PRESS RELEASE
21 November 2003Media Lab Europe Forms Groundbreaking Partnership with UK Public Agency Media Lab Europe has formed a strategic partnership with Highlands and
Islands Enterprise network.
The collaboration - the first of its kind in Europe involving Media Lab
Europe and a public agency - will accelerate the commercial application
of research emerging from Media Lab Europe for small and medium enterprises
and microbusinessess in the Highlands and Islands region of Scotland.
The alliance is aimed at enabling small businesses harness the potential
of new technologies emerging from Media Lab Europe and help improve
businesses competitiveness at local, national and international levels.
Ronan Smith, Director of Corporate Relations at Media Lab Europe, said
the agreement marks an evolution in the development of the organisation's
partnership model. "In the past we have mainly partnered with
organisations in the private sector as well as educational bodies. The Laboratory is
now working with regional development authorities across Europe, together
driving innovation in the public sector."
Business Lab, the Scottish IT research and consultancy group, will
assist in managing the partnership with Media Lab Europe. The Highlands and Islands Enterprise network will fine-tune the partnership's output to match the
current and anticipated needs of businesses.
Callum Davidson, Head of Highlands and Islands Enterprise knowledge
economy team said: "One of the ambitions set out in the Scottish Executive's
Smart Successful Scotland strategy is to improve Scotland's research base and
this deal plugs us into an internationally-renowned research centre with
world-class expertise."
Among the key objectives of the partnership will be:
- Enabling businesses, government agencies and academia to access
leading-edge research in a practical and relevant manner.
- Establishing a programme for the application of collaborative
outputs in the form of knowledge, products and processes.
- Identifying potential partners for new collaborative research
programmes involving Media Lab Europe and Business Lab.
- Creating opportunities for the commercial exploitation by the
partnership of commercial products emerging from the research programme.
- Supporting Highlands and Islands Enterprise networks efforts to
improve collaboration between business and academic and research
communities.
- Identifying research themes which support the strategic goals of
the
Highlands and Islands Enterprise network.
About Media Lab Europe
Media Lab Europe is an international research and innovation Lab. It is
also the European research partner of the world renowned MIT Media Lab. Its
interdisciplinary and collaborative approach to innovation provides a
unique environment for exploring advanced research that facilitates the
development of technologies that expand human potential right across society. Media
Lab Europe is a not-for-profit organisation that supports its work through
corporate, community, academic and public research partnerships.
http://www.medialabeurope.org
About The Highlands and Islands Enterprise Network
The Highlands and Islands Enterprise network (HIE) is responsible for
economic and community development in an area which covers more than
half of Scotland, from Scotland to Argyll. HIE's headquarters are in Inverness
and most of its services are delivered through ten local enterprise
companies. The network employs around 500 people, including 150 Careers Scotland
staff and last year invested more than £100 million to help people living in
the Highlands and Islands realise their full potential.
http://www.hie.co.uk
About Business Lab
Business Lab is a leading Scottish IT-related research group,
specializing in the creation of research consortia to develop tools and processes for
application by SMEs to improve their competitiveness. The company
focuses on the application of technology in the areas of business strategy,
learning environments and socio/economic inclusion. Over the last five years,
Business Lab's research has resulted in a number of innovative e-business
and e-learning programmes for businesses in the UK, India, Australia,
Scandinavia and North America.
http://www.businesslab.co.uk
Visit the Media Lab Europe press area.
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