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Case Studies

North Devon, Torridge, West Devon and South Hams Technology Transfer Project

The project took place in North Devon, Torridge, West Devon and the South Hams from Aug 05 to Nov 08, was managed by the North Devon & Exmoor Regeneration Company (ND&ExRegCo) and funded by the EU and Devon Renaissance. It was delivered under contract by the Defence Diversification Agency until 30 Jun 07 and thereafter by Animus Consulting, in both cases under the management of our Principal.

The aim was to improve the competitiveness and productivity of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in underperforming rural areas of Devon through the assisted transfer and adoption of product and process innovations drawn from the Defence Science and Technology base, public sector research establishments, Academia and companies.

The project addressed key constraints to technology transfer and adoption amongst small businesses and achieved this by providing end-to-end support for the technology adoption process - from assessing and understanding business needs and priorities, through to identifying appropriate new technology solutions, knowledge or know-how, and helping to overcome the various barriers to implementation.

The project was instrumental in the creation of new jobs, the preservation of jobs, up to 5 KTPs, obtaining grants for development and the creation of a new research and engineering manufacturing business.

New Generation Biogas Ltd (NGB)

NGB is a start up company in Totnes set up by Barr & Paatz Ltd – an advanced engineering Company - to develop and produce a new generation of High Throughput Anaerobic Digesters. KH Technology Broking’s role in the project was to find a source of technology and then to manage and assist with applications for Grant funding to support Research & Development. NGB was introduced to and formed a partnership with North Wyke Research (formerly the Institute for Grassland and Environmental Research) at Okehampton, Devon. Grant funding was obtained from Defra Link for research. In 2011 development funding was obtained from the Springboard Fund and a Technology Strategy Board Feasibility Study Competition. KH Technology Broking is the lead author of NGB’s Business Plan.

Myrna (Source) Ltd

Andy Dunkerley, a Director of the Plympton based engineering and manufacturing company, sought assistance to apply for a Grant for Research and Development from the SWRDA. Myrna (Source) Ltd produces cable fixings manufactured from stainless steel. The Product is mainly used by the petrochemical, rail and military marine markets. The project was to develop a pre-production prototype special purpose machine for the automated assembly of stainless steel ball lock cable ties. The developed machine, when built into production equipment, replaces expensive, repetitive manual production processes with what will then become several automated cells. KH Technology Broking advised on and drafted the application for a grant. A substantial Development Grant was obtained.

Scimar Engineering Ltd

Tim Crocker, the MD of an Exeter based research lead engineering company, spent many years trying to interest the MoD in a number of novel technologies with potential military applications, without success. The MoD had recently changed its procedures for dealing with novel ideas from SMEs and he was persuaded and assisted to present his ideas to the MoD’s Centre for Defence Enterprise (CDE). The outcome was the award of a substantial contract to develop an idea that has applications for use in the field by our forces.

Ashridge Engineering Ltd

Ashridge Engineering is an advanced engineering company based at Okehampton that researches, develops and produces instrumentation for level, pressure, leakage management and winding temperature protection. The Company wished to develop a new product outside its then field of expertise. KH Technology Broking identified and obtained access to appropriate Intellectual Property at the University of Liverpool and advised on the transfer of the IP. After a joint exploration of the options available to support an R & D project it was decided to apply for a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP). KH Technology Broking wrote and managed the application for and assisted the company through the KTP process. A Graduate was appointed for a 2 year project in mid 2009.