Understanding SMEs & their Challenges

Helping Local SMEs to Innovate & Grow 

Enabling people to change their lives through learning across Northern Ireland. The only university in Northern Ireland dedicated to distance learning, we are open to people, places, methods and ideas. We promote educational opportunity and social justice by providing high-quality, university education to all who wish to realise their ambitions and fulfil their potential.

We are the experts in online learning and lead the way in developing new and innovative teaching methods and materials, opening learning to people of all ages and academic backgrounds. The Open University is the largest academic institution in the UK and a world leader in flexible online learning.

The Open University research community conducts world-class research and innovation which has impact in the real world and deep into space. We have extensive expertise in research and external engagement and a proven track record of benefiting organisation large and small. There are many different ways in which you can access our knowledge base and work collaboratively with us to help fulfil your organisation's potential. The Open University's Enterprise Teams has a dedicated role to develop Knowledge Exchange opportunities and to work with partners.

Key areas of expertise include:

  • Citizenship and Governance

  • International Development

  • Space Exploration

  • Technology Enhanced Learning

  • Health and Wellbeing

In today’s business environment, innovation and knowledge are key to providing competitive advantage.

Queen's University Belfast is one of the leading research-intensive universities within the UK and has a long-standing international reputation for successful dissemination and application of cutting-edge research, knowledge transfer and the commercialisation of research ideas and innovations. 

The Research & Enterprise Directorate is the first point of contact for industry and the wider community wishing the engage with the University. The Directorate team draw upon the depth and breadth of our world-class multidisciplinary research base to help provide answers to many of the challenges faced by companies and public bodies, and to provide access to our vast array of research facilities & equipment across a variety of sectors and disciplines. The team promotes and supports academics in building relationships with commercial and public sector partners, and facilitates the knowledge exchange process across the wider University community, leveraging opportunities for further business engagement and identifying and supporting the transition from problem to solution. 

Address

110 Victoria Street
Belfast
BT1 3GN

Key Contact:
Imelda Haran

imelda.haran@open.ac.uk
028 9024 5025
www.open.ac.uk/northern-ireland