23rd November 2007

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Jackie Casey, University of Ulster, James Leckey, Leckey Design, Dr Alison Porter-Armstrong, University of Ulster, Noel McQuaid, Leckey Design, and Clare Wright, Leckey Design

Eighteen of Northern Ireland’s most dynamic and innovative small firms have been honoured at this year’s Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) awards event, held in Belfast’s Hilton Hotel.

Companies from sectors as diverse as construction, software engineering, electronics, ambient advertising, civil engineering and more took part in the prestige business gala. 

The KTP concept focuses on the transfer of knowledge from the university sector into the business world, concentrating on bringing together academic skills expertise with small business entrepreneurship, drive and savoir-faire to help build the firms that will power tomorrow’s Northern Ireland economy.  

KTP is funded in Northern Ireland by Invest Northern Ireland and the Technology Strategy Board, and delivered by its universities and colleges.

Guest of honour at the event – hosted this year by the University of Ulster – was Leslie Morrison, Chief Executive of Invest Northern Ireland, who said: “If our economy is to continue to grow, it is important that we make use of the high standard of academic excellence in local universities and colleges in order to foster a culture of innovation.  

“The partnerships honoured by these awards have shown that not only is this kind of collaboration academically valid, but it can significantly improve a company’s profitability in what is an increasingly competitive global marketplace.” 

Congratulating the winners, associates and partners on their awards, Professor Bernie Hannigan, Ulster’s Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, said:

“Real companies achieve real improvements in their business bottom lines by participating in KTP.  The scheme applies knowledge and expertise from the university to drive business innovation. Every KTP partner is a winner.” 

The event also heard a special presentation from Clare Wright, who has completed a KTP project with James Leckey Design. Her work focused on enhancing the marketability and functionality of the firm’s products in the field of support devices for children with disabilities.   

This was a highly innovative project, being the first time in the UK that academic Occupational Therapists - Dr Alison Porter-Armstrong and Jackie Casey of Ulster’s Health and Rehabilitation Research Institute - were knowledge partners.

For further information, please contact:

David Young
Telephone: 028 90366074
Email: David Young