Last updated 15:52, Wednesday, 23 April 2008

partnership will share knowledge: Recent graduate, Heather Massey, with Keith Brighty and Donald Cameron – has been appointed on a two-year contract, in the role of associate, to oversee the collaboration between the University of Cumbria and Primasonics, helping embed the knowledge within the company.

ACUMBRIAN business is to benefit from the academic expertise of the University of Cumbria thanks to funding from a new partnership. The University and Primasonics International Ltd, of Penrith, have been awarded funding to set up a “knowledge transfer partnership”, which will help the company reach new international markets and create new jobs.

The university will be sharing its academic knowledge and expertise which will enable Primasonics to sell existing products into new markets, especially in the Far East and America. It will also help keep manufacturing jobs in the UK.

The university, in return, will benefit from being able to develop business-relevant teaching and research materials, as well as setting up mentorship and graduate placement opportunities.

Heather Massey, overseeing the collaboration between the university and Primasonics, said: “I’m looking forward to the challenge of helping to develop further export business for a local manufacturing company.”

Ian Corrie, from the university’s school of business and enterprise, who took a lead role in setting up the partnership, said: “This partnership is great news for all concerned. The university is keen to engage with business as much as possible to help share knowledge and encourage collaboration.”

Primasonics International is the world leading audiosonic acoustic cleaner company.

Alex Bergus, director of technology for Primasonics, said: “These ongoing links with academic institutions, coupled with keen graduates, allow us to keep in touch with new developments in both scientific fields and business practices which we can utilise to keep improving our products and services.”