Embedding international best practice in our Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Aber Instruments

Hi Gauri, this sounds like a fantastic trip, how did it come about?

As part of my two-year KTP at Aber Instruments I am researching best practice in project management for manufacturers in the bio-tech sector with the ultimate aim of helping Aber to improve its internal capabilities and productivity.

During the project, our KTP adviser drew attention to the possibility of accessing additional funding to support international insights and knowledge transfer.

What was the purpose of the trip?

The main purpose was to develop project management case studies and to learn best practices from leading businesses in India, and also to gain strategic marketing insights by engaging with users of measurement solutions in India.

It also aligned to Aber’s strategic marketing approach. The trip provided an opportunity to engage with potential customers, gather insights into market trends, and integrating the voice of the customer into Aber’s business strategy to enhance its market positioning in India.

How did you get the funding to undertake the trip?

This was a grant from the Welsh Government to further the aims and activities of our existing Knowledge Transfer Partnership project. It provided an additional opportunity to be embed international best practice at Aber Instruments.

How did this fit in with the rest of your project?

The visit focused on studying businesses with strong organisational cultures and efficient project management methodologies. The objective was to learn how these companies maintain structured yet flexible workflows, ensuring on-time project delivery while fostering a collaborative and motivated workforce.

The opportunity also provided opportunities to assist Aber’s emerging strategic marketing approach to the Indian market with the overall aim of increasing sales in this market.

What were the key benefits to the business from your trip?

For Aber, India was an underperforming market. The insights gained will allow it to strengthen its market positioning in India. Key takeaways included enhanced understanding of market trends and product demand, and a range of potential sales and marketing strategy enhancements. These include: using LinkedIn as a primary business platform; the importance of industry events; and the differences in regional business dynamics and the importance of networking - the market dynamics are highly relationship-driven.

Commercial leads and key business contacts were established, and recommendations have been made to the business, which will be actively followed up. These strategic actions will support long-term growth and strengthen Aber’s presence in the Indian biopharma sector.

There were numerous key learnings related to project management, focusing on aspects such as the methodologies used and their rationale, team structuring, engagement strategies for on-time delivery, governance frameworks, risk management approaches, and key performance indicators (KPIs) considered.

Was there a stand-out moment from your trip?

My project is all about learning from others and sharing that knowledge. For me, it was an incredibly enriching learning experience to talk to professionals in this international context and to learn from them.