Business and education partnerships brokered through the Interface organisation have helped to secure more than 60 Highlands and Islands’ jobs in three years, a new report says.
According to Interface, which links universities and the private sector, the job number is likely to increase to more than 100 by 2017.
Its report – The Knowledge Connection for Business – says north businesses taking part in an Interface-supported project between 2011-2014 created or secured 63 jobs.
It also says the 120 partnerships it has helped to set up between academia and Highlands and islands businesses over the past nine years have contributed £3million to the Scottish economy, of which £2.2million stayed in the north.
Interface director Siobhan Jordan told the Press and Journal more firms should be aware of the “positive effects” that working with Scotland’s universities on projects can bring.
She said: “Of the companies based in the Highlands and islands that we have helped to establish projects with the universities, 86% said the collaboration has had a positive impact on their business.
“More than a quarter (28%) have developed new products to bring to market and the same amount feel that their exporting potential has increased.
“To be able to say that more than 60 positions have already been safeguarded as a direct result of undertaking collaboration projects is significant.”
Enterprise Minister Fergus Ewing said: “I’m very encouraged by the findings of this study.
“Since 2005, Dr Jordan and the Interface team have been facilitating collaborative projects between Scottish businesses and experts within our academic communities.
“This study provides proof positive of the economic benefits realised by businesses in the Highlands and islands that have used Interface as a conduit into our HEIs (higher education institutes), with almost three-quarters (72%) of businesses saying that their projects would not have gone forward had it not been for the Interface service.”
Highlands and Islands Enterprise business and sector development director Charlotte Wright said: “Interface has delivered tangible commercial benefits for the businesses it has assisted.
“These benefits have been translated into substantial quantifiable economic benefits for the Highlands and islands economy, amounting to more than £2million GVA (gross value added) a year and over 60 jobs since 2011.
“We must encourage more businesses to consider collaborating with universities and research institutions, and help them realise what assistance they can access from funding and academic expertise to the use of facilities or student placements.”
Interface matches businesses with the expertise available in Scotland’s 23 universities and research institutions to help drive innovation in Scotland.
Projects can be as diverse as undertaking a complex feasibility study or as simple as a student placement or the hiring of specialist facilities.