Partner Article
Companies sitting on 'talent goldmine'
North East companies could be sitting on a ‘goldmine’ of untapped talent which would help them stave off the impact of the downturn, according to a regional partnership.
Ideas Lab, a partnership between Northumbria University, Ward Hadaway Law Firm and regional development agency One North East, is urging businesses in the region to break out of their ‘established patterns’.
Stuart English, principal lecturer at Northumbria University’s School of Design, said: “At Ideas Lab, we have worked with more than 35 companies since we were set up in July 2007. We want to reveal lots of value in North East companies and create lots of value. We also link companies together for their mutual benefit, making them aware of new opportunities.”
Mr English was speaking at a seminar taking place at County Durham’s NETPark which looked at the importance of identifying cornerstones of innovation.
He also described how Ideas Lab had worked with the New and Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC) in Blyth, Northumberland on the development of blade testing technology for wind turbines and helped draw up a business strategy to exploit the resulting intellectual property, which could be worth more than £2m a year.
Catherine Johns, director of innovation at NETPark said: “This seminar gave a fascinating insight for companies looking to maximise growth through innovation. Our programme of seminars is highly popular and businesses find them a valuable added benefit of being a NETPark tenant or a virtual tenant of NETPark Net.”
NETPark Net is the virtual science park and online community that allows businesses not physically in the park to share the same exposure to the latest knowledge and best practice and links to innovation networks around the world.
This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .
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