The OPEN Biz Programme worked to enhance knowledge exchange between businesses and universities in the western Scotland region. It developed online tools and partnerships to help businesses more easily access academic expertise. This included case study videos, webinar events, a publications database with topic modeling, a mobile app, and a blog. The program helped businesses better understand how collaboration could benefit them, facilitated new projects between businesses and universities, and provided a model that could be expanded nationally.

1. OPEN BizOpen Programme engaging with businesses Dr. Siobhán Jordan

2. OPEN Biz- Introduction “Businesses need a knowledge exchange system that is easy to navigate and provides them with the expert knowledge and research they need……and has the potential to stimulate even greater knowledge exchange” BUILDING A SMARTER FUTURE TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE SCOTTISH SOLUTION FOR THE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION-Scottish Government 2011 Innovation is at the heart of economic development policy. Public sector and university sources are found to be the least often usedby businesses . There is a need to facilitate easier access to the resources within universities. OPEN Biz blended existing and new digital tools to enhance business access to academic expertise.

4. Don't know what academic expertise is available?

6. Embracing new and multiple online channels, to open up business access to University services.

7. Forming innovative partnerships and a regional network with West of Scotland Economic Development Teams in Councils, Business Gateways and Chambers of Commerce to directly engage with business advisors and companies in a range of sectors. The OPEN Biz Solutions

8. Referrals Via Intermediary organisations Direct Contact Via events, word of mouth, press, etc Interface – The Matchmaker for Business Business Community Academic Partners All Scottish Universities & Research Institutions

9. Work Package 1 –Online Video Case Studies 2-3 minute videos hosted on the Interface YouTube channel. Testimonials from collaborations with companies - AMT, Design LED, Float your Boat University project partners- Strathclyde University, University of the West of Scotland, Glasgow Caledonian University. Videos from the West of Scotland KTP Centre.

10. Work Package 2 –Webinar Events Focussed events for businesses wanting to develop new design processes or embrace digital technologies. Blending a live and virtual audience. Online chat with a moderator to answer questions and direct conversation. On demand video following the events.

11. Work Package 3 – Business publications list & topic modelling Testing easier business access to research publications via a digital publishing tool. Generation of word clouds from the software. Development of a prototype topic modelling interface as a new discovery tool to locate documents, terms within documents and relationships between documents.

12. Work Package 4 – iPhone Application Design and development of an iPhone app to connect businesses with University services at the touch of a button. Available from the Apple iTunes store - InterfaceOn. Users can create a unique profile to received relevant updates about funding, case studies, events and news.

13. The OPEN Biz- Blog OPEN Biz regularly blogged about events/updates or general digital happenings. ‘The art of frugal innovation: how to cut costs and stay ahead’ ‘Spreading the word digitally!’

14. Open Biz has brought key benefits to the partner institutions, businesses and intermediaries. Businesses- increased understanding of how knowledge exchange can benefit their company which has directly led to new collaborative projects with academic institutions. Partner Universities- have been able to engage with more businesses across a wider area in the West of Scotland. Overall- Open Biz has facilitated the development of a best practice online solution that could be easily rolled out across Scotland and the UK via a centralised hub such as Interface. Key Benefits

15. Q&A

16. @Interfaceonline www.interface-online.org.uk siobhan@interface-online.org.uk