Dear Reader
Welcome to June's newsletter from the South West Science and Industry Council.
The credit crunch and subsequent recession continues to hit businesses hard, and it’s no different for organisations like the South West RDA.
The Agency confirmed this week that it has £56 million less in its programme investment budget over the next two years, but it is clear that innovation remains at the heart of its plans. A number of exciting projects will receive support, including the iconic Wave Hub project, Business Technology Centres, innovation centres, Science Parks and Grant for Research and Development.
This month's newsletter provides further details about the next SWSIC Innovation Forum, taking place on 25 June at Bournemouth University. The event is a great opportunity to find out more about R&D funding and other support for innovative businesses, and I hope to see many of you there.
We are always keen to hear your news and views on the stories we publicise as well as anything we might have missed. Please write to us at newsletter@sciencesouthwest.org.uk.
Best regards
Robin Gallimore
Chair, South West Science and Industry Council |
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SWSIC supports RDA budget decisions
The South West RDA’s budget allocation announcement represents a strong commitment to low carbon and innovation, a move supported by the South West Science and Industry Council. Read the full article |
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Innovators, entrepreneurs and public funding
The South West Science and Industry Council's second Innovation Forum of 2009 will take place at Bournemouth University on Thursday June 25th. Read the full article |
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New Department for Business, Innovation & Skills to lead fight against recession
The Government has announced the creation of a new Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whose key role will be to build Britain's capabilities to compete in the global economy. Read the full article |
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Grant for R&D has changed
The South West RDA has announced a number of improvements to the Grant for Research & Development scheme that will benefit businesses. Read the full article |
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SBRI - Government challenge to innovative businesses
Innovative technologies are being sought for lightweight battle tanks, lightweight personal protection for troops and to help detect terrorists in crowded places. Read the full article |
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Wellcome Trust and MIT join forces to promote interdisciplinary science
The Wellcome Trust-MIT Postdoctoral Fellowships will provide four years’ support for recently-qualified postdoctoral researchers to gain experience in research at the interface of biology/medicine and mathematics, engineering, or computer, physical or chemical sciences. Read the full article |
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Diamond energy converter
Great Western Research project supervisor Dr Neil Fox from Bristol University has been awarded €980,000 by the energy company E.ON to develop a system that exploits solar energy to produce electricity. Read the full article |
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Broadband research in South West could change life as we know it
Ilminster company Gooch and Housego are to receive a share of £1million from the Technology Strategy Board to develop technologies to boost future broadband speeds. Read the full article |
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EIT call for experts
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology has announced a call for independent experts to support evaluations and implementation of its Knowledge and Innovation Communities. Read the full article |
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South West RDA invests in ‘green computing’
A consortium of companies, part funded by the South West RDA, is solving engineering problems virtually, dramatically reducing energy wastage and leading the way in green-computing. Read the full article |
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University of Bristol spin out company wins prestigious award
Dr. Keith Martin, CEO of Apitope, a University of Bristol spin out company, has received the AstraZeneca Business Development Professional of the Year Award 2008. Read the full article |
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Green fund for business
The Government is encouraging UK companies to take advantage of £100m in funding available to help them become more energy efficient. Read the full article |
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Social enterprises offered missing link to access investment streams
A new one year programme to help social enterprises access risk finance has been launched by the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts and the Office of the Third Sector. Read the full article |
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Skills fund scarcity
The manufacturers' organisation, EEF, has warned that government’s mounting uncertainty over skills funding could place the competitiveness of UK manufacturers at risk. Read the full article |
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Falmouth company wins £2m Aquamarine installation contract
Falmouth based Fugro Seacore has won a £2million contract to install Aquamrine Power's Oyster® Wave Energy Converter at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney. Read the full article |
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New members appointed to Technology Strategy Board
Three new members of the Technology Strategy Board have been appointed and four other members, including SWSIC member Nick Buckland, have been re-appointed. Read the full article |
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Expert groups to take action on science and society
Five new independent Expert Groups are to engage the science community, media, public, business and policy makers to help change cultural attitudes to science in the UK. Read the full article |
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Siding with the Angels: New research shows how to make a profit from risk
New research published by NESTA in collaboration with the BBAA reports for the first time that Business Angels stand to make a substantial profit from investing in start-ups, with an average Internal Rate of Return of 22 per cent over four years. Read the full article |
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Plymouth wins enterprise title – for the second time
Plymouth has won the regional final of the Enterprising Britain competition for the second year in a row. Read the full article |
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RDA Board recruitment
This year the South West RDA has five positions available - 3 Local Authority and 2 Business vacancies. Read the full article |
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UK R&D spend projected to fall by £4 billion in 2009
The UK is projected to have a £4 billion fall in R&D spend in 2009, according to a new report, ‘Innovation – Protecting the UK’s Competitiveness’, published by the Management Consultancies Association. Read the full article |
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Plymouth selected for €55M European marine project
The University of Plymouth is one of only two UK universities selected to take part in a landmark pan-European marine project worth €55M. Read the full article |
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Industrial biotechnology report sets vision for UK
The industry-led Industrial Biotechnology Innovation and Growth Team has published its report setting out its recommendations to Government to maximise the opportunities in a low carbon economy. Read the full article |
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New organisation for female inventors
The official launch of the Association of Women with New Products and Inventions takes place at the British Library and IP Centre on Thursday 18 June. Read the full article |
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University of Bath develops pioneering treatment for liver cancer
A technique that uses microwaves to destroy liver tumours, based on technology pioneered by scientists from Bath University, has treated more than 100 patients in the UK and is now being used worldwide. Read the full article |
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Composite Integration wins Business of the Year Award 2009
Saltash company Composite Integration has won not only the ‘Business Innovation of the Year’ award but also the hotly contested ‘Winner of Winner’s’ Cornwall Business of the Year 2009 award. Read the full article |
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Open Innovation survey
The Joint Information Systems Committee is requesting your input into its study on Open Innovation. Read the full article |
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DIARY DATES AND EVENTS
Including KTP Regional Seminar, Economic Forum South West:‘Beating the crunch’, ESRC/Cyber Security KTN Public Policy Seminar, Wireless 2.0, UKRO Annual Conference, Sustainable Business In Practice Expo 2009 and many more.
. Read the full article |
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TECHNOLOGY PARTNERING OPPORTUNITIES
To help companies find business partners, the Enterprise Europe Network is able to offer access to thousands of partnering opportunities from companies across Europe. Read the full article |
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| | SWSIC supports RDA budget decisions |
The South West RDA’s budget allocation announcement represents a strong commitment to low carbon and innovation, a move supported by the South West Science and Industry Council (SWSIC).
The South West RDA confirmed this week that it will invest £260m in capital projects across the region over the next two years. Although budget pressures means that it has had to scale back its total investment compared with the plans made a year ago, innovation remains at the heart of the Agency’s approach.
A number of exciting projects will receive support, including Business Technology Centres, innovation centres (in Cornwall and Devon), Science Parks and Grant for Research and Development.
The Agency will also maximise the potential of the region’s natural resources and the emerging marine technologies sector. Alongside the iconic Wave Hub project, its most significant investment will be in the Peninsula Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMARE), a joint initiative of the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, which brings together a team of world-class academics and researchers to provide expertise in marine energy.
Robin Gallimore, Chair of the South West Science and Industry Council, said:
“The South West Science and Industry Council recognises that the RDA has been forced to make some tough decisions as a result of budget pressures. This recession has been like no other, and the Agency has been affected along with businesses throughout the region. But it has rightly identified innovation as a key element of the path to recovery, and the Council wholeheartedly supports the direction of limited resources towards key projects in this area.”
For more information about the budget announcement, visit the South West RDA website.
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| Innovators, entrepreneurs and public funding |
The South West Science and Industry Council's second Innovation Forum of 2009 will take place at Bournemouth University on Thursday June 25th.
The free event is a unique opportunity for businesses to find out how to access public funding to help them turn innovative ideas into commercial success.
The UK government is committed to investing £1 billion over three years to boost business innovation and technology development, but there can be confusion over how to access help. Large and small sums are available through the Technology Strategy Board, Grant for Research and Development, and Framework Programme 7, all of which will be represented at the Forum.
Delegates will also hear from South West companies that have developed inspirational technologies and processes with the help of public funding.
Entrepreneurial Poole inventor Simon Phelps will talk about his modular, reusable plastic flood barrier - FLOODSTOP. Simon designed FLOODSTOP in his final year at Bournemouth University, and it was developed with the help of a Grant for Research and Development from the South West RDA (Regional Development Agency). His company, Fluvial Innovations, has sold the product to Local Authorities in prime flooding areas and it is also being trialed by the Environment Agency.
FLOODSTOP was exhibited at the Bournemouth University Festival of Design & Innovation in 2004. Student design work with the potential to make a real impact on our everyday quality of life is displayed publicly for the first time at the Festival, which takes place from 25 - 29 June this year. Innovation Forum delegates will have a special VIP preview of the exhibition.
For more information about the Innovation Forum, visit the Science South West website.
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| New Department for Business, Innovation & Skills to lead fight against recession |
The Government has announced the creation of a new Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whose key role will be to build Britain's capabilities to compete in the global economy.
The Department will be created by merging BERR and DIUS. The merger will create a single department committed to building Britain's future economic strengths. To compete in a global economy and create the jobs of the future Britain requires a regulatory environment that encourages enterprise, skilled people, innovation, and world-class science and research. The merger of BERR and DIUS brings together the parts of the government with key expertise in these areas.
It combines BERR's strengths in shaping the enterprise environment, analysing the strengths and needs of the various parts of British industry, building strategies for industrial strength and expertise in better regulation with DIUS's expertise in maintaining world class universities, expanding access to higher education, investing in the UK's science base and shaping skills policy and innovation through bodies such as the Technology Strategy Board.
It also puts the UK's Further Education system and universities closer to the heart of government thinking about building now for the upturn.
The new department is the institutional realisation of the approach to promoting UK competitiveness and productivity as set out in the New Industries, New Jobs paper of April 2009, produced jointly by BERR and DIUS.
A new website will be created in due course but in the meantime, find out more by visiting the DIUS website.
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| Grant for R&D has changed |
The South West RDA has announced a number of improvements to the Grant for Research & Development scheme.
It has:
• introduced a new Proof of Market grant worth up to £20,000 to help businesses test the commercial potential of their idea before undertaking costly R&D work.
• increased the rate of support for development projects to 40% for small businesses [still 35% for medium businesses]; and
• introduced a new Exceptional Research Grant that provides support of up to £250,000 for projects in strategically important sectors such as life sciences and low carbon energy.
For further details please visit the South West RDA website.
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| SBRI - Government challenge to innovative businesses |
The government is seeking innovative technologies for lightweight battle tanks, lightweight personal protection for troops and to help detect terrorists in crowded places.
The Centre of Defence Enterprise is running the three new Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) schemes for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the other is part of the INSTINCT programme of the Home Office.
The Office for Security & Counter Terrorism (OSCT) is seeking innovative approaches to understand, characterise, detect and influence intent in crowded places with a view to reducing the risk of terrorist attacks. Proposals are sought across a range of domains e.g. contextual, behavioural, physiological and neurological. Novel, inventive and lateral thinking is particularly welcome. Successful proposals will be sponsored by INSTINCT, the OSCT Innovation Programme.
There will be a briefing seminar, hosted by the Centre of Defence Enterprise at Harwell, Oxfordshire on 3rd June and the competition will be open for applications after this date.
The second competition is for technologies to go into a lightweight battle tank. The MoD are looking for highly innovative ways of delivering the same capability as current Main Battle Tanks, but in a significantly lighter package that is more easily transportable, fuel efficient and less reliant on the supporting military infrastructure.
The call is for technologies that can significantly enhance mobility over demanding terrain with the benefits of good fuel efficiency and high reliability. Creative ideas that will provide the overall systems architecture that will host all military vehicle functions should also be included. We will award a number of contracts to demonstrate proof of principle of innovative technologies and applications of technology that will improve the mobility and overall effectiveness of the Future Protected Vehicle.
Lastly there is a new SBRI competition for Lightweight Personal Protection. The physical burden on our soldiers is significant and innovative solutions are sought to reduce it dramatically. Personal protection (including body armour and helmets) is a major contributing factor to the load carried by our troops and this call will seek novel lightweight solutions whilst maintaining a high level of physical protection. While reducing weight is the prime objective, solutions that significantly reduce the burden by reducing heat stress or improving ergonomic factors such as load distribution, flexibility and reduced bulk, are encouraged.
Two separate briefing events will take place on the 25th June for these calls where the MoD will outline the problems faced and challenge attendees to develop innovative solutions.
For more information, visit the dedicated section of the Technology Strategy Board website. |
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| Wellcome Trust and MIT join forces to promote interdisciplinary science |
The UK research charity, the Wellcome Trust, is joining with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in the launch of a fellowship scheme to promote interdisciplinary science.
The Wellcome Trust-MIT Postdoctoral Fellowships will provide four years’ support for recently-qualified postdoctoral researchers to gain experience in research at the interface of biology/medicine and mathematics, engineering, or computer, physical or chemical sciences.
Fellows will tackle biomedical research questions using an interdisciplinary approach in the best laboratories. The fellowships are based for two to three years at MIT in the US, with the remaining one to two years spent in the UK.
Applications are encouraged from biomedical scientists with an interest in interdisciplinary research involving technologies and/or approaches that are not typically used in this area, or from candidates trained in disciplines outside the biomedical sciences who plan to apply their expertise to biomedical problems.
The deadline for full applications is 14 July 2009.
Find out more and download application forms on the Wellcome Trust website.
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| Diamond energy converter |
Great Western Research project supervisor Dr Neil Fox from Bristol University has been awarded €980,000 (£881,000) by the energy company E.ON to develop a system that exploits solar energy to produce electricity.
It will do so using devices called thermionic energy converters (TECs), which consist of a hot electrode that thermionically emits electrons over a potential energy barrier to a cooler electrode, producing a useful electric power output.
Dr Fox is developing special electrodes for the converters using nanoparticles of industrial diamond powder, which is low cost and readily available.
TECs are commonly used in space vehicles, but Fox's new electrodes are designed to lower operating temperatures while maintaining a potential energy-conversion efficiency of more than 40 per cent.
The project, known as the Lithiated Nanoparticle Diamond Energy Converter, should enable a TEC to operate satisfactorily on solar power, leading to a renewable-powered generation device that has no moving parts or fluids, is free of maintenance and is able to deliver reliable electricity production over a long period.
Trials featuring a system using the converters, some of which will take place in the south west, will use parabolic dishes to concentrate the Sun’s rays. If successful, the technology could provide an alternative to photovoltaics.
Speaking about the project, Dr Fox said: 'It is a very ambitious project, but thanks to E.ON we now have the people and equipment in Bristol to make advances that will help realise a solar thermal technology that can work outside the sunbelt regions of the world.'
GWR was established in 2006 by the South West RDA and the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). The scheme set about promoting collaborations between the highest quality research groups in the South West and the most forward thinking businesses in order to support the growth of the region and demonstrate just what is possible when HEIs and business collaborate. Many of the projects funded have attracted international interest and recognition due to their leading edge research and breakthroughs in commercial, medical, scientific and environmental applications.
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| Broadband research in South West could change life as we know it |
Ilminster company Gooch and Housego are to receive a share of £1million from the Technology Strategy Board to develop technologies to boost future broadband speeds.
The Technology Strategy Board, the Government funded organisation that drives technological innovation in the UK, is investing £1 million to help companies carry out initial research that could increase browsing speeds to between 1 and 10 gigabits per second – 100 to 1000 times faster than current broadband speeds.
The innovative research and development feasibility projects, each costing between £30,000 and £100,000, will research technology associated with broadband delivered by fibre-optic cables.
Gooch and Housego, a Somerset based technology firm, are involved in three of the thirteen funded projects. One of these will survey possible technologies for ultra fast broadband, and plot a roadmap that dictates the best way for the UK to prepare its infrastructure for that high-speed future. Another, in partnership with ST Microelectronics, a company with a significant presence in Bristol, UK, seeks to make it easier and cheaper to build fibre networks to ensure they can reach as many people as possible.
The Technology Strategy Board’s ultimate aim is the development of pan-European Ultra Fast Broadband to help enable European companies gain competitive advantage on a global scale.
Robin Gallimore, Chair of the South West Science and Industry Council said:
“The South West is home to many companies that are at the forefront of communications technologies. Gooch & Housego in particular demonstrate that operating a business from a rural location does not prevent you from being a global leader in your industry.”
For more information visit the Technology Strategy Board website. |
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| EIT call for experts |
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) has announced a call for independent experts to support evaluations and implementation of its Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs).
KICs will be highly integrated, creative partnerships including education, technology, research, business and entrepreneurship that will produce new innovations and new innovation models and inspire others to emulate them. Each KIC will involve at least 3 independent partner organisations, in at least 3 different EU Member States and will include at least one higher education partner and one private company.
The EIT is looking for experts from a wide range of profiles and with a high level of professional expertise within the following areas:
1. Thematic area: Sustainable energy
2. Thematic area: Climate change adaptation and mitigation
3. Thematic area: Future information and communication society
4. Business creation and venture capital
5. Innovation in existing business
6. Entrepreneurial Education
7. Research and product development
For more information please visit the EIT website.
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| South West RDA invests in ‘green computing’ |
A consortium of companies, part funded by the South West RDA (Regional Development Agency), is solving engineering problems virtually, dramatically reducing energy wastage and leading the way in green-computing.
BAE Systems is working in partnership with NVIDIA, the world leader in visual computing technologies, on the Centre for Fluid Mechanical Simulation (CFMS) Foundation Technologies project, using computing systems originally designed for computer gaming to solve practical problems in the design of aircraft, ships and motor sports.
Moving from physical testing to virtual testing allows engineers to focus on new designs and innovation. Advanced computer simulation technology has revolutionised the design process, reducing the time it takes for products to go from concept stage to market. But conventional simulation technology has been criticised for its enormous and wasteful consumption of electricity.
BAE Systems uses a hybrid system, combining conventional simulation technology, known as central processing units (CPUs), with graphics processing units (GPUs) originally designed for the gaming industry.
The hybrid system enables scientists, engineers and researchers to perform complex computations much faster, and achieve much greater realism and precision in their results, using considerably less energy.
Robin Gallimore, Chair of the South West Science and Industry Council said:
“This is a fantastic example of innovation through collaboration. Thanks to investment from the South West RDA, the Centre for Fluid Mechanical Simulation (CFMS) Foundation Technologies is tackling next-generation computing problems today, fuelling the pace of scientific and engineering advances and laying the foundations for new green computing initiatives.”
Graham Harrison, International Business Director of the South West RDA said:
“BAE Systems is developing technologies which offer the prospect of dramatically more powerful design tools with widespread application in key areas of the regional and UK economy.
Whilst the benefits of this are obvious to the aerospace, marine, automotive and creative industries, these technologies will have a more universal impact by reducing the vast amounts of energy traditionally used in advanced numerical modelling“ |
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| University of Bristol spin out company wins prestigious award |
Dr. Keith Martin, CEO of Apitope, a University of Bristol spin out company, has received the AstraZeneca Business Development Professional of the Year Award 2008.
The award recognises Dr Keith Martin's contribution to Apitope's multi-million pound deal with Merck Serono. Support from the South West RDA and UK Trade & Investment enabled Apitope to attend the world’s largest biopharmaceutical trade fair in Boston, BIO2007, and it was here that Keith made contact with Merck Serono. The deal granted Merck Serono exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialise Apitope's vaccine to treat multiple sclerosis.
In giving the award to Dr Martin, David Brenan, CEO of AstraZeneca at the Pharmaceutical Licensing Group (PLG), said it was: "in recognition of the contribution made to the company's growth through securing an exceptional partnering deal with Merck Serono. Keith has helped a small company, spun out from Bristol University to prosper during this very difficult economic climate."
Gugs Lushai, Head of Bio-Medical at the South West RDA, said:
“Apitope's recent success shows how important it is for the RDA to be at such strategic international meetings where our intervention matters.
This was one of the UK's best pharmaceutical licensing deals for 2008/9 and we congratulate Apitope on the deal. Hopefully agreements such as these will help to raise the profile of South West England as a centre for biomedical expertise.”
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| Green fund for business |
Ed Miliband, the secretary of state for energy and climate change, has called on UK companies to take advantage of £100m in funding available to help them become more energy efficient.
The majority of the cash will be delivered in England through the Carbon Trust’s existing interest-free loans scheme for companies to buy equipment.
The funding will help businesses save more than £20m a year in energy bills, with annual CO2 savings of 140,000 tonnes.
Miliband said:
'Interest-free loans totalling £100m over the next two years were announced in the Budget and this real help, delivered by the Carbon Trust in England, means that businesses in every corner of Britain can now improve their energy efficiency and make real savings on their energy bills at a time when every penny counts.'
For more information visit the Carbon Trust website. |
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| Social enterprises offered missing link to access investment streams |
A new one year programme to help social enterprises access risk finance has been launched by the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) and the Office of the Third Sector (OTS).
The £90,000 programme aims to incentivise investment in social enterprises and ensure that a stronger social enterprise sector emerges from the recession.
Social enterprises have been hailed as one of the most exciting emerging sectors in the UK, contributing at least £8.4 billion to the economy every year. However social enterprises can find it difficult to access the finance needed to grow. Evidence suggests this is because some social entrepreneurs may have low levels of financial literacy and their businesses are not always 'investment ready'. Government's commitment to develop an investment readiness programme was reaffirmed in 'Real Help for Communities' action plan in February this year.
NESTA's Public Services Innovation Lab is now working with the OTS to develop a year long Social Enterprise Access to Investment facility designed to give social enterprises the best advice to help them access risk capital. The facility will offer a success fee that will incentivise brokers of advice to help social enterprises access funds.
These fees will be performance based and only payable to investment readiness providers in the event of social enterprises successfully accessing risk capital. The aim is to spread the model of success fees in the developing capital market for businesses driven by more than just the financial bottom line.
Jonathan Kestenbaum, Chief Executive of NESTA said "Social enterprise is the UK's most exciting up-and-coming business sector. But in the absence of tried and tested tools to guide social enterprises, there is a need to find new ways of bridging the gap between corporate and non-profit access to finance. This new resource will provide the evidence that social enterprises can achieve sustainable growth with the right kind of support".
The project will also act as a one year programme to provide insight into how investment readiness may be sustainably financed in the future. In turn this will increase the quality of social enterprise investment propositions, their chances of success and the appeal of social enterprises as investment vehicles.
For further information, please contact Catherine Anderson on 020 7438 2609 or Catherine.Anderson@nesta.org.uk or Jan Singleton on 020 7438 2606 or at Jan.Singleton@nesta.org.uk.
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| Skills fund scarcity |
The government’s mounting uncertainty over skills funding could place the competitiveness of UK manufacturers at risk, warned manufacturers' organisation, EEF.
According to the group, companies planning for the economic upturn were beginning to make plans for future employee training.
However, it claimed that a lack of policy regarding next year’s training schemes would prevent many from committing to skills programmes, including apprenticeships, beyond the end of this year.
Lee Hopley, head of economic policy at the EEF, said: ‘Potentially there will be a skills shortage when the upturn comes. Manufacturers have been doing their best to hang on to skilled workers during this recession. The ability of these companies to do that over the next six months, in what is likely to be pretty difficult economic conditions, is going to be key to the extent of the skills shortage further out.’
In an EEF survey of around 700 companies, 55 per cent of manufacturers said they were concerned about their ability to attract and retain skilled staff in preparation for the recovery.
The EEF has asked the government to clarify its long-term plans for training programmes to prevent a possible skills shortage in the future.
‘What we’re really looking for at the moment is some clarity to what is going to happen to funding beyond this year,’ said Hopley. 'Businesses are trying to plan against a very uncertain economic backdrop. Any uncertainty about whether or not funding is going to be there makes it more difficult for manufacturers to plan beyond the end of this year.’
In response, a spokesperson for the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) said:
‘In a recession the most important thing we can do is to train people and give them the skills they and their employers need to lead us out of the downturn. That is why during this year alone we are investing almost £1bn in Train to Gain, training record numbers of people – 100,000 more over the last two years than we originally planned.
In the engineering and manufacturing technologies sector, take up of Train to Gain has more than doubled, from 22,400 in 2007/08 to 46,500 in 2008/09.
But of course the training budget is not unlimited, and working with the Learning and Skills Council, we have to ensure that in the long term spending matches resources in the best interests of both learners and employers. The LSC will continue to work with individual organisations to resolve funding allocations for the rest of the year.’
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| Falmouth company wins £2m Aquamarine installation contract |
Falmouth based Fugro Seacore has won a contract worth approximately £2million to install Aquamrine Power's Oyster® Wave Energy Converter at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney. The installation will start this summer and completion is scheduled for the Autumn.
Martin McAdam, Chief Executive of Aquamarine. "We are installing a full scale demonstrator of our Oyster wave device. The device works - it has been tested in the wave tanks and we have completed full scale on-shore testing. This is our baby - we want it to be installed and we want it to be installed correctly and carefully and we need a world class contractor to do that - that is why we have chosen Fugro Seacore.
Bob Jenkins, Fugro Seacore's Managing Director added: "We are delighted to be working with Aquamarine, which we believe will be at the forefront of the upcoming revolution in marine energy. Like all projects of this nature, there are likely to be challenges to be addressed. However, we are confident that we have the necessary expertise to successfully complete the Oyster installation this year."
The appointment follows the announcement of Aquamarine's first development agreement with Airtricity, the renewable energy development division of Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE), aimed at developing sites capable of hosting 1,000MW of marine energy by 2020.
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| New members appointed to Technology Strategy Board |
Three new members of the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) have been appointed and four other members, including SWSIC member Nick Buckland, have been re-appointed.
The TSB promotes and supports research and development. It supports the exploitation of science, technology and new ideas to benefit business, increase economic growth and improve the quality of life in the UK. It achieves this by delivering Government support to encourage business investment in technology and innovation across all sectors of the UK economy.
The newly-appointed board members are Sara Murray, Stewart Davies and Christopher Snowden, who will serve for three years from 21 June 2009. The reappointed board members are John Brown and Anne Glover, who will serve for a further period of three years, and Nick Buckland and Joseph Feczko, who will serve for a further period of two years, all from 21 June 2009.
Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, John Denham, said:
“The TSB drives business innovation in the UK. It is at the heart of delivering our vision of making the UK the best place in the world to run an innovative business, public sector or third sector organisation.
“These appointments provide an extremely strong mix of business talent, insight and experience. They will help the TSB to fulfil its role.”
For more information, visit the TSB website.
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| Expert groups to take action on science and society |
Five new independent Expert Groups are to engage the science community, media, public, business and policy makers to help change cultural attitudes to science in the UK.
The Groups will bring key players together, breaking down the traditional barriers to collaboration and driving forward action in the five areas that emerged from the Government’s consultation - ‘A vision for Science and Society’.
The five Groups are:
• Science for All – headed by Sir Roland Jackson of the British Science Association – will look into how to better demonstrate the relevance of science to everyday life
• Science and the Media – headed by Fiona Fox of the Science Media Centre – will consider how opportunities for partnerships between the media and scientists can be increased
• Science and Learning – headed by Sir Mark Walport of the Wellcome Trust – will consider how the education system can help to ensure the delivery of a scientifically literate society
• Science for Careers – headed by Diana Garnham of the Science Council – will look at how to increase opportunities for those who study science to make the scientific workforce more diverse and representative of society
• Science and Trust – headed by Aileen Allsop of AstraZeneca & Tony Whitehead of the Government Office for Science (GO Science) – will consider how science and engineering in the UK can continue to be underpinned by social responsibility and ethics.
Commenting on the announcement, Science and Innovation Minister, Lord Drayson, said:
“A significant outcome from the consultation is that respondents want us – Government – to take a more active role. So rather than have more recommendations, we will take action. The Groups are already being brought together and planning their first meetings. I’m delighted about the level of enthusiasm I’ve seen and I will do everything I can to support the actions they take.”
For more information visit the DIUS website.
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| Siding with the Angels: New research shows how to make a profit from risk |
New research published by NESTA (National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) in collaboration with the BBAA (British Business Angels Association) reports for the first time that Business Angels stand to make a substantial profit from investing in start-ups, with an average Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 22 per cent over four years, compared with 27 per cent IRR in the US.
Business Angels - investors who put personal money directly into young unquoted companies - are a significant source of early stage finance. But despite their increasing importance, little is known about their outcomes and returns in the UK.
The report reviewed 1,080 investments. More than half were directed at very early stage, pre-revenue start-ups - the riskiest time of a company's life. This was reflected in the investment returns. Despite the fact that the majority of investments make a loss (56 per cent in this study), a substantial number (44 per cent in this study) lead to positive returns with 9 per cent generating more than 10 times the capital invested.
The report also suggests a number of strategic choices and practices that may lead to better investments outcomes such as investing in one's area of expertise, performing at least 20 hours of due diligence before investing and staying connected with the business, preferably at a board level.
The study finds that the EIS (Enterprise Investment Scheme) and other tax incentives contribute substantially to angel activity with 82 per cent of British angels using the EIS at least once; and the angels stating that about 24 per cent of their investments would not have been made without the tax incentives.
NESTA and the BBAA are calling for the Treasury to increase the Enterprise Investment Scheme tax relief from the current level of 20 per cent to 30 per cent for the much higher risk start ups.
The report says that on average Business Angels in the UK invest £42,000 and each investor makes around 6 investments. Investors typically reviewed 20 opportunities each and acquired 8 per cent of a company. Co-investments are seen as the preference for investing in start-ups with on average 5 investors co-investing in any one round. The figures generated by this study were comparable to the performance of the US Angel market relative to the size of the Angel community.
To read the full report, visit the NESTA website. |
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| Plymouth wins enterprise title – for the second time |
Plymouth has won the regional final of the Enterprising Britain competition for the second year in a row.
This year’s entry was based around the University of Plymouth and the increasingly central role it is playing in Plymouth’s economy.
The university’s Vice-Chancellor and SWSIC member, Professor Wendy Purcell, led a delegation from Plymouth to give a presentation to a panel of competition judges at the Regional Development Agency’s offices in Exeter.
This focused on how the university is taking a lead role in transforming the city – physically through iconic buildings like the £36 million Roland Levinsky Building and economically by producing highly-skilled graduates, working with key city organisations, carrying out world-class research and, under the Enterprise Solutions banner, providing facilities and support for individuals, businesses and the community.
The presentation also focused on how the university reaches out to schools and people from across the community to help as many people as possible access higher level skills and the ideas and facilities of the university.
Responding to some tough questions and a veritable grilling by the expert panel, Plymouth’s entry was unanimously endorsed by the judges and selected as a clear winner of the South West regional competition.
Plymouth will go forward during autumn to the national finals of Enterprising Britain, where it will compete against other regional winners in a bid to be crowned the most enterprising place in the UK.
In the coming weeks, the competition’s judges will visit Plymouth to see first-hand how the university is working with its city partners to foster a culture of enterprise.
Professor Purcell said: “I am absolutely thrilled that Plymouth has won the regional round of Enterprising Britain. We are looking forward to welcoming the judges to our great City so that they can see for themselves how a joined up way of working together has the potential to transform Plymouth for the better. The partnership between the university and the City has never been stronger and is helping realise Plymouth’s potential as a truly innovative and enterprising location that gets things done!”
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| RDA Board recruitment |
This year the South West RDA has five positions available - 3 Local Authority and 2 Business vacancies. The closing date for applications is Friday 3rd July.
For the business vacancies the Agency is looking for people with a background in the rural, financial and manufacturing sectors. In respect of the local authority members, the Agency is looking for elected members with extensive knowledge of local government issues in the region.
As both Wiltshire based Board members are departing, the Agency would like to appoint a person with a specific focus on this area.
The South West RDA will hold an information session for prospective candidates on Thursday 18th June in Taunton. The session will provide an opportunity for delegates to learn more about the Agency, the Board and the recruitment process, and will be followed by a networking lunch. Representatives from the RDA Board and Hays recruitment will be available to talk informally to candidates throughout the session.
For further information please visit the RDA dedicated website or contact Anna Brown on 01392 229611 or anna.brown@southwestrda.org.uk.
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| UK R&D spend projected to fall by £4 billion in 2009 |
The UK is projected to have a £4 billion fall in R&D spend in 2009, according to a new report, ‘Innovation – Protecting the UK’s Competitiveness’, published by the Management Consultancies Association (MCA).
The report, based on a survey of consultants who work with more than 90 of the UK’s largest firms by market capitalisation, found that 9 out of 10 have cut their capital expenditure - a key measure of innovation - by up to 50 per cent. This translates as a projected fall of almost £4 billion in R&D spend in 2009.
Four out of 5 respondents believe that the UK’s long term competitiveness is being damaged by lack of investment, while 9 out of 10 cite innovation as a crucial tool to mitigate the effects of the recession.
Over two thirds of respondents supported increased tax breaks for R&D and other capital investment to encourage innovation.
MCA chief executive Alan Leaman said it is necessary to look beyond the immediate economic crisis. “As soon as innovation stops, companies slip down the league table and start to lose customers. [...] If companies are not able to innovate, they risk being unable to compete on the world stage.” According to the report, the main barrier to innovation during the recession is that most managers are concentrating resources on short term priorities.
For more information visit the MCA website.
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| Plymouth selected for €55M European marine project |
The University of Plymouth is one of only two UK universities selected to take part in a landmark pan-European marine project worth €55M.
The Universities of Plymouth and Reading have joined forces with 60 of the leading marine organisations across Europe, including PMSP partner Plymouth Marine Laboratory, to carry out the landmark MyOcean project.
Funded by the European Commission, the ambitious project aims to create the first-ever European-wide resource for ocean monitoring and forecasting by integrating the research skills and expertise across 28 countries.
MyOcean is the first step towards the future European Marine Core Service, a building block of GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security, a new pan-European initiative which will provide crucial information on key issues including maritime security, oil spill prevention, climate change and marine resource management.
The University of Plymouth’s role in the project will be to contribute its expertise to the numerical modelling of ocean dynamics and calibration/validation of prognostic services in the Black Sea, an area of research where the university has already achieved an international reputation.
For more information visit the MyOcean website.
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| Industrial biotechnology report sets vision for UK |
The industry-led Industrial Biotechnology Innovation and Growth Team (IB-IGT) chaired by Ian Shott has published its report setting out its vision for UK industry and recommendations to Government to maximise the opportunities in a low carbon economy.
The IB-IGT's work over the last year has focused on how to put the UK in the strongest possible position to gain maximum benefits from the new strategic market in renewable chemicals, and low-carbon manufacturing.
IB provides a sustainable, commercially viable route for the UK out of dependence on fossil fuels. Furthermore, IB is also vital to maintaining UK competitiveness in global markets, where bio-based systems and processes are rapidly gaining strength and scale.
The IB-IGT has looked at the whole business environment affecting IB, with the full involvement across Government. It has worked closely with key opinion leaders in industry and has identified five critical recommendations that will ensure the UK is best placed to translate the opportunities IB presents into innovations, jobs and prosperity:
* Provide leadership to promote and connect IB activities across all supply chains;
* De-risk access to new IB products, processes and technologies;
* Accelerate the innovation and knowledge transfer process for IB;
* Position IB to attract and retain high quality scientists, engineers and managers; and
* Create a truly supportive 'public' and 'business' environment for IB.
Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform Lord Mandelson said:
"The Government welcomes this report, and it comes at an opportune time as the Government focuses on building a low carbon economy. Industrial biotechnology will be one of the strongest driving forces behind the world's low-carbon revolution. Offering businesses the capability to develop and use less carbon intensive products and processes, whilst also reducing costs and opening-up new, emerging and established markets."
The full IB-IGT report is available at the BERR website.
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| New organisation for female inventors |
The official launch of the Association of Women with New Products and Inventions takes place at the British Library and IP Centre on Thursday 18 June.
Through its dedicated portal ShesIngenious.org, the association is dedicated to providing a practical package of specialist information, inspiration and support to women who are developing and marketing products and services that have a particularly innovative angle, often involving development of intellectual property.
The organisation’s aim is to develop women entrepreneurs’ ideas by offering help and advice tailored to women’s specific business needs, while acknowledging the values and commitments they often share, such as family care, self development,m innovation for social good and contributing to household income.
For more information visit the ShesIngenious website.
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| University of Bath develops pioneering treatment for liver cancer |
A technique that uses microwaves to destroy liver tumours, based on technology pioneered by scientists from Bath University, has treated more than 100 patients in the UK and is now being used worldwide.
Most patients with liver cancer are deemed inoperable but with the development of the microwave equipment, thousands of patients could be offered curative treatment.
Around the world, one million people a year die of primary liver cancer, with a further million dying from secondary liver cancer where the cancer has spread from other tumour sites.
The technology resulted from ongoing research at Bath University into the use of microwaves in medical therapy, starting with Microwave Enometrial Ablation, a treatment for women with heavy menstrual cycles.
This research has led to the development and production of a microwave generator and probe to treat cancer tumours, which is now being manufactured by Acculis Ltd.
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| Composite Integration wins Business of the Year Award 2009 |
Saltash company Composite Integration has won not only the ‘Business Innovation of the Year’ award but also the hotly contested ‘Winner of Winner’s’ Cornwall Business of the Year 2009 award.
The Innovation prize was awarded for the development of specific technology for the Resin Infusion industry. This work has centred on the development of the Ciject range of meter-mixing equipment to supply resin directly into large scale infusion processes. The judges also looked at the overall management and performance of the company with specific interest in growth and export figures.
The judging panel included Sir John Banham, chairman of Johnson Matthey, Steve Ridgeway CEO of Virgin Atlantic, John Smith CEO of BBC Worldwide, Nathan Waller Director of Commercial Banking NatWest and Peter Steward Director of Communications for The Eden Project.
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| Open Innovation survey |
The Joint Information Systems Committee is requesting your input into its study on Open Innovation.
The study has been commissioned by JISC (The Joint Information Systems Committee) which is an advisory committee to the education funding councils for a project entitled, “Facilitating Open Innovation – Landscape and Feasibility Study”.
Pera is collecting information in this questionnaire on behalf of JISC BCE Engagement Programme. All information will be analysed by Pera and JISC. No other party will have access to any of the data from this questionnaire. Data will be used for research purposes for the “Facilitating Open Innovation – Landscape and Feasibility Study” and will not be used for any other purpose.
The questionnaire can be found at the Open Innovation Questionnaire website.
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| DIARY DATES AND EVENTS |
UK - UKTI/HSBC Trade Academy Partnership for Exporters
Breakfast workshops aimed specifically at SME’s preparing to or already trading overseas. The interactive events will provide advice on the opportunities and challenges in exporting, and help companies understand how to prepare their international strategy and avoid some of the common pitfalls.
Events dates and locations
June 16th. - South West. Bristol. Leigh Court.
June 24th - London. HSBC headquarters 8 Canada Square
July 3rd - Newcastle. Commercial Centre, Team Valley Trading Estate
For further information or to register for one of these free half day events, please email pcm.enquiries@hsbc.com stating your preferred date and location (please see below) and a brief description of your business.
SW KTP Regional Seminar
23 June, Bristol
Showcase of Knowledge Transfer projects in the regions. An opportunity for those interested in Knowledge Transfer to learn more about current Knowledge Transfer Partnerships and to network with representatives of companies, Universities and other interested organisations.
For more information telephone 0117 3283272 or visit the UWE website.
Insider Economic Forum South West:
‘Beating the crunch’
23 June, Bristol
A free event bringing together businesses and the professionals that serve them to discuss how best the advisory community can help companies survive the recession.
For more information visit the event website.
EEN Research and development funding seminars
25 June, Plymouth
2nd July, Gloucester
Companies are invited to participate in two seminars to learn more about R&D tax credits, grants for R&D, European R&D funding and international R&D collaborations.
For more information visit the EEN website.
SWSIC Innovation Forum
25 June, Bournemouth University
SWSIC Innovation Forums are important mechanisms for enabling businesses to access information and advice about R&D funding.
For more information visit the Science South West website..
Bournemouth University Festival of Design & Innovation
25 - 29 June, Bournemouth
The annual end of year Design Show displaying over 170 new designs and prototypes, many with commercial potential.
For more information visit the Festival website.
ESRC/Cyber Security KTN Public Policy Seminar
'Assessing Privacy Impact'
30 June 2009, London
The aim of this seminar will be to bring forward ideas that can help inform best practice and explore the evidence base on which processes and technologies can be developed and deployed. Leading academic figures in the field will contribute to the seminar; Presentations will be given by Dr Ian Brown, Senior Research Fellow at the Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford and Dr Lizzie Coles-Kemp, Lecturer in Information Governance and Security Management at Royal Holloway, University of London.
For more information visit the EPSRC website.
Photonics Network feasability event
1 July, Ilminster
The South East Photonics Network have received funding from the Photonics KTN to look at the feasibility of setting up a regional photonics network in the South West. This event, taking place at Gooch and Housego's new offices in Ilminster, will be an inaugural meeting to bring together various parties who may be interested in taking a network forward in the future.
For more information please contact John.Lincoln@sepnet.net or james@iscaphotonics.com.
openMIC
2 July, Bristol
Mobile Innovation Camps - openMIC - the 'unconference' for next generation mobile apps developers - with speakers from Vodafone Betavine, Wireless Wanders, Intohand and Welovemobile participating PLUS David Currall, Partnership Manager of Apple, will be attending the event.
For more information visit the Silicon South West website.
Wireless 2.0
2&3 July, Bristol
Silicon South West hosts a conference for the key players, analysts and most influential academics from the region and beyond for an agenda-setting debate on innovation opportunities from next generation of wireless technology.
For more information visit the Silicon South West website.
UKRO Annual Conference
2-3 July, Cardiff
Key sessions will include an update on the European Research Area (ERA) and the European Economic Recovery Plan; EU International S&T collaboration; and FP6 Ex-Post Evaluation and preparations for the FP7 Mid-term review. It will also include sessions on themes relating directly to FP7, such as FP7 Reporting and Auditing; Social and Economic Sciences and the Humanities; and Research for the Benefit of SMEs. As well as this, there will be sessions on the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT); and new Public Private Partnerships and Joint Technology Initiatives such as the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen (FCH) JTI.
For more information please visit the UKRO website.
The Sustainable Business In Practice Expo 2009
10 July, Bristol
The Sustainable Business in Practice Expo will be the largest business-to-business conference and exhibition ever staged in the South West, focused on profitable sustainable businesses development during the current challenging economic climate. The Expo, which will also showcase latest green technologies and services, aims to help businesses achieve a win, win situation – enhanced environmental and business performance
For more information visit the Sustainable Business website.
Hatchery Gauntlet Event
23 September
If you think you have what it takes to succeed in New York, put your idea to the test at The Hatchery Gauntlet Event on Wednesday, 23 September 2009. You will have seven minutes to present your business models to select specialists from the NY Venture Capital Community. UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), the international business development agency for the British Government, is co-hosting the event. The deadline for submissions is 24 July.
For more information or to enrol in the Hatchery Gauntlet Event, please visit the Hatchery website.
Low Carbon South West - 'Burning Rubber: meeting the energy reduction challenge in the car economy
25 September, Bath
For more information visit the Low Carbon South West website.
Innovate 09
13 October, London
The Technology Strategy Board's major annual event focusing on business innovation.
For more information visit the Technology Strategy Board website.
Science & Innovation 09
19 November 2009, London
This conference will focus on the ability of the UK’s science base to respond to global economic challenges. It will also be an opportunity to hear directly from the newly appointed Director General for Business and Innovation at the Department for Innovation Universities and Skills - Philip Rycroft, on the key question ‘Is UK Science and Innovation positioned to meet the Global Economic Challenges we Face?
For more information visit the Science & Innovation 09 website. |
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| TECHNOLOGY PARTNERING OPPORTUNITIES |
To help companies find business partners, the Enterprise Europe Network is able to offer access to thousands of partnering opportunities from companies across Europe. A small selection of the current exciting opportunities available is shown below.
If you are interested in finding out more details on any of these technologies, or promoting your own technologies please call 0845 60 60 969 or email Kenny Legg.
To perform your own search on the technology partnering database please visit the EEN website.
09 GB 46P4 3DRT - A real-time analysis system for Stem Cell culture analysis
Technology collaboration REQUEST
A Scottish company specialising in the GMP production, analysis and commercialisation of Stem Cells for drug discovery is seeking academic or industrial partners with "real-time" processes and/or devices to optimise the efficiency of stem cell culture and production for technical co-operation.
09 IE 51S6 3D89 - Power Generation technology for random wave or wind patterns
Technology collaboration OFFER
An Irish inventor has designed a system for power generation for tide or wind sources. Unlike existing systems, this system can harness wind or wave sources which move in multiple random directions through all planes.
The developer seeking license agreements with industrial partners.
09 ES 28F9 3D3D - Business Intelligence platform for information security
Technology collaboration OFFER
A Spanish startup created to develop high reliable software for Information Security Management has developed a Security Management platform to prevent security incidents, to monitor systems performance and user behaviours, and to detect patterns. The Spanish company is looking for commercial agreement with technical cooperation.
09 US 87GA 3DSH - Energy-Efficient Ways to Dislodge Dirt from Complex Surfaces
Technology collaboration REQUEST
A large US company operating on a global scale is looking for low-energy mechanisms to loosen particles from complex surfaces. The goal of this request is to make surface-entrained particles airborne as efficiently as possible. They are looking for technical cooperation and license agreements.
09 PL 62AP 3DNQ - Industrial machinery cleaning technology with the use of dry ice
Technology collaboration REQUEST
Polish micro enterprise working in the field of cleaning is seeking an innovative technology for dry ice (CO2) cleaning of industrial machinery and devices. Company is interested in commercial agreement with technical assistance.
09 GB 39n3 3DC0 - A Wound Mapping System
Technology collaboration OFFER
A UK University medical electrodes research team has developed a wound mapping system aimed at the lucrative wound care market. The system utilises novel, patented technology to provide cost effective, automatic monitoring and healing of chronic wounds. The team is seeking to license the technology or reach a technical co-operation agreement.
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