Integration and organisations information across systems, is often difficult due to software incompatibility; variable formats, language differences and rules about access.

This problem is widely recognised in the healthcare sector as creating a barrier to the provision of full and effective patient care: this problem also appears in areas such as: security, design, travel and government policy making. This inhibits technology advance and uptake.

Keele University specialises in knowledge modelling, management, brokerage and researches across a range of software engineering areas with multidisciplinary applications for business and industry.

Keele University intends to set up a Business Innovation Club which will address the software engineering needs of West Midlands Companies. A series of events will encourage and support networking between organisations in the region and relevant Keele academic expertise.