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Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) National Managers' Conference 2019

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Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) National Managers' Conference 2019

Overview

The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) National Managers’ Conference 2019 was held over two days at the P&J Live at TECA attracting around 150 delegates to a series of presentations and workshops exploring the value of KTPs in promoting innovation, which has thrown the spotlight on how universities and industry are working together to promote economic growth in the region.

It was the first time the national conference was held in Aberdeen, following a successful bid by the North of Scotland KTP Centre supported by the University of Aberdeen’s CPD Services, which organised the conference. KTPs promote collaborations between higher education institutions and industrial partners, allowing them to develop solutions that promote innovation and increase competitiveness.

The conference was opened by Professor George Boyne, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen, and Professor John Harper, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of RGU.Keynote speakers included Ivan McKee, the Scottish Government Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation, and Dr Colin Cooper, Head of Commercialisation & Collaboration at Innovate UK, the UK's innovation agency.

Among the presentations was a case study illustrating how KTPs can act as a catalyst for regional economic development featuring Professor Andy Porter, CTO of University of Aberdeen drug development spin-out Elasmogen Ltd, and Lorna Duguid, Opportunity North East’s Development Director for Life Sciences.

The conference featured a Scottish themed social programme with a Gala Dinner at Aberdeen & Northern Marts (ANM), a former KTP company partner in Thainstone, Inverurie. The evening started with a 'KTP Auction' where delegates got the chance to test their bidding skills inside a real auction ring as featured on the BBC Documentary “The Mart” by ANM’s TV star auctioneer, Alan Hutcheon. The fun continued with a traditional Scottish Ceilidh and whisky tasting from Glen Garioch (pronounced geery) whisky distillery.