New partnership to boost innovation in Scotland

A new cross-sector partnership has been created to drive innovation and productivity across Scotland.

Three organisations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to help deliver better production levels across Scottish businesses, in line with the government's ambitions.

Boosting productivity is at the heart of the Scottish Government’s national strategy for economic transformation, with the aim being for Scotland to be within the top quartile of OECD - Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development - countries in terms of productivity

Business network Peer Works, the University of Glasgow-led Scotland Productivity Forum and the University of Manchester’s Productivity Institute have committed to the agreement.

It is hoped this interface between university and business will unlock the potential of innovation and productivity, which currently is a “key challenge” for the UK economy, Sir Anton Muscatelli, principal of Glasgow University, said.

A MoU is a non-legally binding agreement indicating a common line of action between signatory parties.

This agreement will formalise an existing working partnership between the parties involved, seeing them work closer on policy initiatives, collaborative research, events, and the communication of good practices to employers.

Clare Reid, director of policy and public affairs at Prosper, which delivers the Scottish Government-funded Peer Works initiative, said: “For every part of Scotland to thrive, we need the business base to be as efficient and competitive as possible.

“Research evidence shows that peer-to-peer learning is an effective way to support businesses, particularly smaller businesses.”