North West Regional College (NWRC)
Developing skills, fostering innovation and driving applied research for industry
North West Regional College (NWRC), based in Northern Ireland, has developed a Business Support Centre (BSC) with a unique suite of five innovation centres dedicated to supporting businesses to develop skills, foster innovation and drive applied research.
In 2015, the College took a strategic decision to invest in a dedicated BSC, to manage engagement with industry and develop an innovation strategy. This strategy proposed to invest in Technology Innovation Centres (TICs) to help bridge the gap between research findings and outputs and develop commercial propositions.
Specific subject/technology areas were identified based on the College’s established expertise, existing and future industry requirements and government priority sectors for economic growth. The TICs provide the College with a business-focused capability, enabling small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) to tap into the knowledge and expertise of the College, while accessing skills and equipment which might not otherwise be within their reach. This in turn reduces business risk, shortens their time to market and assists the exploitation of know-how from academia to industry.
The five industry-focused innovation centres are:
- Food and drink innovation (Foodovation)
- Healthcare and assisted living (Design Innovation for Assisted Living)
- Advanced manufacturing, materials and engineering (Product Design Centre)
- Augmented, virtual and extended reality (XR)
- Automation, robotics and 5G technologies (industry 4.0)
In the past year, the NWRC has completed more than 140 applied research and development projects through these centres, helping SMEs innovate and grow by developing new products, processes and services. The College has also trained more than 1,000 individuals, including business employees, who received upskilling, and individuals who were trained in priority skills areas for new opportunities.
NWRC’s hub-and-spoke BSC is unique within the UK’s further education sector, and the College has presented its work at various events throughout the country.