The Petroleum Technology Strategy Unit (PTSU) has been formed by PSTI in response to a substantial growth in demand from Members and others for the Institute' input on strategic issues in research and technology. The Institute is called upon by Members to help shape public policy on RTD and innovation; to assist in framing RTD strategies, including work under contract for individual companies; and to be creative in developing improvements in RTD and innovation management processes.
To meet these demands, the PTSU has four
main objectives.
1. Provide a focused resource on strategic
research and technology issues for PSTI and its Members to:
provide foresight on technology requirements for industry over the next 10-15 years;
conduct customised RTD strategy studies
for individual companies.
2. Inform PSTI and its Member's on
their actions towards the research community and towards public
sector funding bodies:
improving processes for research community - public sector - industry interaction and co-operation;
promoting oil and gas issues towards
public sector RTD funding organisations in the UK and Europe.
3. Develop and advise on research and innovation
management techniques, including:
improving methods for research selection, evaluation, dissemination and take-up;
establishing an enhanced "technology
watch" capability for PSTI and its Members.
4. Analyse and advise on best practices
found in other industry sectors.
The PTSU will follow the Institute's
philosophy of networking and collaboration. New initiatives currently
under development involve collaboration with UK research councils,
the Association of Independent Research and Technology Organisations
(AIRTO), and the Centre for the Exploitation of Science and Technology
(CEST) on methods to improve access to publicly funded research
in the UK. Activities with the Science Studies Unit of the University
of Edinburgh and a number of European collaborators (the Institut
Français du Petrole, TNO and Rogaland Research) are also
underway.
For further information contact Stewart Brown, e-mail: [email protected] Tel: 0131 451 5231