T hink the work of universities has nothing to do with your business? Think again. SMEs in the UK spent £217 million on knowledge exchange projects with universities in 2014-15 and that figure has been growing for years. The government recognises that collaboration between businesses and universities can boost economic growth and innovation and is providing funding to make it happen. The University of Essex is at the forefront of university-business engagement in the eastern region. It’s one of the national leaders in collaborative projects that are helping businesses innovate and grow, and has created a hub for knowledge-based businesses at its campus in Colchester. Knowledge Gateway research and technology park The Knowledge Gateway is a research and technology park set in mature parkland at the University’s Colchester Campus. It’s already home to a thriving community of start-ups and SMEs and further developments will add space for more small companies and also larger businesses. The Knowledge Gateway provides a home for knowledge-based businesses in the science,
The Parkside community includes a diverse range of tech-savvy companies, from app developers to web designers to digital marketeers, and also includes Essex Chambers of Commerce, the Haven Gateway Partnership, the Economic and Social Research Council’s Business and Local Government Data Research Centre and the University’s own Institute for Analytics and Data Science (IADS). IADS brings together Essex’s experts in analytics and data science to look beyond the hype and focus on the real challenges and opportunities of data in society and business. Nurturing start-ups Entrepreneurship is further fostered by the University’s Start-up Hub which provides hot-desk space and hands-on business support for innovators including student and graduate start-ups. Now home to 14 businesses, the Start-Up Hub’s innovation fund awarded £30,000 this year to new businesses working on projects ranging from retail websites to healthcare apps utilising AI. Right next door is the unique, award-winning Games Hub which provides a training programme for aspiring game and app
technology and creative sectors. With the University having a global reputation for analytics and data science and providing lots of support for SMEs, it’s set to be a base for more than 2,000 jobs. Basing a business on the University campus offers several benefits. There are extensive on-site facilities including cafes, restaurants, meeting and event spaces, a nursery, and the four-star Wivenhoe House Hotel. There’s a huge talent pool of students and graduates with a dedicated University team providing advice on setting up internships, work placements and apprenticeships, and recruiting graduates. And there’s easy access to the University’s research expertise, with a team on hand to help guide companies through the options and funding available for partnering with the University on projects. A growing SME community Central to the Knowledge Gateway is Parkside Office Village which offers office space for SMEs. Parkside already has more than 20 resident companies and a further phase is now underway to build seven new units ranging from 1,750 to 3,735 square feet with completion in autumn 2018.
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