Scots innovators urged to abandon clan mentality

SCOTLAND’S history of great inventions, from the telephone and television to bicycles and Dolly the Sheep, could be rekindled if researchers, scientists and innovators abandoned their "clan mentality" and worked together instead of in competition.

Large companies should place increased value on innovation and work alongside small firms, according to industry observers including Professor Brian Ashcroft and Tom Ogilvie, the head of Scotland’s most successful innovation incubator.

Mr Ogilvie, who led Stirling University Innovation Park and helped establish the John Logie Baird Awards for Innovation argues there is a dire need for encouragement of innovation.

"There is innovation in Scotland but there are questions over how we join up our thinking, be more cohesive. We are guilty of an east-west divide, working in parallel lines and fed by a clan mentality."

He added: "In biotech for example, we have three fantastic centres, Pentlands and Roslin in Edinburgh, Wellcome Institute in Dundee and Glasgow University - why can’t we do more together and be more positive and up-beat. At times, it’s never the twain shall meet."

Mr Ogilvie is director of Hillington Innovation Centre in Glasgow, backed with public and private money, which has been described as a microcosm of innovation and indicates the potential that exists behind closed doors.

"It’s not about winning more resources, but actually using what is already there. We need to get out of Division Two and into the Premiership," he said.

First opened in November 2000, the centre nurtures the development of new, high growth, knowledge-based businesses. Despite operating in a market downturn, 68 separate companies with a survival rate over two years of 90 per cent have graduated including Damovo, I-document Systems and Agripa.

Current innovators include Virtual Clones, who are set to revolutionise the interactive entertainment industry with 3D characters of living celebrities taking minutes instead of weeks to complete.

Dr Colin Urquhart, the chief executive of Virtual Clones, said: "The market for 3D content creation for movies and games is forecast to grow by 25 per cent per annum and reach $1.2 billion by 2005, so the potential for our products and services is huge."

Another is KelvinConnect who signed a partnership with the Southern General Hospital which places Glasgow at the forefront of new European-wide research into brain injury via a ground-breaking hand-held technology project.

Meurig Sage, the managing director, said: "Over the past five years there have been major advances in hand-held computer devices and wireless communications networks. The BrainIT project is complex and challenging, but early feedback suggests that the hand-held information systems developed for brain injury data will prove to be of significant benefit to the research goals."

Despite having an innovative idea or business Alex Haddow and Alex Ogilvie, directors of Lonely Picsel, a software firm located in Hillington, said advice and funding can still be hard to find.

In the early years of their first joint business they said it was hard to get consistent support from the banks and from various support agencies.

"We will get good and consistent support now because of our track record," said Mr Haddow. "Getting access to the support of accountants and legal firms through the Hillington centre has been very useful.

"But ultimately it’s down to us and the companies we work with to get out there and build reputation and first-rate credentials. As always, it’s hard work and patience that pays off."

The thorny subject of who pays for the advice was discussed by US academic Prof Baumol, who was in Scotland last week to take part in a Fraser of Allander Institute seminar set up by Wendy Alexander MSP.

He suggested direct government spending on advice for entrepreneurs on patent and tax laws, regulations, business formation and management.

Mr Ogilvie said: "We already are providing that type of support to innovators. But more could be done. We do need better mechanisms to help companies commercialise their research.

"The Intermediate Technology Institutes are helpful but no-one can wait ten years for results. We’ve got to deal with what we have now."

Professor Brian Ashcroft, of the Fraser of Allander Institute, argues research and development is vital to innovation, and large firms need to play a role.

"A key issue here is the skill of Scottish management, who, notwithstanding the competitive environment in which companies must trade, do not appear to take innovation sufficiently seriously."

Sharon Ward The Sotsman 06-10-03