Archwiliad i ymchwil ac arloesedd yng Nghymru

1.         Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn dweud bod angen “cynnydd mawr” yn yr ymchwil a fwriedir i helpu i ddatrys heriau penodol sy’n wynebu Cymru (ymchwil wedi’i arwain gan her). Hefyd mae’n dweud bod angen i’r math yma o ymchwil fod wedi’i gydbwyso â’r ymchwil tymor hir o fath mwy traddodiadol y bydd prifysgolion yn ymgymryd ag ef sy’n ymestyn ffiniau gwybodaeth. I ba raddau rydych chi’n cytuno â’r farn hon a sut gall Llywodraeth Cymru sicrhau na fydd cynnydd mewn un math o weithgaredd ymchwil yn golygu y bydd llai o’r math arall o ymchwil yn digwydd?

Mae ymchwil ac arloesedd yn ecosystem gymhleth ond nid busnesau yn unig sy’n ymgymryd ag ymchwil cymhwysol. Bydd y rhan fwyaf o brifysgolion (pob un?) yn ymgymryd ag ymchwil cymhwysol neu ymchwil noddedig mewn cydweithrediad â diwydiant a, thrwy wneud hynny, gallan nhw fod o les mawr yn economaidd – dangosodd REF 2014 fod Prifysgolion Cymru yn perfformio lawer yn well na’r disgwyl.  

2.         Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi dweud ei bod am ddod â’r holl gyllid ar gyfer ymchwil at ei gilydd ac y dylai’r cyllid hwn felly fod ar gael i fentrau bach a chanolig, busnesau preifat mawr a sefydliadau eraill yn ogystal â phrifysgolion a cholegau. I ba raddau y dylai busnesau a sefydliadau eraill fod yn gallu derbyn arian y Llywodraeth ar gyfer ymchwil a allai fel arall fod wedi mynd i brifysgolion a cholegau? Sut gellid gwneud hyn heb dan-gyllido rhai sefydliadau – a allai fod canlyniadau anfwriadol?

Ni ddylai busnesau a sefydliadau eraill fod â mynediad i gyllid a fyddai wedi mynd i’r prifysgolion fel arall. Mae angen i’r buddsoddi cyffredinol mewn ymchwil ac arloesedd godi – ni fydd glastwreiddio’r cyllid presennol yn ychwanegu gwerth. Cyflwynodd Adolygiad Reid achos cryf yn esbonio pam y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru gynyddu’r buddsoddi mewn ymchwil ac arloesedd.  

3.         Mewn adolygiad diweddar i gyllido ymchwil, y ddadl oedd bod perygl mawr y byddai diddordebau ymchwil ac arloesedd prifysgolion yn cael eu hystyried yn bwysicach na diddordebau ymchwil ac arloesedd busnesau preifat. Ond ni aeth ymlaen wedyn i awgrymu ffyrdd i rwystro hyn rhag digwydd. Beth sydd angen ei wneud i sicrhau na fydd busnesau a’u diddordebau yn llai pwysig na’r prifysgolion o safbwynt arian a gweithgaredd ymchwil ac arloesedd?

Mae’r frawddeg hon yn un frawddeg o adolygiad Reid ac mae wedi’i thynnnu o’i chyd-destun – mae’n ymwneud â strwythur Pwyllgor Ymchwil ac Arloesedd Cymru o fewn y Comisiwn newydd. Mae neges gyffredinol Reid yn ymwneud â chyllid ac â chefnogi’r prifysgolion a diwydiant. Mae Sefydliadau AU yng Nghymru yn gwneud lawer yn well na’r disgwyl o ran effaith eu hymchwil (REF 2014), ac mae llwybrau ar gael eisoes lle y gall cwmnïau elwa’n uniongyrchol o’r cyllid ar gyfer cydweithredu â phrifysgolion (e.e. KTPs).

Mae Reid yn awgrymu cyllid sy’n annog cydweithredu rhwng diwydiant a’r prifysgolion. Geithredu ar yr argymhelliad drwy greu cymhellion a strwythurau a fydd yn galluogi cydweithredu a fydd yn fuddiol i’r ddwy ochr fyddai’r ffordd orau i atal un agenda rhag bwrw cysgod dros y llall. I roi enghraifft, yn ddiweddar bu’r tair prifysgol sydd wedi’u lleoli yng Nghaerdydd yn cydweithredu â’i gilydd i sicrhau £6.8 miliwn o arian RCUK i sefydlu Clwstwr Creadigol yng Nghymru a fydd yn cefnogi cydweithredu rhwng prifysgolion a diwydiant. Caiff y rhan fwyaf o’r arian hwn ei wario i gefnogi Busnesau Bach a Chanolig Cymru.

4.         Yn y flwyddyn academaidd 2016/17 roedd 241 o fusnesau newydd, wedi’u dechrau gan raddedigion, wedi’u cofnodi gan brifysgolion Cymru â throsiant amcangyfrifedig o £56m: roedd hyn bron dwywaith trosiant busnesau newydd gan aelodau o staff y prifysgolion yn yr un flwyddyn. Beth sydd yn ei le ar hyn o bryd gan brifysgolion a Llywodraeth Cymru i helpu i gefnogi entrepreneuriaid sy’n fyfyrwyr a graddedigion i droi eu syniadau yn fentrau llwyddiannus?

Mae Met Caerdydd yn cynnig pecyn cymorth strwythuredig ar gyfer entrepreneuriaid myfyrwyr/graddedigion sy’n cynnwys;

· Gweithdai sgiliau busnes

· Sesiynau hyfforddi dechrau-busnes

· Mentora

· Cyngor i ddechreuwyr ynglŷn â chofrestru, treth, marchnata ac ati

· Gofod swyddfa a gofod deor creadigol am ddim neu wedi’i gymorthdalu

· Cyllid hadau cynnar – hyd at uchafswm o £2,500 ar gyfer pob person graddedig ond fel arfer tua £1,000.

Mae Canolfan Entrepreneuriaeth y Brifysgol yn gweithio’n agos gyda Syniadau Mawr Cymru a Busnes Cymru i roi cymorth ychwanegol i’n cyn fyfyrwyr. Mae gweithdrefnau yn eu lle ar gyfer cyfeiriadau, ac mae’r brifysgol hefyd yn hyrwyddo gweithgareddau megis Sesiynau Hyfforddi Syniadau Mawr Cymru ar gyfer myfyrwyr a graddedigion.

5.         A yw’r cymorth hwn yn systematig ac yn gyson ar draws Cymru ac a oes mwy y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru ac eraill ei wneud?

Mae ystod o ddulliau ar gyfer rhoi cymorth i ddechrau busnes ar gael oddi wrth yr wyth Sefydliad Addysg Uwch yng Nghymru. Er bod pob sefydliad AU yn cynnig cymorth i raddedigion sy’n dechrau busnes, bydd hwn yn dibynnu ar adnoddau mewnol a chyllid allanol; mae cyllid hadau cynnar yn arbennig o ddibynnol ar gyllid allanol megis rhoddion oddi wrth gyn fyfyrwyr neu nawdd oddi wrth Santander.  

Mae’r cymorth a gynigir drwy Syniadau Mawr Cymru yn gyson ar draws Cymru, a chefnogir Hyrwyddwyr Entrepreneuriaeth ym mhob sefydliad drwy brosiect YES. Mae’r cyllid hwn i fod i ddod i ben ym mis Rhagfyr 2018, ac mae cyllid parhaus eto i’w gadarnhau. Mae mynediad i wasanaethau eraill Syniadau Mawr Cymru megis Esiamplau/Role Models, Sesiynau Hyfforddi/ Bootcamp a Dathlu Syniadau Mawr/Big Ideas Celebrated yn agored i bawb ac yn cynnig adnodd defnyddiol er mwyn hybu a chefnogi entrepreneuriaeth, yn enwedig yn y cyfnod cynnar cyn-dechrau.

Mae’r cymorth wedi-dechrau-busnes fel petai’n llai cyson. Mae Met Caerdydd wedi neilltuo adnoddau i gefnogi busnesau newydd graddedigion gan yr ystyrir ei bod er lles ein myfyrwyr ac yn adeiladu perthnasoedd tymor hir gwerthfawr yn aml gyda’n graddedigion mwyaf entrepreneuraidd. Gofynnir i brifysgolion fod yn sefydliadau angori o fewn cymunedau a gall cynnig cymorth parhaus i fentrau sydd â chysylltiad cryf eisoes â’r Brifysgol fod yn allweddol o ran adeiladu’r berthynas hon.

Mae’n allweddol bod cymorth i ddechrau a thyfu busnesau graddedigion yn cynnal cyswllt cryf â’r sefydliad. Bydd hyn yn sicrhau’r manteision canlynol:

· Ymdeimlad o le ar gyfer y busnes – cadw talent yng Nghymru

· Esiamplau ar gyfer entrepreneuriaid newydd – ysbrydoli’r genhedlaeth nesaf

· Mynediad parhaus i wybodaeth ac ymchwil academaidd – adeiladu ar lwyddiant

Byddai croeso i ddull o gynnig cymorth ar gyfer dechrau busnes a fydd yn cadw’r cyswllt hwn, gan fynd i’r afael â rhai materion allweddol yn gysylltiedig â mynediad i gyllid hadau cynnar (risg isel).  

6.         Fe wnaeth yr adolygiad ymchwil diweddar argymhellion i helpu i ysgogi busnesau a phrifysgolion i weithio’n agos gyda’i gilydd ar ymchwil ac arloesedd i gael mynd â’u cydweithredu “gamau ymhellach”. Beth gall busnesau a phrifysgolion gynnig i’w gilydd pan fyddan nhw’n cydweithredu ar brosiectau ymchwil ac arloesedd?

Bellach gelwir yr hyn a elwid yn ‘drosglwyddo gwybodaeth’ yn ‘cyfnewid gwybodaeth’ a hynny gan gydnabod manteision dwyffordd i gydweithredu prifysgolion/diwydiant. Gall prifysgolion gynnig ystod o fanteision i fusnesau, gan gynnwys arbenigedd penodol, mynediad i gyfleusterau, gwybodaeth newydd, technegau dadansoddi a dilysu drwy adolygu gan gymheiriaid. Yn yr un modd mae diwydiant yn rhoi’r cyfle i brifysgolion brofi a mesur effaith economaidd a chymdeithasol a gwella profiad y myfyrwyr a chyflogadwyedd graddedigion. Gall defnydd diwydiant ar wybodaeth a fydd wedi’i chynhyrchu yn y brifysgol fod yn ffordd dda i brofi prosesau damcaniaethol mewn sefyllfaoedd byd go iawn lle y bydd diwydiant yn elwa o fod mewn ffordd i ddefnyddio’r technegau a’r prosesau diweddaraf.

Mae llawer o enghreifftiau o gydweithredu llwyddiannus ar gael, fel y gellir gweld yng nghyhoeddiadau Torri Tir Newydd CCAUC a Growing Value Wales NCUB, ac yn ymwneud â phrosiectau gan gynnwys KTPs, SIPs, KESS, Mynediad i Raddau Meistr a KITE (sy’n canolbwyntio ar y sector bwyd).

7.         A ddylai Llywodraeth Cymru ac eraill fod yn gwneud unrhyw beth yn wahanol er mwyn dod â busnesau llai a phrifysgolion at ei gilydd i gydweithio ar brosiectau ymchwil ac arloesedd? Beth sy’n gweithio’n dda a beth sydd ddim yn gweithio’n dda?

Ail-sefydlu Cyllid Arloesedd ac Ymgysylltiad. Bydd angen cyllid ar ddwy lefel:

i. Seilwaith ac ymrwymiad dros nifer o flynyddoedd i ddarparu’r adnodd staffio arbenigol i gefnogi prosiectau cydweithredol;

ii. Cyllid ar gyfer prosiectau i alluogi gweithgareddau penodol i ddigwydd i foddhau anghenion busnesau a phrifysgolion.

8.         Beth ddylai Llywodraeth Cymru ac eraill fod yn ei wneud i helpu busnesau i ddefnyddio’r wybodaeth a roddir gan weithgaredd ymchwil er mwyn creu cynhyrchion gwerthadwy a gwasanaethau gwell?

Darparu mecanweithiau i alluogi dulliau sector-benodol, wedi’u targedu megis Prosiect KITE. Dechreuwyd Prosiect KITE (Knowledge Innovation Technology Exchange) yn 2009 â chyllid oddi wrth yr Undeb Ewropeaidd a Llywodraeth Cymru. Fe hwylusodd bartneriaeth ragweithiol rhwng busnesau bwyd bach a chanolig yng Nghymru, gweithwyr cysylltiol (graddedigion/ unigolion â phrofiad diwydiant) a Chanolfannau Bwyd Cymru (Canolfan Diwydiant Bwyd Zero2Five ym Met Caerdydd a Chanolfan Technoleg Bwyd Coleg Menai). Fe wnaeth y rhaglen ganolbwyntio ar ddatblygu arbenigedd technegol cwmnïau tuag at dyfu eu busnesau bwyd a diod. 

Un enghraifft o’r ffordd mae KITE yn cefnogi cwmnïau yw’r rhaglenni i’w helpu i gyrraedd safonau BRC (British Retail Consortium) neu SALSA (Safe and Local Supplier). Bydd ennill yr achrediadau hyn drwy sicrhau ansawdd yn galluogi cwmnïau bwyd i werthu i gyflenwyr newydd, megis archfarchnadoedd neu gyflenwyr rhyngwladol. Cafodd mwy na 30 o fusnesau bwyd eu helpu i gyrraedd y nod yma a sicrhau incwm ychwanegol.

Mae’r gronfa o wybodaeth ac arbenigedd sy’n bodoli o fewn y rhaglen yn adnodd buddiol a phroffidiol iawn y gall cwmnïau bwyd bach a chanolig yng Nghymru elwa arno er mwyn eu llwyddiant economaidd nhw eu hunain. Drwy ledaenu’r wybodaeth hon drwy raglen KITE, bydd y canolfannau’n helpu cleientiaid i sicrhau canlyniadau mesuradwy a manteision ariannol, amgylcheddol a sgìl-seiliedig clir, er enghraifft lansio cynhyrchion newydd ar gyfer marchnadoedd manwerthu.

Mae arbenigwyr KITE yn cyfrannu i’r broses datblygu cynhyrchion newydd, a chafodd 580 o gynhyrchion newydd eu lansio’n llwyddiannus o ganlyniad i gydweithredu. Mantais arall i lawer o gwmnïau o achos cyfnewid gwybodaeth yn llwyddiannus yw bod effeithlonrwydd gweithredol ac effeithlonrwydd y gadwyn gyflenwi yn gwella. O ganlyniad i gyngor ac ymgynghoriaeth KITE, cafodd 72 o systemau technegol newydd eu rhoi ar waith.  

Nod pennaf KITE oedd cynyddu gwerthiant cynhyrchion bwyd yng Nghymru o £10m erbyn 2014. Rydym wedi cyrraedd a gwella ar y nod hwn eisoes â gwerthiant cynyddol cynnyrch Cymru wedi cyrraedd £12m erbyn 2012, £56m erbyn 2014 ac £80m erbyn 2015. Ar ben y cynnydd yn y gwerthiant, cafodd cannoedd o swyddi eu creu a’u diogelu yn uniongyrchol drwy’r 39 o raglenni KITE: 58.6 o swyddi Sicrhau Ansawdd newydd, 443 o swyddi gweithgynhyrchu newydd a diogelu 797 o swyddi oedd yn bodoli eisoes.

Mae’r rhaglen KITE wedi dibynnu’n fawr ar gydweithredu â phob un o’i bartneriaid busnesau bach a chanolig, yn ogystal â gyda chyllid Llywodraeth Cymru a’r UE, i sicrhau bod y rhaglen yn llwyddiannus.

Byddai’n bosib mynd ati i ymwneud â sectorau allweddol eraill yn yr economi Gymreig megis cynhyrchion meddygol, twristiaeth, chwaraeon a’r diwydiant awyrennau.

Inquiry into research and innovation in Wales

Response from Cardiff Metropolitan University

Matthew Taylor, Director of Innovation

Prof. Steve Gill, Director of Research

1.         Welsh Government says that there needs to be a “major increase” in research intended to help solve specific challenges facing Wales (challenge-led research). It also says this type of research needs to be balanced with the more traditional type of long-term research undertaken by universities which pushes the boundaries of knowledge. To what extent do you agree with this view and how can Welsh Government ensure that an increase in one type of research activity doesn’t mean the other type loses out?

Not only is research and innovation a complex ecosystem, but it is not only businesses that engage in applied research. Most (all?) universities engage in either applied research or sponsored research in collaboration with industry, and in doing so deliver major economic benefit - the 2014 REF showed Welsh Universities punching well above their weight.

2.         Welsh Government has said it wants to bring all research funding together and that this funding should then be available to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), large private businesses, and other organisations as well as universities and colleges. To what extent should businesses and other organisations be able to receive Government research funding that might have otherwise gone to universities and colleges? How could this be done without under-funding some organisations – might there be unintended consequences?

Business and other organisations should not have access to funding that would have otherwise gone to universities. Overall investment in research and innovation needs to go up – diluting the existing funding will not add value. The Reid Review made a strong case for why the Welsh Government should increase investment in research and innovation.

3.         In a recent review into research funding, it was argued that there was a strong risk of university research and innovation interests overshadowing the research and innovation interests of private businesses. But it didn’t then go on to suggest a way of stopping this happening. What needs to be done to ensure businesses and their interests are not over-shadowed by universities when it comes to research and innovation funding and activity?

This is one sentence from the Reid review and has been taken out of context – it is about the structure of the Research and Innovation Wales Committee within the new Commission. The overall message from Reid is about funding and supporting both universities and industry. Welsh HEIs punch above their weight in Research impact (REF 2014), and there are existing avenues for companies to directly benefit from funding for collaborating with universities (e.g. KTPs).

Reid advocated funding that encouraged collaboration between industry and universities. Acting on this recommendation by creating incentives and enabling structures for mutually beneficial collaboration would be the best way to prevent one agenda overshadowing the other. As an example, the three Cardiff-based universities recently collaborated to win £6.8 million of RCUK money to establish a Creative Cluster in Wales which will support university-industry collaboration. Most of this funding will be expended supporting Welsh SMEs.

4.         In the academic year 2016/17 there were 241 graduate start-ups reported by Welsh universities with an estimated turnover of £56 million, this was almost double the turnover of university staff start-ups in the same year. What is currently in place from universities and Welsh Government to help and support student and graduate entrepreneurs turn their ideas into successful ventures?

Cardiff Met offers a structured support package for student/graduate entrepreneurs including;

· Business skills workshops

· Start-up Bootcamp

· Mentoring

· Start-up advice around registration, tax, marketing etc

· Subsidised or free office and creative incubation space

· Early seed funding – up to a max of £2,500 per graduate, but normally around £1,000.

The University’s Centre for Entrepreneurship works closely with Big Ideas Wales and Business Wales to provide additional support for our alumni. There are procedures in place for referrals, and the University also promotes activities such as the Big Ideas Wales Bootcamp to both students and graduates.

5.         Is this support systematic and consistent across Wales and is there more Welsh Government and others could do?

There are a range of approaches to start-up support from the eight HEI’s in Wales. While all HEI’s appear to offer support to graduate start-ups this is dependent on access to internal resources and external funding. Seed funding being especially dependant on external funding such as alumni donations or Santander sponsorship.

The support offered through Big Ideas Wales is consistent across Wales, with Entrepreneurship Champions supported in all institutions through the YES project. This funding is due to end in Dec 2018, with ongoing funding still to be confirmed. Access to other Big Ideas Wales services such as Role Models, Bootcamp and Big Ideas Celebrated is open to all and provides a useful resource to both promote and support entrepreneurship, especially in the early pre start phase.

Post start support appears to be less consistent. Cardiff Met has committed resources to support graduate start-ups as this is seen to benefit our students and to build often valuable long term relationship with our most entrepreneurial graduates. Universities are being asked to act as anchor institutions within communities and providing ongoing support to ventures that already have a strong link to the University can play a key role in building this relationship.

It is key that start-up and growth support for graduate businesses retains a strong link to the institution. This will have the following benefits;

· A sense of place for the business – keeping talent in Wales

· Role models for new entrepreneurs – inspiring the next generation

· Ongoing access to academic knowledge and research – building on success

An approach to start-up support that retains this link, whilst addressing some key issues around access to (low risk) early seed funding would be welcomed.

6.         The recent review of research made recommendations to help incentivise businesses and universities to work closely together on research and innovation to take their collaborations to “greater heights”. What are businesses and universities able to offer each other when they work in collaboration on research and innovation projects?

What used to be called ‘knowledge transfer’ is now usually referred to as ‘knowledge exchange’ in recognition of the two-way benefits of university/industry collaboration. Universities can offer a range of benefits to businesses, including specialist expertise, access to facilities, new knowledge, analysis techniques and peer reviewed validation. In exchange industry offers universities the opportunity to prove and quantify economic and societal impact and improve student experience and graduate employability. Industrial application of university-generated knowledge can also be a good test bed for theoretical processes in real world scenarios where industry benefits from being positioned to apply cutting edge techniques and processes.

There are many documented examples of successful collaborations, as shown in HEFCW’s Innovation Nation publications and NCUB’s ‘Growing Value Wales’, and covering projects including KTPs, SIPs, KESS, Access to Masters and KITE (food sector focussed).

7.         Should Welsh Government and others be doing anything differently to bring smaller businesses together with universities to collaborate on research and innovation projects? What is working well and what isn’t?

Reinstate Innovation and Engagement Funding. There needs to be two levels of funding:

iii. Infrastructure with a commitment over a number of years to provide the specialist staffing resource to support collaborative projects;

iv. Project funding to enable specific activities to take place to meet the needs of business and universities.

8.         What should Welsh Government and others be doing to help businesses use the knowledge gained from research activity and turn it into marketable products or improved services?

Provide mechanisms to enable sector specific, targeted approaches, such as the KITE Project. The KITE (Knowledge Innovation Technology Exchange) Project was started in 2009 and was funded by the EU and Welsh Government. It facilitated a proactive partnership between Welsh Based food SMEs, affiliates (graduates/individuals with industry experience) and Welsh Food Centres (Zero2Five Food Industry Centre, Cardiff Metropolitan University and Food Technology Centre, Coleg Menai). The programme focused on developing companies’ technical expertise towards growing their food and drink based businesses.

One example of how KITE assists companies are programmes to help them reach British Retail Consortium (BRC) or Safe and Local Supplier (SALSA) standards. Gaining these accreditations by ensuring quality control allows food companies to sell to new suppliers, such as supermarkets or international suppliers. Over 30 food businesses were helped to achieve this goal to unlock additional income.

The bank of knowledge and expertise that exists within the programme is a highly beneficial and profitable resource for Welsh-based SME food companies to exploit for their own economic success. Through the dissemination of this knowledge via the KITE programme, the centres help clients achieve measurable outputs and clear financial, environmental and skill-based benefits. For example, launching new products for retail markets.

KITE experts are involved in the new product development process, with 580 new products successfully launched as a result of collaboration. Another benefit for many companies of successful knowledge exchange is increasing operational and supply chain efficiency. KITE consultancy and advice has led to 72 new technical systems being implemented.

KITE’s primary aim was to increase sales of Welsh-based food products by £10m by 2014. This goal has already been exceeded, with increased sales of Welsh produce reaching £12m by 2012, £56m by 2014 and £80m by 2015. In addition to increased sales, directly through the 39 KITE programmes, hundreds of jobs have been created and protected: 58.6 new Quality Assurance jobs, 443 new manufacturing roles and the safeguarding of 797 existing jobs.

The KITE programme has relied heavily on cooperation with all of its SME partners, as well as with the Welsh Government and EU funders to make the programme a success.

A similar approach could be taken for other key sectors for the Welsh economy such as medical products, tourism, sport, and aerospace.