COLLEAGUES who have brought more than £108 million of investment into Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly have been presented with a national award.
The University of Exeter’s Innovation, Impact and Business (IIB) Team were named as the ‘Team of the Year’ at the Knowledge Exchange Awards 2020.
Organised by PraxisAuril, the UK’s professional association for Knowledge Exchange (KE) practitioners, the awards recognise the ways that universities and research organisations can contribute to the renewal of the UK’s economy.
This year the Awards moved online, with a live-streamed ceremony showcasing the achievements of the finalists and winners.
The IIB Team for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, based on the University of Exeter’s Penryn Campus, plays a central role within the University’s Research, Development & Innovation (RD&I) activities in Cornwall. It facilitates and amplifies the work of researchers to make it more impactful, forges cross-sector partnerships with institutions across the region, and embeds the priorities of local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within research and policymaking.
This work gives the SME community a stronger voice and provides it with direct channels to inform local, regional and national governance mechanisms.
Chris Evans, Director of Regional Engagement, said: ’We are delighted that the University of Exeter’s IIB-Cornwall team has won the Knowledge Exchange Team of the Year award.
’Over the past three years, the team has worked in partnership to deliver c£108m of investment into Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Through its sector-focused Research, Development & Innovation Hubs the team has supported over 750 businesses, driving innovation and supporting businesses to create new jobs, working in collaboration with the University.’
Case studies, showing the impact of the team’s RD&I activities with businesses in Cornwall, can be viewed online.