The Entrepreneurial Internship Scheme is a programme designed to aid and support young researchers who wish to collaborate with entrepreneurial technology-driven businesses.
Through this collaborative partnership; businesses selected to be in the scheme will gain access to talented young researchers, who have specified technical knowledge as well as receiving matched funding for their project.
The Entrepreneurial Internship Scheme is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) for early EPSRC Researchers.
A successful company that has recently adopted this scheme is Ilika. The intern, Mehdi Mersaneh has been seconded to a commercial project team at Ilika working on the next-generation of lithium-ion batteries. Ultimately, the results of the work will contribute to more efficient hybrid and plug-in electric vehicles.
Mehdi learned of the Entrepreneurial Internship Scheme from his supervisor, Professor Brian Hayden, Mehdi said, ‘Having been a researcher at various research institutions, I am always looking for opportunities to diversify my skills and found this an excellent chance to obtain such expertise.’ Since June 2009 Mehdi has spent three days a week at Ilika where he works with a group of scientists developing materials for rechargeable batteries. This has been very successful, not only achieving the objectives of the project, but also discovering new compositions which are to be patented by the industry project partner.
Graeme Purdy, Chief Executive at Ilika commented, ‘The scheme has worked very well so far and Mehdi is being cherished as a valuable team member. The company will also benefit from Mehdi’s technical knowledge of materials science, which will boost the technical skills deployed within the project team.’
Business Link is involved in the Entrepreneurial Internship scheme to advise on the approach to suitably innovative and entrepreneurial companies. Business Link will also provide an expert independent review of the progress of the internships to ensure that both the intern and the company are mutually benefiting.
David Bream, Director of SETsquared at the University of Southampton said,
‘This scheme realises the University's mission for knowledge transfer, whilst simultaneously offering invaluable commercial experience to the intern and high calibre skills and expertise to the company.’
The SETsquared partnership is the successful enterprise and entrepreneurship collaboration between the Universities of Bath, Bristol, Southampton and Surrey. They help technology entrepreneurs in Southern England get on the road to success; providing a wide range of support to move businesses forward from initial ideas to becoming start-ups and then ultimately commercial viability.
For more information please contact Dr Ian Rowley at the University of Southampton email: Ian.rowley@soton.ac.uk or call 07739 434037, alternatively call Business Link on 0845 600 9 006.