Innovate to Accumulate: The Royal Veterinary College offers first class research to small companies in the East of England
23 September 2008
The Royal Veterinary College is seeking small-to-medium sized companies (SMEs) in the East if England with an interest in animal or human health and welfare to engage with its world leading researchers on innovative projects.
The programme – called Knowledge Partners East of England (KEEP) – is part funded by the East of England Development Agency. It will involve a collaboration between the RVC, a recent graduate, and the company looking to develop its business.
The project will prove valuable to veterinary practices, farms, food producers or bio-medical SMEs looking for cost effective solutions to business challenges in the unstable financial climate.
“The traditional knee-jerk response in the UK to a recession is to cut investment in research and investment, batten down the hatches and wait for the storm to pass.” said Dr Jim Gazzard of the RVC’s Business Development Team. “But companies who prioritise innovation are the ones that survive and stand ready to thrive when conditions improve. This is certainly true in sectors such as veterinary medicine and livestock farming”.
“The KEEP Program is a hugely exciting opportunity for smaller businesses in the East of England. They can approach RVC with a current business problem and we will introduce them to the most appropriate research team in order to help design a project that directly responds to the company’s needs”.
A grant of £12,250 from KEEP combined with an investment of £10,000 from the SME will allow a graduate to work on the partnership project for six months.
Jim Gazzard explains: “Together with the SME we would recruit a talented graduate to work on the project under the expert guidance of an experienced RVC researcher. The graduate will be based on the company’s site to allow them to quickly engage with the project. It is intended that the project outcomes will help the SME to improve their efficiency, think about novel products or enter new markets”
Interested companies should contact the RVC’s Business Development team.
Notes for editors
- Knowledge Partners East of England (KEEP) – is a 3-way partnership between a company, a local University and a recent graduate. It aims to help businesses achieve something different – a project where the expertise and skills of the University and a high-caliber graduate is needed to plan and implement. A typical project will last six months and require the graduate to be based on the SMEs site. Partner companies must have a trading address in the East of England (Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk or Suffolk) and have fewer than 250 employees. KEEP funding is provided by the East of England Development Agency. The programme is administered by Anglia Ruskin University. The other universities taking part in KEEP are The Royal Veterinary College, University of Cambridge, Cranfield University, University of Essex, Open University, University of East Anglia, Writtle College, University of Hertfordshire, University of Bedfordshire and the Norwich University College of the Arts.
- The Royal Veterinary College is the UK's first and largest veterinary school and a constituent College of the University of London. The College is one of the leading veterinary research centres in Europe and received 5 out of 5 in the latest Research Assessment Exercise. It also provides support for veterinary and related professions through its three referral hospitals, diagnostic services and continuing professional development courses.
Further Information
To request further information or an interview please contact:
- Hannah Murray on 01727 737997
email: hannah@communicationsmanagement.co.uk - Phil Smith on 01727 850761
email: phil@communicationsmanagement.co.uk
The Royal Veterinary College
Established in 1791, the RVC is the UK’s longest-standing veterinary college—with a proud heritage of innovation in veterinary science, clinical practice and education.