The project was originally conceived to give Lancaster University an ICT building complex that reflected its world class ICT research capabilities and that would function as a centre for the exploitation of the University’s knowledge base in this field.

With a total floor area of 6200m2 InfoLab houses 250 academics and research staff and an entire wing is dedicated to the Knowledge Business Centre (KBC). The KBC houses a knowledge transfer team, business units and collaborative Research and Development (R&D) facilities and ICT Focus, the University’s ICT training department.

The KBC acts as an innovation hub, enabling the University to strengthen its links with business and enterprise through an umbrella of knowledge and technology transfer and industry training activities. In this way, the KBC transfers expertise between InfoLab21’s academics, regional business and community partnerships.

Overall, the programme is very much more focused on regional regeneration and on directly assisting Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).

The InfoLab21 building process has been completed. The Knowledge Business Centre is now 80% occupied with start-up, spinout and highgrowth technology focused companies. There is an active cluster network of regional companies and electronic newsletters are frequently produced. There are regular technology briefing sessions and networking breakfasts, which are providing both knowledge and technology transfer opportunities.

The concept for an in-house demonstrator is also advanced with work about to start on information displays to provide improved technical awareness. Work has started with schools to improve the uptake of ICT and encourage women into the profession. There is also a top-level advisory group drawn from the Local Authority and large corporate companies providing strategic direction. In addition, there are quarterly Management and Monitoring meetings with representatives of the funding streams and small businesses.

The first year of the project has concentrated on structuring and the initial implementation of the activity part of the business plan. Key to the ethos of InfoLab21 and its ultimate success is the “engagement” process between academia and the region’s businesses.

The primary focus has therefore been the formation of relationships with key InfoLab21 based academics and involving the management of a culture change, which although a long-term process has progressed well to date.

Typically, support has been through contact at the networking sessions and facilitated follow-up sessions. In essence the companies have been “picking the academics brains”. This process, whilst productive is difficult to quantify.

This practice was presented at the Fourth Best Practice Conference New Horizons in Graz, Austria on 15 November 2006. The conference aimed at promoting exchange of experience and dissemination of best practice between authorities involved in the implementation on EU Structural Funds Programmes in Europe. It was destined to contribute to improving quality of implementation of Structural Funds on the basis of project presentations and visits.

InfoLab21 Knowledge Business Centre
Steve Riches (Director)

02/02/2005

case

Urban Policy > Economy knowledge & employment > Research & innovation

Implementation & production