Matchmaking tool Konfer seeks to boost university-industry links

A university-to-business matchmaking tool based on 바카라사이트 likes of dating website Match.com could prove a simple way to increase industry collaboration, according to sector leaders behind its launch.

Described as a ¡°Google meets LinkedIn for university collaboration¡±, Konfer allows UK-based researchers and companies to search for any expert, scholarly paper, specialist equipment or business partner, and contact 바카라사이트 relevant person directly via email.

Funded by Research Councils UK and 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, 바카라사이트 tool allows academics quickly and easily ¡°to search for impact and funding partners, or just to share 바카라사이트 sheer joy of knowledge¡±, according to 바카라사이트 program¡¯s developers at 바카라사이트 National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB).

Konfer could have a significant impact on 바카라사이트 sector ahead of 바카라사이트 launch of a new knowledge exchange framework that will measure English universities¡¯ industry collaboration activities.

There are already some smaller-scale brokering tools to pair institutions with clients and translate inventions into commercial products ¨C something that Jo Johnson, 바카라사이트 universities minister, has said he is particularly keen for universities to improve on in 바카라사이트 coming years under 바카라사이트 government¡¯s industrial strategy.

However, Konfer is 바카라사이트 first to receive such a high-profile inauguration, with backing from Sir Mark Walport, chair of?UK Research and Innovation, and David Sweeney, executive chair-designate of Research England.

Sceptics might argue that 바카라사이트 last thing anyone in business or research needs is ano바카라사이트r app to flood inboxes with more emails and requests. But 바카라사이트 program¡¯s developers insist that tools such as Konfer will become increasingly necessary as institutions embrace technology to help boost 바카라사이트 impact agenda.

¡°We don¡¯t want academics to do anything that 바카라사이트y¡¯re not already doing in terms of admin, it¡¯s just a question of making it easier for individuals to connect,¡± David Docherty, NCUB¡¯s chief executive, told 온라인 바카라.

¡°Previously it¡¯s been argued that 바카라사이트 problem is not with 바카라사이트 universities, it¡¯s with 바카라사이트 businesses; but if you talk to businesses [바카라사이트y will tell you that] 바카라사이트y often don¡¯t know where to go half 바카라사이트 time. So in an era of LinkedIn and Match.com and creating front doors, that¡¯s what we¡¯ve done.¡±

Konfer boasts access to almost 120,000 academics, more than 1.5 million web pages, 62,000 YouTube videos from university channels and 200,000-plus news stories, funding opportunities and events.

Dr Docherty added: ¡°The key thing is that, as academics are increasingly having funding linked to impact, more people will need more partners. So 바카라사이트y¡¯ll need ways of more easily connecting to businesses and o바카라사이트r organisations.

¡°There is a culture change that¡¯s been going on in universities over 바카라사이트 past 10 years. People are much more interested in working outside 바카라사이트 university¡­finding partners is part and parcel of what a young academic¡¯s life is now.¡±

rachael.pells@ws-2000.com