|
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP’s) are Europe’s leading programme of helping businesses to improve their competitiveness and productivity through better use of the knowledge, technology and skills that reside within UK universities and colleges.
This scheme is operated throughout the UK by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and is designed to offer business access to the academic expertise and resources of top universities and colleges to help develop new products, processes and services.
The scheme is very popular with the Government as the return in the vast majority of partnerships far outweighs the grants invested by them in the companies.
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships’ Mission is “to strengthen the competitiveness, wealth creation and economic performance of the UK by the enhancement of knowledge and skills and the stimulation of innovation through collaborative projects between business and the knowledge base”.
The objectives of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships are to:
- facilitate the transfer of knowledge and the spread of technical and business skills, through innovation projects undertaken by high calibre, recently qualified people under the joint supervision of personnel from business and the knowledge base
- provide company-based training for recently qualified people in order to enhance their business and specialist skills
- stimulate and enhance business-relevant training and research undertaken by the knowledge base
- increase the extent of interactions of businesses with the knowledge base and their awareness about the contribution that the knowledge base can make to business development and growth
In late 2004 Tayside Contracts was approved by the DTI for funding of up to five projects over the following five years.
Details of the first partnership with Dundee University were approved early in 2005 and a three year project involving the Construction Division is currently underway developing new products and processes using recycled road stone. Further products are currently under consideration.
Everyone benefits from this;
- Tayside Contracts acquires new knowledge and expertise
- The graduate gains business based experience as well as personal and professional development opportunities
- The university enhances the business relevance of their research and teaching
The services Tayside Contracts provides to the constituent Councils are constantly changing and developing both in the private and public sector markets. To deliver best value to our clients we must not only be aware, we must be the driver to innovate, excel and grow in a very competitive market place. It was with these factors in mind that we decided to use KTP as a practical route to achieving these aims.
|
.JPG)
Waste Strategy in Construction
