EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - The Knowledge Dock – transforming the entrepreneurial DNA

The Knowledge Dock – transforming the entrepreneurial DNA - London, UK

Introduction

The over-arching concept of Knowledge Dock is that of knowledge-driven regeneration. The Knowledge Dock comprises a package of supporting initiatives offered to local Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs).

Problem

The impact of previous investment projects focused on the London Docks was undermined by the failure of a number of projects to work with one another in a co-ordinated manner that puts the beneficiary SME first and not the particular product/service that the organisation is trying to persuade the market it wants. Knowledge Dock is developed in such a way that it integrates various streams for SME support building on strong partnerships.

Description

The over-arching concept of Knowledge Dock is that of knowledge-driven regeneration, taking forward at a sub-regional level the Lisbon Agenda and its London equivalent, the London Development Agency Innovation Strategy and Action Plan.

The products and services offered to SMEs by the Knowledge Dock include the following:

East London Inventors Club
Supported SME workspace
Technical services, e.g. a Fashion Print and Design Bureau (FABPAD)
Sector specific services for the fashion industry, creative and cultural industries and social care sector
Supported student Industrial placements.

The project operates strong partnerships through both Thames Gateway London Partnership, a public/private body and the innovation and enterprise London university members across London.

Approach

The main phases of the project thus far are as follows:

2000/2001: market testing, development of concept, launch of full project
2002: development of training options in support of the project, in particular ICT networking training, in partnership with Greenwich University and local FECs
2003/4/5: rolling launch of key services, including Simlab, i.e. London and Enterprise Bureau
2006: new Knowledge Dock centre opens, brining the core services, SME incubation units and personnel of the branded projects under one roof.

From late 2006/2007/early 2008 the projects will, on a rolling basis, move from free delivery of services to SMEs to a cost recovery model requiring fee payment by all clients.

The main driving force behind Knowledge Dock is the University of East London’s Innovation and Strategic Developments division, in collaboration with innovation and enterprise colleagues across east London.

Results

This quantitative output achievements recorded to date for the Knowledge Dock portfolio of projects:

146 Assisted SMEs;
510 SMEs Advised;
17 supply chain linkages;
15 Products and Processes Supported;
GBP 120,000 New Sales in SMEs;
GBP 370,000 Safeguarded Sales in SMEs;
17 Gross New Jobs;
0 Gross Safeguarded Jobs;
GBP 25,000 Business Expenditure on R & D;
105 SMEs Environmental Audits
764 ESF trainees on accredited courses.

This cluster of projects is well on track to meet, or even exceed, its quantitative targets; indeed, individual targets have already
been comfortably surpassed.

Resources used

The project was financed as follows:

5.8 million euros from the London Objective 2 Programme, European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
16.7 million euros of national co-financing
53,174 euros of national private co-financing

EU involvement

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.

Contact info

Government Office for London (GOL)
Daniel Gilbert (Supporting Innovation Cross Cutting Theme lead)

Project start date

01/01/2000

Links

Visit the Government Office for London (GOL) website Visit the Knowledge Dock website Visit the GRAZ Best Practice Conference website

Download 'The Knowledge Dock – transforming the entrepreneurial DNA' Report (PDF, Eng, 72 KB)

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Economy knowledge & employment > Urban economy

Keywords

Business support