U2B Issue 3 Page 3

Knowledge 2B: Transferring Knowledge and Helping Business Grow

The University helps businesses to grow through two knowledge transfer programmes – Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs), and the cross-border FUSION programme.

James Leckey Design Ltd
Meeting the special needs of Children

Founded in 1983, James Leckey Design Ltd is a global market leader in the design and manufacture of equipment for children with disabilities. Following a strategic review in 2004, the company began an ambitious product development plan to replace its existing range with new products incorporating the latest thinking and current best practice in positioning children with special needs.

To provide the much needed clinical input to the product development programme the company entered into a KTP with the University’s School of Health Sciences and employed an occupational therapist – the first KTP programme in the UK to appoint an allied health professional. The KTP has also enabled the company to develop a clinical training programme for staff and customers, and to develop case histories which provide evidence on the effectiveness of the products in treating children with special needs.

Since the KTP Scheme began in 2005, the company has brought 11 new products to market and turnover has increased by 60% over the two years. Gary O’Hagan, MD of James Leckey Design, said: “This in-house expertise has generated a new competitive edge for the company, allowing us to increase our profile and credibility in this specialist marketplace where empirical evidence is highly valued.”

The University has completed over 100 KTP programmes. To find out how your business could benefit, please contact the KTP Office, telephone 028 7137 5236 or email ktp@ulster.ac.uk

Smart Homes - Well Connected It’s a hot product: Smarthomes

Smarthomes, based in Dundalk, County Louth, installs modern cabling and technology systems in new homes, providing home owners with unrivalled access to a wide range of communication and entertainment services. At the heart of the system is the streamlined Smart Connection Centre, from where all incoming telephone, broadband and TV services are distributed to each room.

In 2005 Smarthomes partnered with the University as part of the FUSION programme to develop a new product which allows homeowners to remotely control their central heating via mobile phone. The new product allows homeowners to control their heating by sending a simple SMS text message from anywhere in the world. The product is currently in production, the manufacture of which has been subcontracted under license to Lisburn-based company, Power Action.

Sean Gallagher, who founded the company in 2002 with his friend Derek Roddy, said: “Working with the University of Ulster has allowed us to take our business concept one step further and offer an advanced service to our customers. We are looking to forward to bringing the product to market in the near future.”

Turn to page six for more on the FUSION programme.

For further information on FUSION, please contact Dr Janet Johnston, Business Liaison Office, telephone 028 9036 8215 or email j.johnston1@ulster.ac.uk