Sunderland’s success in the transfer market

Jan 15 2008 By The Journal

THE University of Sunderland’s ability to transfer knowledge to meet the needs of global business and industry has seen it create close relationships with some of the world’s leading blue-chip companies – among them Microsoft, BT, Glaxo Smithkline, Pfizer and Nissan.

The university’s success in adapting to the needs of these and other companies is one of the reasons why leading businesses are keen to work with Sunderland. Organisations are now aware that greater economic prosperity and a competitive edge can be achieved by utilising the knowledge and expertise available at universities.

That is why the University of Sunderland is seen as central to the success of Sunderland Software City, a bold plan to attract millions of pounds of business investment, employ thousands of people and generate wealth for the city. The university is working with business and the public sector to diversify the city’s industrial base and establish a vibrant software industry in Sunderland.

Paul Callaghan, chairman of Leighton Group, who is one of the leading figures in the new initiative, said: “The University of Sunderland is key to the city’s future. Its crucial role in the Sunderland Software City project is why it is perhaps the most important institution in the city.

“The university’s School of Computing and Technology boasts the largest ICT training facility in the UK with a wealth of expertise. This is why they are so important to the project.”

Professor John MacIntyre, who is Dean of the university’s School of Computing and Technology, has also taken a leading role in developing Sunderland Software City.

He said: “The university will be a key hub of activity and a major driver for innovation and change in this initiative.

“It is widely recognised, within Sunderland and also the international software industry, that access to a skilled workforce and graduates will be critical in the development of a software city.

“The university will play a leading role in developing and sharing knowledge with the software companies, enhancing high-level skills and the knowledge base, and adding real value to the industry.

“Our relationship with our partners, such as Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, SAP and Sun Microsystems, will also play an important part in the development of Sunderland Software City.”

The School of Computing and Technology has achieved tremendous success in the application of knowledge transfer in recent years. One notable example lies within its automotive operation.

The university is playing a central role in helping One NorthEast and the North-East Productivity Alliance deliver practical help for the region’s manufacturers through the £9m Accelerate North-East programme.

The programme, which heavily involves the university’s Centre for Automotive and Manufacturing Advanced Practice (AMAP), is particularly concerned with improving productivity and competitiveness.

The projects set up in the programme are delivering practical and pragmatic solutions, developed by industrialists for industrialists. They include the Digital Factory, which was set up to help the region’s manufacturing companies increase productivity and competitiveness by understanding and adopting engineering software solutions. The university’s Digital Factory team has trained thousands of manufacturing engineers in the region, helping them to use digital engineering technology to generate new business and increase profits.

The Engineering Fellows initiative is developing a body of knowledge for the region in key areas of engineering expertise to support the automotive industry, its supply chain and the general manufacturing sector, in line with the Regional Economic Strategy (RES).

One NorthEast chairman Margaret Fay said: “The university is committed to helping the region build a new surge in enterprise and boost business productivity and innovation as well as support world-class skills and increased economic activity – all of which will help the North-East reach its RES targets.

“The university is strengthening knowledge transfer ties with regional industry to ensure they benefit from high-level academic research. This will be central to the success of Sunderland Software City. AMAP is doing a fantastic job in helping to improve business productivity and competitiveness.

“The Digital Factory and Engineering Fellows initiatives are very good examples. Both these programmes have been extremely successful in helping manufacturers adopt new engineering software and develop a body of best practice. Ultimately, this is raising North-East productivity levels to keep regional manufacturers competitive in global marketplaces.”

The university’s relationship with Nissan is a great example of this.

Steve Pallas, training manager at Nissan, says: “The university is helping us deliver in a fiercely competitive global market. A key area where they have contributed to our success has been the development of skills in the workforce.

“We knew that we needed a step-change in the use of digital technology in the manufacturing operation to keep ahead of our competitors. Our partnership with the university was critical in raising the skills levels of our employees, enabling them to use digital engineering tools throughout the operations. Hundreds of our staff have been trained by the university team in AMAP and this year we have seen real bottom-line benefits as a result.

“We used to find it difficult to engage with universities, who seemed to lack understanding of our needs or our timescales. Sunderland showed us a different approach, much more business-like and focused – and that makes it much easier for us to work together. It is now a partnership we value very highly.”

Anyone who would like more information about knowledge transfer should contact Mark Donnelly at the University of Sunderland on (0191) 515-3365.