The OU has considerable expertise in contract research and knowledge transfer which can benefit your organisation.
There are a number of different ways we can work collaboratively to give you access to our knowledge base and find innovative solutions for your business needs.
Contract research
OU academics, scientists and engineers work at the forefront of new research, technology and business applications and regularly engage in consultancies and collaborations in their area of expertise. They would be keen to hear from you to find out how we can support you to carry out specific research to fulfil your needs.
Knowledge Exchange Vouchers
Knowledge Exchange Vouchers are a cost-effective way for organisations to solve a problem or undertake a small piece of research.
We provide our own Innovation Vouchers to micro, small and medium-sized businesses to support the identification and development of innovation and knowledge exchange that can have a major impact on SME's, large businesses and not-for profit organisations (anything from a one-person operation to a organisation with many staff).
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) scheme is a part-government-funded programme to help organisations improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills available within UK universities.
A KTP is a partnership between a business or organisation, the OU, and a recent graduate, to undertake a dedicated project.
A KTP is a low risk, cost-effective way of running a strategic project to create a return on investment for your company. You gain a talented, high-calibre graduate working for you full-time, plus the equivalent of half a day per week of input from world leading academic experts, and Government pays 50% or 67% of the basic costs.
To discuss how we can help and how you can access vouchers or KTPs, contact us: Innovation-Enterprise@open.ac.uk
Affiliated Research Centres
The OU is part of an international network of Affiliated Research Centres, or ARCs.These are organisations which have entered into an agreement with us to register students for an OU research degree award. Find out more about Affiliated Research Centres.
How KTPs boost organisations' skills and profits
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Engineered neural tissue technology
This project is a collaboration between the OU and TAP Biosystems, a leader in the design and development of automated cell culture systems. The goal is to develop technology that will provide researchers in academia and industry with the means to create robust and reliable neural tissue models, in a simple, convenient format to support their research.
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Streamlining production and increasing productivity
Executive Interviews is a one-stop shop for businesses’ online video needs, providing services to the world’s leading business channels and many of the world's best-known companies and financial institutions.
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'Open University involvement left a very positive permanent legacy'
The Hallé Concerts Society Manchester's Hallé Orchestra has been performing classical music brilliantly for more than 150 years. But in an age when audiences are increasingly accessing music digitally, the orchestra lacked the expertise to exploit new technologies.