Scottish business technology solutions provider Amor Group has entered into an innovative new expertise sharing partnership with Aberdeen's Robert Gordon University.
The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) agreement is the start of a two-year project that will bring together academic expertise in information management (IM) and the experience and skills of companies working in the energy sector.
The aim is to improve IM through sharing best practice and taking a group approach to problem solving.
This innovative development helps businesses save money and represents a move away from the more common consultant led approach.
KTPs are sponsored by the Government and research councils and encourage businesses to use the expertise, technology and skills available within the UK's knowledge base.
The Amor Group is also looking to establish similar partnerships with a number of other UK universities, in areas such as process control.
The recent Research Assessment Exercise ranked RGU's Department of Information Management as the top department in Scotland - and one of the top in the UK - for the quality of its research in the IM field, while Aberdeen and Glasgow-based Amor Group is one of the country's leading business technology providers.
Amor Group already has strong links with RGU, which includes the sponsorship of an annual prize with the School of Computing.
Last year, it joined forces with Ovum, incorporating the Butler Group, a renowned provider of IT research, analysis and advice, to launch an IM Energy Forum.
A number of North Sea operators have now signed up for the IM Energy Forum, which comprises industry analysts, academics and technology provider to give members direct access to information, industry best practice and networking opportunities.
Neale Stidolph, Account Director at Amor Group, believes the partnership will further build on the best practice ethos of the IM Energy Forum.
'With 20 years of experience in the energy sector, we are already one of the UK's leading oil and gas IM service and solutions providers and we are delighted to have signed up to the KTP with RGU.
'The partnership cements our long-standing relationship with RGU and will bring together academic expertise and our knowledge and expertise in the global energy sector. We believe that this collaborative approach is the way forward and we are currently looking at setting up agreements with other universities in the UK.
'Focusing on group problem solving has been central to how the IM Energy Forum functions and this approach has already proved to be highly beneficial for all those involved.
'The Forum's collaborative nature will be further enhanced with the Knowledge Transfer Partnership. Working directly with RGU's IM Department, we will be able to harness a wealth of academic expertise which will complement the industry expertise of our corporate members.
'This partnership steers away from the more traditional consultant led approach and we strongly believe that it will help us create innovative information management solutions for the energy sector.'
Dr Peter Reid, Head of RGU's Department of Information Management, said: 'Robert Gordon University is delighted to have secured this Knowledge Transfer Partnership and to be able to work more closely with the Amor Group, and in particular Amor Pragma, which has such a strong track record in delivering technology solutions for the oil and gas sector.
'Industry partnerships such as this as are very important to the university on a number of levels, including enhancing our links with practitioners as well as ensuring a mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and expertise.
'This KTP is important to the Department of Information Management as an indicator of the impact that our research and consultancy has on those working in the sector."