airto is a network of organisations connecting public and private sector end users to fundamental research and the science base. airto companies help their clients (which include government departments) to understand, direct, adopt, apply and commercialise science and new technology. They also develop new technology and, by their understanding of industry, help end users to implement the most appropriate technical solutions.

airto companies add value for their clients by building, maintaining and supplying professional resources, networks and capability for:

• applied research, development, implementation and commercialisation of technology
• independent advice, consultancy and training
• knowledge transfer and professional networking to global markets
• independent product and process validation.

Clients are often those who do not maintain full in-house capabilities for reasons of cost and flexibility or their need to access higher quality and more widely experienced professional expertise than could be profitably maintained as an internal resource. airto members also serve clients seeking independent opinions, advice and validation concerning scientific and technical matters, including strategic direction and policy.

These services are usually commissioned on a fully commercial, competitive basis or, where there are market failures, at rates underpinned by competitively awarded government contracts or grants.

airto’s membership comprises a mix of private companies, non-profit distributing companies limited by guarantee and publicly owned bodies, including university industrial enterprise offices. The combined business base of airto members is in excess of £2bn in r&d, professional networking and other services. airto members employ more than 20,000 scientists, technical and business staff.

Members’ clients include companies and organisations of all sizes, ranging from blue chip multinationals to small start-ups, from the UK and Europe to the US and China.

Working with individual clients or groups of companies, many airto members assist in matching public sector support for collaborative r&d with industry need and resources. This is frequently in the context of formal schemes such as Knowledge Transfer Networks. These services are particularly valued by technology based SMEs.

The broad, multi-sectoral client networks and value adding services of airto members leverage a significant impact from the knowledge and expertise which they bring to bear, particularly for knowledge and technology originating from public sector investment.

Quality of work is evidenced by professional accreditation, client experience, levels of repeat business and financial performance.

For more information please e-mail airto@campden.co.uk