benchmarking of innovation support in Cornwall to identify future development priorities. Underpinning evidence is provided in a series of Annexes and in accompanying papers.
The paper does not claim to be the last word on the subject, but we hope it will be a useful contribution to the debate and will open up positive suggestions for development that those with strategic economic responsibility can pursue. Combined Universities in Cornwall partner institutions are committed to playing our full part in turning these ideas into reality, continuing our long tradition of supporting the economic transformation of the County in which we are proud to belong.
You can download the full paper here – Business Innovation Paper 2012
And if you would like to offer comments, you can do so here
Cornish Plymouth University student wins prestigious international design competition
A Plymouth University undergraduate has become the first British student to win the internationally recognised Abitare La Barca Concept Award design competition. Dan Humphreys, who is in the third year of his product design degree, was announced as the winner of the prestigious contest in Italy last week.
Following a strict design brief, Dan went up against 11 students from select Italian universities to compete in the freehand drawing competition to design a completely dismountable boat of three to six metres in length, with entirely eco-friendly propulsion, and using natural or recyclable materials throughout.
Judged by a panel of leading experts from the world of culture, industry and design, Dan proved his creative design and drawing skills were world-class and was crowned the winner. His triumph comes just weeks after winning the Superyacht UK design competition.
20-year-old Dan, from Liskeard, Cornwall, said: “I am absolutely delighted to have won the competition. It was a really good experience to compete against students from across the world, including Italy, Russia and Sweden, and there was a great atmosphere between the contestants. I’m really happy to have two prestigious award wins under my belt and I’m sure they’ll look great on my CV.”
Professor David Coslett, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Pro-Vice Chancellor, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for Dan and the latest in a string of successes for our product design programme. It’s also fitting that in a year which marks our 150th anniversary and with the University winning a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education in recognition of its world class marine and maritime expertise, that the focus of Dan's achievement is around the design of an ecofriendly vessel.”
The Abitare La Barca Award, now in its sixth year, was hosted at the sea technology and design exhibition, Seatec in Carrara, Italy from February 7 to 10. For the third year running an entrant from the UK attended the event to showcase their portfolio to industry representatives and compete on an international stage.
Dan was able to travel to Italy to compete after winning the Superyacht UK design competition last month, with the support of University lecturer Roy Tam. He was selected as the winner for his creative ideas and high quality drawing skills at the Tullett Prebon London Boat Show.
Toby Allies, chairman of Superyacht UK which awarded Dan with travel to Italy to compete, said: “I am delighted that Dan has won this competition; it is a good sign for the future of the UK design industry when a UK student can win a prestigious competition in Italy. We hope he will follow a long line of illustrious British designers whose yachts can be seen around the world.”
Sunshine may help to prevent allergies and eczema
Increased exposure to sunlight may reduce the risk of both food allergies and eczema in children, according to a new scientific study published this week.
Researchers from the European Centre for Environment & Human Health, along with several Australian institutions, have found that children living in areas with lower levels of sunlight are at greater risk of developing food allergies and the skin condition eczema, compared to those in areas with higher UV.
The research team used data from a study of Australian children and analysed how rates of food allergy, eczema and asthma varied throughout the country. As well as finding a link between latitude and allergies to peanut and egg, the results showed that on average children in the south of the country are twice as likely to develop eczema as those in the north.
The report builds upon existing evidence that suggests exposure to the sun may play a role in rising levels of food allergy and eczema. Sunlight is important because it provides our body with the fuel to create vitamin D in the skin, and locations closer to the equator typically receive higher levels of sunshine. Australia is a particularly good place for this type of study as it spans nearly 3000 miles from north to south, with a large variation in climate, day length and sun strength - from Queensland in the north to Tasmania in the south.
Dr Nick Osborne, who led the research, believes these findings provide us with an important insight into the prevalence of food allergies and eczema, which appear to be on the increase. Dr Osborne also cautioned that exposure to sunlight can vary for a host of reasons beyond latitude, such as local climate variations and behaviours, and these factors will also need to be considered.
He said “This investigation has further underlined the association between food allergies, eczema and where you live. We’re now hoping to study these effects at a much finer scale and examine which factors such as temperature, infectious disease or vitamin D are the main drivers of this relationship. As always, care has to be taken we are not exposed to too much sunlight, increasing the risk of skin cancer.”
Dr Osborne will be presenting the findings of the study at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology in Orlando on March 6th 2012.
The study is published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology this week.
Tremough Innovation Centre opens its doors to first clients
A shipyard designer, a social enterprise tackling deforestation in South America, and a high-tech web architecture firm are among the first clients to move into Cornwall’s new state-of-the-art business innovation facility.
The £13m Tremough Innovation Centre (TIC) opens its doors this week looking to create significant numbers of high-value jobs and nurture the development of high-skilled, growth enterprise in the county.
Situated adjacent to the Tremough Campus in Penryn, TIC will be able to support up to 70 businesses and will be operated by Plymouth University on behalf of Cornwall Council. The facility will provide clients with access to a supportive and creative communal environment in which they can develop their ideas, accelerate their growth, and create jobs.
Six companies are set to move in over the first three days, including Cool Earth, a social enterprise and environmental charity, founded in 2007, and who work with indigenous people around the world to save endangered rainforest.
Matthew Owen, Director, said: “The Tremough Innovation Centre has achieved one of the highest standards of environmental accreditation, so where better for a rainforest charity to set up its new offices?!
“What’s more, Cool Earth is really looking forward to using some of its state-of-the-art facilities, such as the video conference centre, which will help us keep people around the globe up-to-date on rainforest issues. Plus, we’re looking forward to meeting our new neighbours, other innovative organisations that are excelling in their field and keen to expand in Cornwall.”
Graphic Design firm Collaborative Thought is another to be moving into the facility in the first week. James Beresford founded the business in Truro 18 months ago, and said he was looking forward to growing the company in its new surroundings.
He said: “Moving to Tremough will help me to take the business to the next level, providing the base I need to bring in skilled freelancers to work alongside me on new projects.
“I’m also looking forward to tapping into the creative community here, and I’d like to be able to offer students experiential learning opportunities in the near future.”
Bernard Curren, Director of TIC, said: “There has been a tremendous amount of interest from within the local business community and prospective clients. As our success at Pool has shown, there is clearly a strong appetite for high quality innovation support and collaboration in the county.
“And with the University at the heart of the Peninsula Growth Acceleration and Investment Network (GAIN), all of our clients are automatically plugged into a region-wide strategy to accelerate the creation, growth and investment in high quality businesses and ideas, creating wealth and jobs in the region."
The pioneering TIC project has been led by Cornwall Council, and supported by Cornwall Development Company (CDC). Investment has been provided by the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) Convergence Programme and the South West RDA (Regional Development Agency).
Chris Ridgers, the Council’s Cabinet member for economy and regeneration, said: “The success of Pool Innovation Centre, in attracting businesses with high-growth potential able to create employment opportunities, set the bar high and it is very pleasing that the Tremough Innovation Centre has hit the ground running with businesses taking up resident from its opening. Positive support for, and encouragement of, high-growth potential businesses is an integral part of Cornwall Council’s ambitions for Cornwall’s economy.”
Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Convergence Partnership Office, which has invested nearly £10m in the construction of TIC, added: “This is the second Innovation Centre to open out of a suite of three funded through the ERDF Convergence programme. These are the final stage of the bridge between the university knowledge community and the emerging higher value opportunities for businesses; an 11-year journey from inception to reality."
TIC is the second innovation centre to be completed in Cornwall over the past two years, with the highly successful Pool Innovation Centre (PIC), which opened in July 2010, already exceeding all targets. In the first year PIC assisted client businesses to achieve average growth of over 40% and saw 44 new jobs created. Work on a third innovation centre specialising in the Health and Wellbeing sector, on the site close to Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust and the Knowledge Spa in Truro, began in August and is expected to be completed in late October 2012.
Delivering a world-class campus and facilities in Cornwall
The Tremough Campus Services Group (TCSG) is the pioneering partnership between University College Falmouth and the University of Exeter that delivers buildings, facilities and services at the Tremough Campus in Penryn.
As part of TCSG’s continual investment in the development of the Tremough Campus and its commitment to delivering a world-class campus and facilities in Cornwall, the site is currently benefiting from a programme of refurbishment to further enhance its look and feel.
Four projects have been implemented so far this term including Project Pride, the installation of impressive new green and grey University Campus Tremough signage; Project White, the refreshing of white-painted surfaces on existing buildings across the campus; Project Spring Clean, a general spruce up in time for the new academic year, and Project Café which has seen major investment in the redesign of the refectory/bar and events space, the Stannary.
“With interior design by HOK, who are one of the world’s largest, most diverse and respected design practices, the Stannary has been transformed with a new colour scheme and contemporary furniture, the majority of which has been sourced from local designers and suppliers,” explains Director of Estates & Development Services, Andrew Asbury. “This makeover not only gives this important campus facility a fresh new look but also enhances the quality of the environment for students, staff and other users.”
Much of the furniture has been produced by MARK, which stands for Made and Realised in Kernow. MARK is a furniture company based in Penryn that works with many other local manufacturers to produce a range of design-led furniture for both private and commercial customers. Working with both traditional craft skills and the hi tech innovations that are emerging from creative Cornwall, MARK’s mission is to raise the profile of the quality of design, skills and manufacturing in the County by taking products to market, nationally and internationally.
From powdercoated chairs in claret, sunshine yellow and water blue, inspired by fishing nets left to dry in the sun and created by award-winning product designer, Sam Johnson to coffee tables, developed with skilled surfboard shapers and crafted using high grade marine materials from design duo, Kay+Stemmer, the overall effect is one of quality and style.
“In response to staff and student feedback, instead of the Stannary providing one large, rather utilitarian space, this redesign also offers different kinds of spaces to provide a more intimate feel. We have also provided beautifully designed external seating around the Campus, particularly outside the Stannary and on the new terrace that has been formed outside the Sports Centre,” adds Andrew.
“This programme of activity not only represents physical change but also a progressive psychological development in the attitude towards the student experience at the Tremough Campus,” explains FXU President for the University of Exeter, Jonathan Harris. “Project White has really brightened up the exterior, and the new furniture in the Stannary and Upper Bar is sharp, stylish, and demonstrates TCSG’s commitment to reinvesting in Tremough.”
“TCSG is committed to providing students and staff with world-class services, and this major investment forms part of that approach,” comments TCSG Chief Executive Officer, Niamh Lamond. “As we move into a new fees arena, our students are increasingly discerning, and expect the highest of standards in everything that we deliver. Good locally sourced design is playing an important part in creating a distinctive and contemporary campus environment. By continually raising standards and improving the quality of our facilities and services, we will also attract business from external organisations, bringing in income for reinvestment in our campuses for the benefit of students and staff.”
“The vast majority of what we manufacture goes to businesses outside of Cornwall such as the BBC, John Lewis and NPower, so it’s great to be able to supply such a high profile project close to home,” said Director of MARK, John Miller. “Every pound spent on our furniture goes directly to supporting local jobs and the Cornish economy, which chimes with the universities’ remit to help regenerate the County.”
Ward Williams in Truro has assisted with the project management of these initiatives whilst 20:20 from Falmouth has produced signage and undertaken some of the interior design elements.
As part of its continual programme of reinvestment, TCSG plans to install new way-finding signage, and art installations, and outline its plans to develop the heart of the campus in 2012.
For further information about developments at the Tremough Campus, please visit www.tremoughcampus.com