Condition monitoring capability developed through a knowledge transfer partnership between a small company and a university

Abstract

This paper describes the benefits that small companies can obtain from the United Kingdom Department of Trade and Industry Knowledge Transfer Partnerships business support product. This provides funding for collaborations between universities and companies in order that knowledge and technology transfer between the partners can occur. Knowledge Transfer Partnerships can support a wide range of commercial activities, proving there is a solid business case to show that the government support will lead to improvements in the profitability of the company. This paper describes the Knowledge Transfer Partnerships product. It then goes on to present a case study of a business collaboration under the scheme between Powerlase Ltd, a manufacturer of laser systems, and the University of Brighton, to implement intelligent condition monitoring in the Company's products. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2005.