http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52 Here are the latest News Articles &news_uid=185 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=185 Story: ~ Twenty-year joint venture at Harwell Science and Innovation Campus will attract investment through research facilities, infrastructure development and private sector interest ~ ~ 5,000 knowledge-based jobs to be created in the science and innovation sector ~ Government science and innovation investment received a major boost with the announcement of a joint venture that will see the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus develop into one of the world’s principal locations for scientific, academic and business collaboration. Science and Innovation Minister, Ian Pearson, confirmed the government’s support for the new public-private partnership comprising the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and international property group Goodman. The partnership will run the Oxfordshire campus in a 50:50 joint venture. Under the agreement, UKAEA will provide land at Harwell for development and an existing business base. STFC will contribute involvement in major public sector science programmes and a proactive approach to ensuring fundamental research can be harnessed and exploited by innovators, entrepreneurs and industry. Goodman will offer market access to global businesses and expertise in long-term property ownership, development and management, as well as providing working capital for the JV. Investment at the campus will encompass fundamental scientific research and the development of property, facilities and local infrastructure. A minimum of 100,000 sq m of laboratory, high technology industrial and office accommodation will be developed in the first 20 year phase of the project. Up to 5,000 high value knowledge-based jobs are also expected to be created. This vision for the campus, originally set out in 2006 by former Science Minister Lord Sainsbury, is a key part of the Government’s ten-year UK Science and Innovation Investment Framework.  The joint venture approach will enable it to benefit from public sector access to global scientific communities, research programmes and facilities, alongside Goodman’s commercial expertise. Commenting on the joint venture, Ian Pearson said, “The Harwell Science and Innovation Campus is already home to some of the world’s most prestigious research facilities, including ISIS and the Diamond Light Source. This joint venture will see Harwell continue to build on its 60 year history and further strengthen its position as a renowned base for world-class research infrastructure and innovative businesses, in the future. This is an ambitious project, but the joint venture has the potential to make Harwell the equivalent of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in terms of size and scope, it’s an exciting prospect.” Jim Johnston, managing director of UK Business Parks at Goodman said, “Goodman is a leader in the development and management of business and science space, and has an excellent track record of fostering collaboration between businesses, research organisations and universities.  We are excited about helping Harwell Science and Innovation Campus become an open and interactive community, with a global reputation for science and innovation excellence.” Speaking on behalf of the UKAEA, CEO Norman Harrison said, “developing the campus over the years has been both challenging and rewarding. This joint venture will help to unlock Harwell’s full potential over the coming years, putting it at the very forefront of global science and innovation.” Professor Keith Mason, STFC Chief Executive said, “the investment being made by the joint venture partners into developing Harwell Science and Innovation Campus will have a significant and positive influence on science and technology in the UK. This model of scientific, academic and business collaboration, also implemented at Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus in Cheshire, will help demonstrate the impact that investment in science-related sectors can have on the national economy.” Minister for Energy, Malcolm Wicks, said, "Harwell's historic site is now being decommissioned by the UKAEA and transformed to play an equally significant role in supporting the future of science and innovation in the UK." | Date: 19/08/2008 &news_uid=168 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=168 Story: BAE Systems Electronics & Integrated Solutions (E&IS) in Rochester, Kent - recently held an Open Innovation day for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to identify mutually beneficial partnerships.  The event, organised in collaboration with SEEDA’s Innovation Advisory Service, looked to bring new and innovative technology solutions to add to BAE Systems future product offerings to UK and overseas customers on both civil and defence markets. The Open Innovation Day was attended by thirty one representatives from twenty two companies who were invited to discuss their technologies with potential scalable solutions for BAE Systems. Richard Hall, of the Innovation Advisory Service, said “When the IAS approached BAE Systems about the idea of an Open Innovation event, to connect novel technology SMEs from the South East to capability engineers within BAE Systems, we were encouraged by the positive and proactive engagement by this blue chip high technology company. We worked closely with BAE Systems to select SMEs with relevant technologies and services to match BAE Systems technology roadmaps for future systems and successful companies were invited to spend the day with the BAE Systems team members who assemble systems concepts for large value bids. In this sector it is essential that SMEs with novel technologies are helped to make contact with future partners and systems integrators, like BAE Systems, before bids are made for systems contracts as the technology risk of novel solutions needs to be understood before contract delivery begins. Also at the event meeting with SMES and BAE Systems were representatives of national and local support partners for high technology SMEs including representatives of the National Physical Laboratory, the Electronics KTN, MoD Centre for Innovation, Oxford Innovation, Medway Innovation Centre and Medway the Enterprise Hub." Andy Start, Managing Director & Vice President BAE Systems E&IS Defence Avionics, said “Innovation and Engineering are at the very soul of the work we undertake at BAE Systems. New opportunities to enhance our innovation and engineering capabilities are always welcomed and embraced. This event highlighted exciting new technologies that have the potential to provide real benefit to our customers and end-users” Some of SME's who attended commented on how they felt they event worked for them: William Rothwell (Abatis) said “the short introduction to BAE Systems was useful and informative. The networking session not only allows us to know BAE Systems better as a partner but also provides an opportunity to meet other delegates who may be future business prospects. Thank you very much for holding such an event.” Steve Habberley (I.A. Technology) said it was an “excellent opportunity to discover how large organisations can be approached and how potentially join with such organisations in a partnership.”   | Date: 19/05/2008 &news_uid=167 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=167 Story: The BBC today reported The Ministry of Defence is set to sign a £4bn deal to build two aircraft carriers in the UK in a move expected to secure at least 4,500 jobs. HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales will be built by a consortium formed between BAE Systems and its rival, VT Group. The MoD said that the plans would be put to parliament later. The project is long-awaited having been first announced in 2003, but then put off due to the MoD's spending plans. The 65,000-tonne carriers are due to enter service in 2014 and 2016. Each is likely to carry 36 fighter jets as well as four early warning aircraft. Alex Ashbourne of Ashbourne Strategic Consulting said the deal would be "the cornerstone of British shipbuilding for probably the next 30 to 40 years". "It's thought that manufacturing is dead in the UK, but not in the shipbuilding sector," Ms Ashbourne added. The joint venture between BAE Systems and VT Group will both build and supports the ships from the firm's respective shipyards. "There's no denying that the defence budget is under immense pressure and these do not come cheap," Ms Ashbourne added. "The MoD had to form an innovative alliance with industry to try and de-risk the program and make sure it was as cost-effective as possible for the UK tax-payer." | Date: 20/05/2008 &news_uid=163 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=163 Story: 16 innovative development projects, worth over £52 million, to receive £23 million government investment through the Low Carbon Vehicles Innovation Platform. Low Carbon Vehicles Integrated Delivery Programme to be developed, speeding up the introduction of low carbon vehicle technology, with further £70 million government investment. New low carbon vehicles could be on Britain's roads within 5 to 7 years following the decision, announced today, to invest £23 million of Government funding in sixteen innovative new projects.  The investment, which is being made available by the Technology Strategy Board and the Department for Transport through the Low Carbon Vehicles Innovation Platform, will assist companies to take forward research, development and demonstration projects in the UK.  Including investments by the companies involved, the total value of the development projects will be £52 million. And, in a related development, the Technology Strategy Board today announced its intention to launch in the Autumn 2008 a Low Carbon Vehicles Integrated Delivery Programme - stimulated by a further £70 million of government investment.  This programme will co-ordinate low carbon vehicle activity from initial research through to future procurement opportunities, speeding up the time it takes to get low carbon vehicle technologies into the market place. The sixteen new research, development and demonstration projects represent the first investment by the Low Carbon Vehicles Innovation Platform since it was established in the autumn of 2007, and follows an open competition launched in September.  The key objectives of the platform are to: accelerate the market introduction of low carbon road transport vehicles over what would be achieved by global market forces alone, and maximise the benefit to UK business of that accelerated market penetration. The projects to receive funding will be lead by a wide range of organisations from major manufacturers through to small and medium sized companies and University spin-outs.  The research and development will cover technologies such as lightweighting, ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) developments, Fuel Cells, Energy Storage and Aerodynamics. The aim of the Low Carbon Vehicles Integrated Delivery Programme is to fully map the UK's technological capability in the area and, using the full range of Technology Strategy Board interventions, make the business connections needed to develop an automotive sector capable of delivering the required low carbon products and services required within the medium to long term. The Technology Strategy Board will manage the programme through its Low Carbon Vehicles Innovation Platform.  The Department for Transport, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Advantage West Midlands have agreed to invest in the programme, while further support will be sought from other Regional Development Authorities and the Devolved Assemblies. The Low Carbon Vehicles Integrated Delivery Programme is being developed in close partnership with UK-based companies and academic institutions, and it is strongly anticipated that the Government's £70 million investment in the Programme will be matched by funding from industry. Supporting today's announcements, Science and Innovation Minister Ian Pearson said: "These investments will provide a great opportunity for British companies to mobilise innovation to respond to global climate change challenges and to meet demanding new CO2 standards for new vehicles.  They will also help position British companies to benefit from the growing domestic and international demand for lower carbon vehicles." Transport Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said: "Developing cleaner and more efficient vehicles is vitally important in our efforts to combat climate change. Road transport contributes heavily to the UK's total emissions, which is why we are investing in low-carbon technology through the Low Carbon Vehicles Innovation Platform.  I hope that this will stimulate further growth in the market and that low carbon vehicles will soon be a common sight on our roads, so that we can continue to push forward reductions in carbon emissions" "The EPSRC support will provide the activities of the Integrated Delivery Programme with a base of high quality, relevant research", said Catherine Coates, the EPSRC Director of Business Innovation. "Working in partnership with the other funders will ensure a spectrum of government funding for innovation activities within the Integrated Delivery Programme" | Date: 13/05/2008 &news_uid=162 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=162 Story: The Department of Health are seeking outline proposals for proof of concept studies under its new and emerging applications of technology programme. Grants are worth on average £150K Click Here for more details Wellcome Trust/EPSRC centres are seeking perliminary applications for funding centre of excellence that integrate physics, engineering, chemical, mathematical or computational sciences with clinical or biomedical research aimed at delivering innovative solutions for healthcare. The initiative is designed as a capacity building exercise to enhance the capability of academic institutions to engage in applied research for healthcare. Click Here for more details Commercialisation projects: The ERA Foundation offers support for projects at the early stage of commercialization of electrotechnological research outcomes. Up to £50K is available Click Here for mor details | Date: 02/05/2008 &news_uid=152 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=152 Story: The Innovation Advisory Service (IAS) marked two years at the forefront of innovation management today by hosting a National Conference on Open Innovation in Practice at The Royal Society, London.  Launched in 2006 by Lord Sainsbury and Digby, Lord Jones, the IAS supports ambitious companies across the South East region, helping them to plan and implement innovation programmes so that they can maintain a competitive edge in a global marketplace.  The Service is an initiative funded by SEEDA and delivered by Oxford Innovation with its partners, the National Physical Laboratory and CLIK.  Through its work, the IAS has established a reputation for championing the concept of Open Innovation – the belief that by looking outside of their own boundaries, companies can gain better access to new ideas, knowledge, technology and markets.  The Service’s Innovation Advisors, all former senior managers from a range of industry sectors, have particular expertise in brokering links between large corporates, growing businesses with new technologies and world-class research establishments.  The National Conference included keynote speeches by senior representatives from SEEDA and the Government’s Technology Strategy Board while some of the global firms and growing innovative businesses involved in the IAS programme shared their experiences of using the Open Innovation model to develop new products and services with an audience of over 100 delegates.  Dr Treve Willis, IAS Project Director, said: “During the last two years the IAS has worked with around 1,000 companies and as well as brokering a number of substantial contracts for our clients, it is estimated that the Service has helped them to raise some £29 million in business development funding. “This is a remarkable achievement and these results underscore the significant commercial benefit to our regional economy that is generated by a region-wide programme such as the Innovation Advisory Service.  Through our Innovation Advisors and partner organisations, Oxford Innovation, the National Physical Laboratory and CLIK, we are able to offer access to a unique combination of highly specialist knowledge and networks for funding and partnering.  “We are pleased to celebrate the second anniversary of the IAS by showcasing some innovation success stories from the programme to date and we look forward to assisting more companies to take forward their innovative ideas.” Click here to download presentation. Clients of the IAS have included household names such as General Dynamics, 3M United Kingdom Plc, Philips, Thales Research and Technology and Balfour Beatty, and growing businesses developing cutting edge technologies in medical healthcare, engineering, defence, ICT and nanotechnology as well as research establishments in the South East.  Greg Ward, Director of Global Markets at SEEDA, said: “We are delighted with the outstanding success of the Innovation Advisory Service.  The IAS plays a key role in encouraging organisations to innovate and in assisting them to realise the commercial potential of their innovations – this is vital if the South East is to maintain its position as a globally competitive region.” Dr Allyson Reed, Director of Strategy and Communications at the Technology Strategy Board, said: “There is no doubt about the power of Open Innovation. Our experience at the Technology Strategy Board is that collaboration between innovative businesses and organisations can bring huge dividends, as combining perspectives and expertise brings new solutions to life and makes unexpected ideas a reality.” Click here to download presentation. Jim Ironside, Chief Scientist at General Dynamics UK, a leading player in the UK’s knowledge economy and defence industrial base employing around 1700 people, said: “General Dynamics UK is a major prime contractor and complex systems integrator delivering military capability to the UK Armed Forces and export markets.  We depend on a large and varied supply chain for the execution of our programmes, and we value very highly the critical role played by SMEs and academic institutions in our success.  Finding and nurturing partners so that customers and the supply chain all benefit is a crucial challenge which we take very seriously.  The support of the Government and the IAS is important in identifying and forging those links.” Click here to download presentation. Dr Dan Daly, Director of Lein Applied Diagnostics Ltd, a Reading-based company that is developing an optical device to measure blood glucose levels, commented: “The IAS has provided invaluable support for my business.  This has ranged from brokering contacts with potential partners and customers, including major healthcare firms, to assistance with getting a secondment off the ground with NPL through the Manufacturing for Industry scheme as well as market research and funding advice.  I cannot recommend the Service highly enough.” Click here to download presentation. Kevin Dempsey, Director at Jack Knight Design Ltd, a Surrey-based company that has developed designs for new products ranging from a flood defence system to an intelligent gear box to reduce fuel consumption, said: “We were at a crossroads as we had designs for five new products but we hadn’t found a single company to partner with us and take the designs forward.  “The IAS helped us to develop a business model to take our designs to market and introduced us to major national companies with the capability to sell our products.  They were also able to assist in sourcing an electronics company with the specialist skills to handle prototype production.  As a result of the IAS support, at least two out of our four original designs will get to market during 2008 and we are designing new products for new markets in 2009 – most importantly, we now know how to move our business forward.” Click here to download presentation. To view the conference programme click here | Date: 20/03/2008 &news_uid=142 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=142 Story: Navigating the Funding Landscape Workshops – January & February 2008 After popular demand, and following the success of previous Navigating the Funding Landscape workshops across the South East of England, the IAS, in collaboration with various partner organizations, ran three full-day funding workshops in close succession to mark the start of 2008. The first of these took place in Portsmouth on 24th January, and was organized in conjunction with SEHTA and the & Isle of Wight and Solent Enterprise Hubs. The second took place the following week in Oxford on 29th January, and was organized in conjunction with the Oxfordshire Enterprise Hub. And the third in Southampton on 6th February was organized with the help of Marine South East and the Southampton Enterprise Hub. Huw Edwards (IAS) led the workshops with a brief tour of the numerous funding options available to businesses, and presented some shrewd thoughts as to which funding options should be considered in different situations. The rest of the day looked at the various funding options in closer detail. Peter Newton (IAS) gave a very informative presentation on government grants available for funding R&D projects. Peter’s direct involvement in the field allowed him to give extremely practical advice on how to go about making an R&D grant claim. Representatives from Oxford Innovation’s investment networks gave fascinating presentations on investment networks and business angels, highlighting where these are positioned on the ‘funding ladder’ and in what circumstances this type of finance might benefit an organization. Finance South East, who provides funding solutions and advice to businesses in the South East of England, also gave in-depth presentations on some of the funding packages they can provide. Huw Edwards’s second presentation of the day looked at the EC 7th Framework programme in some detail. Huw’s personal experience as a panelist on this programme gave an insightful perspective to this subject. Presentations from various tax experts helped delegates to unpick the complexities of R&D Tax Credits, and invariably a lively discussion followed this hot topic. After fortification of a sandwich lunch and coffee, Peter Newton helped delegates get to grips with UK Collaborative Programmes and how they may benefit organizations that may not have previously considered this approach. The workshop session at the end gave delegates the opportunity to ask more specific questions to a panel group of experts and discuss some issues in greater detail. The workshops also gave delegates the opportunity to learn more about the work of other government funded business support services such as SEHTA, Marine South East, and the regional Enterprise Hubs. Most delegates left the workshops feeling they had benefited considerably from attending, as the following comments testify: “Very useful day - well placed and clearly presented by knowledgeable presenters. De-mystified and made the subjects covered seem much more approachable.” (Quentin Bailey, Don’t Buy Software) “Very interesting and thought-provoking day.” (Paula Hudson, The Jubilee Sailing Trust) “A highly beneficial series of presentations, especially to anyone needing support for an existing organization, or starting up a new business.” (E.J. Perry, Fleet Support Ltd.) “Good introduction, plus good level of detail. Well worth attending.” (Mike Overy, Wessex Round Table of Investors) “Session was very enlightening in raising funding options and applying focus on which ones may be suitable in individual circumstances.” (Malcolm Stewart, Vision Radio Ltd) “Excellent overview of grants and R&D tax credits available to SMEs. Very informative and thought provoking.” (Michael Miller, Imperial Motor Yachts Ltd) “Following the funding workshop and R&D tax credit presentation we have worked with our accountant on the R&D tax credit and there is a strong possibility we can claim back in the order of £40k in cash. So well worth the day out...” (Tim Mynott, Micro Nav Ltd) “The funding seminar was like a breath of fresh air. It is the first that I have attended that gets to grips with some of the hidden agenda. It was also a very refreshing change to find an engineer steering these things and a preponderance of properly qualified scientists and technologists … for the first time I have actually left a funding seminar feeling positive.” (Ramsey Martin, Advanced Marine Innovation Technology Subsea Ltd) “Thanks again for arranging the event last Wednesday. It was very informative and clearly presented, which I would imagine is no mean feat considering how confusing the subject could have been!” (Stephen Harwood, Radamec Control Systems Ltd) | Date: 08/02/2008 &news_uid=141 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=141 Story: The R&D Society held a seminar on Open Innovation on 19 February 2008 at which speakers explained how Open Innovation works and how it is transforming businesses and research organisations.  At the afternoon seminar Dr Treve Willis, Director of the Innovation Advisory Service South East, introduced the concept of Open Innovation and explained how the Innovation Advisory Service approaches the challenges of Open Innovation and achieves the objective of increasing the rate of scale of innovation in the South East. Other speakers included Richard Halkett (Executive Director of NESTA’s Policy & Research Unit), Dr Neil MacGilp (Group Technical Director of SABMiller) and Professor Colin Whitehouse (Deputy Chief Executive of the Science and Technology Facilities Council and Head of the STFC Daresbury Laboratory). Many examples of implementing Open Innovation in practice were given throughout the afternoon, and the presentations were followed by a panel discussion chaired by Dr Andrew Mackintosh. The evening event focussed on opening up corporate innovation. There was a keynote talk and discussion dinner with Dr Ronald M. Wolf, Senior Business Development Manager of Philips Electronics. In the recent past, Philips has changed considerably in scope, and in doing so internal innovation processes have been adapted to allow for a more outward looking R&D communtiy. | Date: 20/02/2008 &news_uid=138 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=138 Story: BAE Systems Electronics & Integrated Solutions (E&IS), working with the Innovation Advisory Service (IAS), is planning an Open Innovation Event seeking to identify mutually beneficial partnerships with small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to develop new and innovative technology solutions to add to BAE Systems E&IS future product offering to UK and overseas customers in both civil and defence markets. The event will facilitate one-to-one business concept discussions on technologies with potential applications for the Platform Solutions division of BAE Systems E&IS, providing a much needed potential route to market for smaller innovative companies. As an established provider of advanced defence and aerospace systems in the air, on land and at sea, BAE Systems E&IS is well placed to integrate systems solutions, provide business linkages and added value to benefit innovative SME partners, end users and customers alike. The Innovation Advisory Service works with partners to enable Open Innovation between all sizes of companies and in a variety of market sectors. It is managed by Oxford Innovation Ltd in partnership with NPL and CLIK on behalf of SEEDA, the South East England Development Agency. The Open Innovation Event will be held on 30th April 2008 in Rochester, Kent. Innovative SMEs invited to attend the event will be given BAE Systems E&IS Platform Solutions' strategic view of their future markets and how BAE Systems E&IS can work with SMEs to provide innovative elements of future systems. For further Information for this Event Click Here | Date: 11/02/2008 &news_uid=122 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=122 Story: General Dynamics United Kingdom Limited recently held an Open Innovation day for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to identify potential technology partners.  The event, organised in collaboration with SEEDA’s Innovation Advisory Service, highlighted the importance of SMEs in the UK. SMEs have been a key contributor to the development of innovative technologies at General Dynamics UK, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE:GD).  As the biggest employer in Hastings, the company has routinely partnered with SMEs to identify methods for applying their technological advances to the defence industry. The Open Innovation Day was attended by representatives of thirty five companies who were interested in possibly partnering with General Dynamics UK.  “We are committed to supporting UK SMEs that have the expertise and capability in cutting-edge technologies that could be applied to the defence sector as well as other industries,” said Danny Milligan, Vice President, Mission Systems, General Dynamics UK Ltd.  “As an established provider of information solutions and an experienced prime contractor to the UK Ministry to Defence, we are in an excellent position to link innovative SMEs with our customers.” Dr Treve Willis, Project Director of the Innovation Advisory Service, said those sorts of liaisons are the primary focus of his organization.  “The workshop with General Dynamics provided the ideal opportunity to stimulate these linkages,” he said.  “We anticipate that General Dynamics will benefit from access to new technology and the participating SMEs will benefit from new market opportunities." From Left to Right: Danny Milligan, Vice President, Missions Systems, General Dynamics UK LimitedRichard Hall, Innovation Advisor, Innovation Advisory Service South East (IASSE)Steve Knowles, Technical Director, Mission Systems, General Dynamics UK Limited | Date: 23/10/2007 &news_uid=118 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=118 Story: Rory Cellan-Jones, BBC News Technology Correspondent, has officially opened Phase III of the DiagnOx Laboratory, a unique incubator facility located in Cherwell Innovation Centre, Oxfordshire.  The Phase III development doubles the existing space to 3,000 sq ft, includes a Category 2 microbiology laboratory and allows more innovative diagnostics companies to undertake research there.  DiagnOx provides offices and shared laboratory and equipment facilities where diagnostics researchers, or companies developing medical diagnostic products, can undertake prototyping and proof of concept work.  This expansion was made possible by a grant from the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA). The launch event was attended by representatives from Oxford Innovation, who manage the DiagnOx Laboratory, Cherwell District Council, companies in the diagnostics sector, including users of the laboratory, academics and sponsors.  Welcomed by Dr David Kingham, Chief Operating Officer of Oxford Innovation, the invited guests then enjoyed a presentation by Mr Cellan-Jones on The importance of innovation, technology and entrepreneurs to the future of the UK, and were given a user’s view of the labs by Dr Stuart Robinson of PepTcell.  Keith Watson, Chief Executive of the North Oxfordshire Consortium, also provided the opportunity to tour the unique, historic site of Heyford Park. Lisa Mynheer, DiagnOx Director, said: “The DiagnOx Lab offers a unique environment for the cost effective progression of early stage technologies closer towards products and services that may lead to improved healthcare.  Entrepreneurs can access expertise - business, technical, regulatory - as well as laboratory facilities and equipment in this mentored and managed facility.  An added advantage is the business to business benefits that have resulted from interactions between the users of the facility.”  Current tenants of the laboratory agree that the service is extremely valuable.  PepTcell is a biotechnology company focused on applying its breakthrough technology to the development of a new class of vaccines - T-cell vaccines - against highly mutagenic viruses. Dr Stuart Robinson, Head of Business Development at PepTCell, said: “The advantage of the DiagnOx laboratory for PepTcell is that it allows us to access first class laboratory facilities without the need for substantial capital expenditure and start up costs.  This means our scientists can concentrate on carrying out our research programmes without any delay.  It also gives us the flexibility to adapt our requirements as our company grows.” Located alongside PepTcell in the DiagnOx Laboratory are eight otherinnovative companies: BizEsp, Diamatrix, EvanesCo Medical, Macro-Conex, Ocuity, ProKyma Technologies, SmartSensor telemed and UroSens, with a further company, Microbial Solutions, set to take up residence in mid-October.  These companies, and other associates or former tenants, were given the opportunity to display and talk about their work to guests at the launch event.   Keith Watson, Chief Executive of the North Oxfordshire Consortium (NOC), made up of UK leading housebuilders Taylor Wimpey and Persimmon, said: “The NOC - owners and operators of Heyford Park - and have been working with Oxford Innovation over the last 10 years to create the largest centre of its kind in the county.  Oxford Innovation spotted a niche in the market and has made the most of the opportunity it created, resulting in the success we see today. “The NOC has recently submitted plans to Cherwell District Council to create a long lasting residential and commercial community at Heyford Park and this involves larger space for companies at the Centre, supporting them as they continue to grow.”  Mr Watson added: “Special thanks should go to Lisa Mynheer and Maureen Peters from Oxford Innovation for all their hard work in turning an idea into a successful enterprise.” The event was sponsored by NOC, the Innovation Advisory Service and the South East Health Technologies Alliance.  The IAS and SEHTA, along with Oxfordshire Enterprise Hub, are among the organisations who provide support to companies using the DiagnOx Laboratory. | Date: 15/10/2007 &news_uid=117 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=117 Story: The Plastic Electronics Technology Centre (PETeC) website has been launched. Visit: www.ukpetec.com  PETeC is a national prototyping institute for the development and commercialisation of printed electronics. Customers of the centre will be able to test design concepts and novel materials for a variety of products including Thin Film Transistors (TFT) for flexible displays including E-paper, Organic Photovoltaic cells (OPVs) and Solid State Lighting (SSL) applications.Cenamps, a UK based centre for emerging small-scale technologies, in collaboration with the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) is managing and delivering the PETeC project and has gathered the funds to build and operate the Centre from regional, national and European sources, including contributions from the Department of Trade and Industry and the European Union. €14million is being invested in the first phase of PETeC, which has already lined up several European based companies that will utilise the Centre to test and develop their new organic electronic prototypes. PETeC is an ideal facility for start-ups and larger manufacturing companies to get prototype production up and running. The Centre’s in-house staff and access to state-of-the-art printers and coating machines will be able to improve first generation products more efficiently for the Centre’s customers. Procurement of equipment is already underway for printing conductive inks, metallised circuits and novel barrier layers onto flexible substrates and further R&D programmes for new customers will be introduced in the coming months. The Centre is expected to open in July 2008, bringing together the right balance of skills and equipment to support the burgeoning plastic electronics industry in the UK and draw in customers on a global scale. For further information Click Here | Date: 08/10/2007 &news_uid=112 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=112 Story: The IET (Institution of Engineering and Technology) has pioneered a ground breaking web streaming solution that enables academia and corporate R&D organisations to share cutting edge research for free, heralding a new age in web based learning. The IET.tv research channel initiative, which is available to any research organisations across the UK and overseas, provides users with the ability to create live and on-demand video presentations that can be uploaded on to the internet and distributed to a global audience.  Through the Research Seminar channel organisations can stream research updates, documentaries, seminars, conferences and lectures.  The IET provides all the necessary tools, resources and training to enable simple, cost-effective delivery.  Dr. Lee Gillam of the Department of Computing at the University of Surrey said: “The IET.tv research channel enables Universities like Surrey to engage with much wider audiences than would be reached through a traditional presentations.”“While, we are becoming used to receiving digital content, such as podcasts, from mainstream broadcasters, IET.tv offers the opportunity for research groups within Universities to become content producers. This has significant potential for extending the dissemination and potential impact of research activities. “Within a relatively short time, we were uploading our fully-digital presentation and providing supporting information and resources using the IET.tv system… Distances and time-zones are general difficulties in international collaboration; IET.tv can bring researchers just that bit closer together.” The technology enables users to host their own webcast with video footage synchronised to any media e.g. PowerPoint slides, Flash or Excel spreadsheets, allowing viewers to see the slides transition as the speaker changes them. An additional feature is the distribution of the video and synchronised media across a timeline, which allows the viewer to fast-forward or re-wind to any point in time within the presentation, offering an enhanced user experience. Viewers who tune in to a live webcast can put forward their views via the Q&A  forum facility and interact with other viewers and the speaker. Robin McGill, Chief Executive of the IET said: “The IET is committed to raising the profile of science, engineering and technology to society and sharing the latest technological advances. The IET’s Research Seminar channel on IET.tv opens up a variety of opportunities for the research community and broadens the platform and networks to which they can push their findings out to.” To request further information Click Here | Date: 08/10/2007 &news_uid=109 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=109 Story: The Innovation Advisory Service South East (IASSE), the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and the Centre of Excellence in Metrology for Micro and Nano Technologies (CEMMNT) recently hosted a one-day meeting for  both large and small companies involved with micro and nano technologies and all related sectors. Due to high demand from participants, the slides from the day are now available below: Open Innovation - What is it? - Glynn Colebroke IAS Click Here Accelerating Innovaion Through Micro and Nanoscale Measurements and Characterisation - Drew Murray CEMENT Click Here MNT Nano-Metrology Technology Roadmap Click Here A European Perspective on Micro and Nano Systems Click Here Open Innovation: Road Mapping Summary Click Here NPL Measurement for Innovators Programme Click Here European MNT Initiatives - Huw Edwards IAS Click Here If you have any further question regarding this event or any other IAS event please contact the Inovation Advisory Service (IAS) at info@iasse.co.uk | Date: 26/09/2007 &news_uid=106 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=106 Story: BBC News Technology Correspondent, Rory Cellan-Jones, is to open the new facilities at the DiagnOx Laboratory on 11 October 2007. The new labs, funded by a grant from the South East England Development Agency, represent a doubling of available space. Notable new features include a Category 2 Microbiology laboratory, and further space for new companies to enter the unique DiagnOx environment. The DiagnOx Laboratory was established in 2003 to support researchers who need to develop prototypes, or for companies with medical diagnostics products that have commercial potential. The costs of setting up laboratories for this kind of work are prohibitive to most early-stage ventures. The DiagnOx Lab was designed so that researchers could rent bench space to gain access to a wide range of specialist equipment, a managed and quality controlled lab environment, and a suite of tailored support services. The opening on 11 October will provide an opportunity for specially invited guests to tour the new facilities located within the DiagnOx Lab at Cherwell Innovation Centre, and the wider site of Heyford Park. This will include a rare glimpse of the RAF Upper Heyford Base Museum. Past, present and future tenants of DiagnOx will be displaying and discussing their work, and guests will hear from Mr Cellan-Jones about The importance of innovation, technology and entrepreneurs to the future of the UK. For further information about DiagnOx, or to enquire about laboratory space, please see www.diagnox.co.uk or contact Maureen Peters, Lab Manager, on 01869 238000. | Date: 28/09/2007 &news_uid=101 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=101 Story: The SEAS DTC announces that it welcomes proposals for new research projects in specific area of work  linked to the DTC's Mission Planning and Decision-making research theme. Successful proposals may lead to precursor studies during the latter part of the DTC's third year of operation (up to January 2008), to be followed, if promising outcomes are obtained, by more substantive projects in the DTC’s fourth year of operation (from February 2008). A further, wider call is planned for early in the fourth year.The closing date for proposals arising from this call is 21 September 2007. For further information Click Here | Date: 30/08/2007 &news_uid=100 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=100 Story: Through acquisition, Siemens is set to become the second largest company (after Roche) in the $30bn clinical laboratory test market.  Over the last year a number of Global companies have recognized the importance of diagnostics to health outcomes and invested heavily in established technologies and areas of innovation for blood tests that diagnose, monitor and predict human disease.( others include Phillips, P&G, Inverness Medical, GE and other electronics and telecoms companies). A strong signal of the strength of their confidence in the future of the market is the divestment of some crown jewels to fund the change e.g. motor products for Siemens and semiconductors for Philips. When some had been marveling a the digestive capacity of an organisation that is merging Diagnostics Products Corporation and Bayer Diagnostics into a new giant in the regulated blood test market , Siemens recently struck again.   The German company has just announced the acquisition of a third major player in diagnostics; Dade Behring.  The first acquisitions brought in platform technologies associated with testing for proteins and DNA for hormones, cancer, infectious diseases and allergies. The Dade Behring purchase brings in biomarkers for clinical chemistry which includes liver function tests and glucose. The diagnostics industry is undergoing a major shake up as large Pharma parents like Bayer and Abbott have decided to focus on the increasing challenge of drug pipeline productivity and let the commodity priced laboratory diagnostics products go. This commodity pricing had caused problems for Dade Behring which has been recovering from chapter 11 (bankruptcy)  protection in the USA.  Far from signaling a downturn, these changes are demonstrating the strategic importance of diagnostics in healthcare. Significantly, Dade Behring’s recent recovery had been built on success in systems that allowed tests to be performed nearer the bedside. By cutting out the need to transport samples to the laboratory these point of care tests can make a big difference to the outcome for the patient e.g. critical care for heart attack victims.  This market segment is growing rapidly with margins that are a lot more interesting, something which doubtless went into the analysis for Siemens and something that is attracting VCs back into the game. Whilst Siemens has surged ahead  to take a 14% market share , GE has had a more disappointing time as its proposed acquisition of Abbott Diagnostics failed to proceed. This leaves relatively few large acquisition target to bring GE to parity; the subject of much speculation in the industry.  If GE needed reminding of the strategic value of this part of healthcare they need look no further than a third major competitor in imaging; Philips.  Operating though its innovation ecosystem centred on Eindhoven, the Dutch giant is on a pathway to develop and deliver diagnostics at the point of care and in the patient’s home. The Innovation Advisory Service has consultants with extensive experience of new product delivery in this and other markets and connections with Open Innovation programs for a range of global players. Call 0800 288 8807 to find out more | Date: 28/08/2007 &news_uid=99 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=99 Story: A new Measurement for Innovators (MfI) programme has been contracted with the National Physical Laboratory (NPL). It will run up until December 2008 and has a budget of £4.5 million. As with the previous MfI programme, the objective is to support innovation in UK companies through the use of measurement knowledge. It is a great opportunity for companies to develop closer relationships with the key National Measurement System (NMS) laboratories. Along with NPL the National Engineering laboratory (NEL), the Laboratory of the Government Chemist (LGC) and the National Weights and Measures Laboratory NWML are all partners in the delivery of the MFI programme. The three key MfI products are: Secondments - This covers people transfer to/from NPL to industry and other organisations to examine and help solve measurement problems. Depending on the exact nature of the secondment various contributions can be made to time, travel, subsistence and mentoring. Consultancies -  Up to 4 days free advice for Small to Medium Enterprises (SME) or Trade Associations is supported to help solve measurement problems. The consultancy must be on a specific product or service and involve time spent with the company giving them advice. (note an SME is a company with less than 250 employees and a turnover of less than 50 million euros.) Joint Industry Projects - This supports a collaborative partnership of companies, which together with one of the NMS labs set out to work on a measurement issue. The MfI scheme enables the DTI to match industry funding (in-kind with a small proportion of cash) up to a value of 50%. The funding for this product is competitive and only projects that score above a certain threshold will be funded. The application process for these products is relatively simple assuming you meet the criterion. Also note that for all these activities the application has to come internally from an NMS laboratory. For more details contact IAS advisor Peter Haycocks p.haycocks@iasse.co.uk or look at the website www.npl.co.uk/measurement_for_innovators.  | Date: 24/08/2007 &news_uid=98 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=98 Story: A recent report in a US publication “IVD technology” suggests there is a positive outlook for IVD companies seeking venture capital.   Over the last 10 years IVDs were seen as a poor relation to pharma and biotechnology with their hot prospects for high returns.  Devices and diagnostics achieved relatively poor returns and in the USA there were issues over reimbursement (coverage and payment) by insurers.  The appetite for IVDs is changing driven by the following aspects:- “Diagnostics represents less than 5% of healthcare spending but drives about 75% of costs”. http://www.devicelink.com/ivdt/archive/07/07/002.html The drug / Biotec model absorbs $200 plus million whereas an IVD can take less than $4 million to get to market. Diagnostics can be a less expensive investment and yield a more timely return (Drug development from the start of clinicals (Phase 1) may take 10 years.  IVD from start to finish will take less than 5 years). The returns on IVDs, whilst not at 10 fold are increasing and 3 to 5 fold returns are possible. IVD profitability is increasing. This is driven by as positive health outcomes AND contained healthcare costs from innovative products. (Margins of 70% are increasingly achievable) Investor concerns about re-imbursement are allayed in the USA as patients are increasingly aware of the benefits and are prepared to co-pay for diagnostics. Outside of the USA the case for healthcare cost containment is even stronger (driven by NICE in the UK and DAHTA in Germany( Other stakeholders are showing confidence in this sector.  E.g. In terms of supply we know that SMEs represent an increasing innovation engine in all sectors.  However, the health sector has a particularly vibrant SME activity as the worried (and increasingly aging) well have a pool of unmet or unsatisfied needs.   We also know of major structural changes in the diagnostics industry as Pharma has started to divest its diagnostics business to focus on the pain of drug development whilst electronics/ health imaging and consumer companies are in acquisition mode. In the case of the former, the strategic value of diagnostics whether by in vivo imaging or IVDs is understood and the latter recognises the increasing consumerisation of healthcare. | Date: 24/08/2007 &news_uid=91 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=91 Story: A budget of 40 M euros has been allocated by the EU to projects on Critical Infrastructure Protection.  Consortia are invited to put forward proposals by the deadline of 29 November 2007 which address the topics of: securing information infrastructures that link critical infrastructuresrisk assessment and contingency planning for interconnected transport or energy networksmodelling and simulation for trainingintelligent surveillance of interconnected transport or energy infrastructuresICT support for first responders in crises occurring in critical infrastructures For details see http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/index.cfm?fuseaction=UserSite.CooperationDetailsCallPage&call_id=70 If you want further advice, contact the IAS. | Date: 07/08/2007 &news_uid=89 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=89 Story: The third Annual Survey of Knowledge Transfer Activities in Public Sector Research Establishments (PSREs), which measures the contribution of research occurring in public sector organisations, has been published. The report can be downloaded from this location. | Date: 23/07/2007 &news_uid=88 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=88 Story: You might find a recent In Business programme on BBC Radio 4 about Innovation around the world interesting:http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/news/inbusiness/inbusiness_20070621.shtml | Date: 21/06/2007 &news_uid=87 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=87 Story: A part of the EU's research programme provides grants to enable SMEs to undertake research projects with substantial aid from the EU.  Qualifying projects require participants from the following categories: SME participants (those buying the research): At least three independent SMEs, established in three different Member States or associated countries.RTD performers (those selling the research): At least two RTD performers which must be independent from any other participant and which can come from any country. Examples of RTD performers are universities, research organisations and industrial companies, including research performing SMEs. For more infromation you can read the brief guide from the EU Research for SMEs or contact the IAS. | Date: 29/06/2007 &news_uid=86 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=86 Story: Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling announced the appointment of eleven board members for the new Technology Strategy Board. The Technology Strategy Board, currently a DTI advisory body, will become operational as an executive non-departmental public body from 1 July 2007. The newly-appointed board members are Graeme Armstrong, Nick Buckland, John Brown, Joeseph Feckzo, Anne Glover, David Grant, Jonathan Kestenbaum, Julia King, Andrew Milligan, Jeremy Watson and Peter Ringrose. Five of the eleven were Board members of the advisory Technology Strategy Board who have been appointed to serve on the new body and will serve for two years from 21 June 2007. Of the other six, five will serve for three years and one for two years from 21 June 2007. The announcement follows the earlier appointment of Graham Spittle, previously Chair of the advisory Technology Strategy Board, as Chair of the new body for ones year with effect from 1 June 2007. Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Alistair Darling, said: " These appointments provide an extremely strong foundation for the new Technology Strategy Board to fulfil its role to promote research, development and exploitation of technology and innovation for the benefit of the UK economy." Graham Spittle said: "the new Technology Strategy Board represents an exciting opportunity to really transform the technology and innovation landscape in the UK to help business compete globally. Technology and innovation are vital for future economic prosperity and for overcoming some of the major challenges facing society. Building on the work of the Board over the past two and a half years, the new Technology Strategy Board has a key leadership role to play in bringing together Government and business to make a difference." | Date: 25/06/2007 &news_uid=85 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=85 Story: Throughout the life of the IAS programme, companies have asked for assistance with grant funding for research and development.  The IAS provides support on a portfolio of funding sources including the European Union’s Framework programme.  At the end of last year the European Union set aside a budget equivalent to about £30 billion for the 7th Framework Programme.  Just before New Year 2006 the first calls for proposals were announced and the first evaluations of project bids have recently taken place.  What have we learnt?  It was clear from the outset that the updated funding and participation rules were designed to be attractive to European SMEs by offering 75% funding as opposed to 50% funding in the 6th Framework programme.  However, the restructuring of evaluation criteria from six to three appears to have made bid assessment a blunter instrument; less able to separate an excellent bid from the run of the mill.  For example by linking the evaluation criteria such as potential impact of projects, which is generally a figment of the proposers imagination; with the practical measures to deliver impact, such as dissemination and exploitation plans; means that fanciful claims and practical project delivery become mixed.  It is extremely difficult for an evaluation to distinguish well written fantasy from sound business steps designed to make a project count, for the participants and in a wider European context.  The evaluators themselves, experts drawn from across the European Union, are both better and worse that previously.  The evaluation process has run for many years and is well established, with many highly experienced evaluators able to run a fair and efficient process.  On the other hand there has been significant expansion of the Union and members of evaluation panels are now drawn from Latvia, Poland, Slovenia and Malta, to name but a few.  All come to do a good job and all come to contribute to the process, but the wider cultural mix has an impact creating more opportunity for conflict, disagreement and dissent.   One should not criticise colleagues for holding different views but in operational terms for most proposals where there are strong dissenting views, the projects in question suffer in the evaluation process and are scored lower.  The composition of the panels of evaluators can thus have a significant influence on success or failure.  The Commission make an excellent job of ensuring that panels contain appropriate mixes of expertise, industry, academia, the public sector etc., but take little account of evaluators drawn from confrontational cultures, versus consensus cultures; nor do they balance those subscribing to the “social model” with the “entrepreneurial model”.  A final tale from the front: there seems to be a problem in asking evaluators to assess bids under more than one European Commission scheme.  The Framework has different mechanisms for funding R&D, if evaluators, even experienced and highly qualified ones, are asked to evaluate two or three mechanisms simultaneously then their ability to apply Commission evaluation criteria appears to be lost, resulting in rather arbitrary decisions.  In the final analysis, FP7 is suffering a few teething problems.  The European Commission has always been evolutionary rather than revolutionary so that we can expect to see many of the glitches in the FP7 processes to be ironed out over time.  Evaluators will learn and the process will become smoother in the coming years.  The three criterion assessment approach is likely to remain problematic.  Proposal writers will have to be equally adept at fact and fiction when preparing bids. Bids will need to achieve the docu-drama trick of merging fact with fiction in a seamless way. The IAS team will continue to monitor the development of FP7.  There are great opportunities for large and small companies, to develop technology, explore new markets and establish new business contacts with the support of Commission funds.  Changes in the Framework Programme are usually instituted to address perceived problems, unfortunately changes can have unforeseen consequences, as we have seen.  Understanding this shifting landscape is our business and is part of the IAS role in enabling open innovation. If you would like to speak to an advisor about FP7 please contact enquiries@iasse.co.uk | Date: 19/06/2007 &news_uid=83 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=83 Story: A new S&T strategy for UK Security and Resilience published by the Home Office on 12 June and announced at the RUSI Conference: http://security.homeoffice.gov.uk/news-publications/news-speeches/science-strategy | Date: 14/06/2007 &news_uid=82 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=82 Story: This one-day meeting brought together experts and practitioners in built environment technology as well as business support organisations and industry networks. Split into three sections the day : Discussed recent technology roadmaps, Looked at emerging regulation and energy efficiency driversShowcased examples of innovation in the built environment. Fundamental in achieving a future sustainable infrastructure will be industries ability to innovate effectively. The day was supported by Innovation Advisory Service. Modern Built Environment KTNImperial CollegeNational Physical LaboratoryBSRIABuilding ScienceSEEDA GrowMerton Borough Council This event was free of charge to attend and refreshments were provided throughout the day. | Date: 28/06/2007 &news_uid=78 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=78 Story: As part of the IAS’ commitment to Open Innovation we have been listening to some of our large company clients' needs. Below is a list of problems in antimicrobial protection solutions to which these companies are looking for. 1. Sterilization – Low –temperature sterilization/high level disinfection to replace ethylene oxide or glutaraldehyde 2. Removal/destruction of spores from skin tissue 3. High level disinfectant – Non-corrosive disinfectant that kills spores in | Date: 21/05/2007 &news_uid=71 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=71 Story: The winner of the individual and small business award­ is Oxsensis based in Didcot, Oxfordshire. Oxsensis develop simultaneous temperature and pressure sensors to help control combustion which has the effect of improving the efficiency of cars, planes and power stations. The company is currently working with Rolls-Royce and Siemens on programmes and has attracted interest from further afield in the motor industry. | Date: 01/01/1970 &news_uid=64 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=64 Story: Queen's Awards for Enterprise: Innovation 2007 The Queen's Awards for Innovation 2007 are recogition of company innovation. Ten companies in the South East have received the Queen's Award for Enterprise: Innovation 2007 Air Products PLC, Packaged Gases Group, Basingstoke, Hampshire for Integra-Maxx gases and cylinders for welding and cutting.Charity Financial Services, West Malling, Kent for charitable/financial services to the voluntary sector focusing on small and medium sized charities.De La Rue Currency, Basingstoke, Hampshire for StarChromeTM wide windowed optically variable banknote security threadFlavorActiV Limited, Chinnor, Oxfordshire for Taster Validation Scheme to assess and track beer tasters' competencies within breweries.Medi TravelCover Ltd t/a InsureCancer, Farnham, Surrey for pioneering insurance undewriting innovation for those affected by cancer.Oxford Instruments Nanoanalysis, High Wycombe, for 'INCADryCool' radical innovation in cooling technology for high performance x-ray detectorsQRG Limited t/a Quantum Research Group, Southampton, Hampshire for electronic touch sensor chips and technology licensing for control surfaces of consumer electronic productsSnell & Wilcox Ltd, Havant, Hampshire for Kahuna Multiformat SD/HD production switcherTacktick Ltd, Emsworth, Hampshire for 'Micronet' wireless marine electronicsUPM Machinery Sales Ltd, Langley, Slough, Berkshire for removal of moisture from hygroscopic materials using Infrared Rotary Drum. | Date: 21/04/2007 &news_uid=63 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=63 Story: The US Dept of Commerce is seeking public input on ways to measure innovation in the economy. The public comments will support the work of the Measuring Innovation in the 21st Century Advisory Committee, established last year to provide recommendations on how to measure innovation and its impact on the US economy. The CEOs of 3M, IBM and Microsoft are among the members of the committee. For more information please visit: www.innovationmetrics.gov/index.cfm | Date: 18/04/2007 &news_uid=56 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=56 Story: The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)has awarded over £2 million to 8 different research projects focusing on innovation. The primary objective of the initiative is to promote and support world-class theoretical, empirical, policy- and practice-oriented research in innovation. The following key issues will be addressed through the various projects: * How can the rate of innovation be increased to enhance economic growth and competitiveness, while the direction of innovation simultaneously steered to achieve social and environmental sustainability? * What are the options for public policy at different levels to increase innovation and steer towards such policy objectives? * What economic, social and managerial factors enable an economy such as the UK to best capture high value from increasingly global innovation processes? * How is it best to model and measure emerfgent innovation activities and systems? The initiative also aims to: * support significant conceptual, theoretical and methodological developments; * provide insights of practical and policy relevance through high quality independent research on selected topics; * have a strong international dimension * engage with a wide range of research users; * promote cross-disciplinary research and approaches; * exploit existing data and widen the scope for new data collection; * complement and work in partnership with other research initiatives in the field. Professor Andy Neely, AIM Deputy Director comments: "AIM is pleased to be supporting such talented scholars, each with the skills necessary for ensuring the success of this initiative; both in the UK and internationally". These targeted projects have been commissioned alongside the Advanced Institute of Management Research (AIM) Innovation Fellowships; AIM will provide the infrastructure to ensure that there is effective academic interchange between the projects and fellowship. AIM will also be responsible for the overall dissemination of research results from both Projects and Fellows. | Date: 03/04/2007 &news_uid=53 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=53 Story: The Technology Programme Spring 2007 Collaborative R&D Competition has recently been opened. £100 million, which includes £10 million to be provided by Research Councils for projects with a high quality academic component, will support projects under a variety of technical themes. The call in SMART, BIOACTIVE and NANOSTRUCTURED MATERIALS FOR HEALTH - encapsulations for sensors, energy harvesting, smart implants for diagnosis, monitoring and therapy, including microsystems and fully implantable telemetry systems capable of self-reporting.  Â£7 million is available for projects that will bring together advances in areas such as materials science, nanotechnology, chemistry and microelectronics with surgical and clinical sciences to develop novel and improved materials, surfaces and interfaces for healthcare applications. Further information may be found in the official information leaflet: http://www.technologyprogramme.org.uk/extranet/competitions/Spring07/documents/PriorityDescriptions/SmartBioactiveNanostructure.pdf Typical projects are likely to have a 2-3 year duration, and require support of around £500k -£2m, generally aiming to implement significant business change in a 5-7 year time frame. Projects can range from small, highly focused basic research aimed at establishing technical feasibility, through to applied research, and to experimental development projects. It is anticipated that most of the funding will be allocated to proposals in the Applied R&D (attracting 50% public funding) or experimental development (25% public funding) categories. Projects involving industry orientated basic research (75% public funding) will also be considered. The Health Technologies KTN will be pleased to offer support to projects announced by the Technology Programme relating to Health Technologies. Please contact the helpdesk@healthtechktn.com to pursue this option. IMPORTANT DATES: * Registration of Intention to submit an application: 11 June 07 * Submission of Outline Academic Partner Finance Forms: 14 June 07 * Submission of Outline Application Forms and Outline Industry Partner Finance Forms: 18 June 07 * Full stage opens: 16 July 07 * Submission of full stage applications: 11 September 07 * Decision and feedback to applicants: during October 07 For further details on how to register and apply, please visit: http://www.dti.gov.uk/innovation/technologystrategy/index.html | Date: 04/04/2007 &news_uid=52 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=52 Story: The IAS Open Innovation Programmes talks about Colonisers vs Consolidators developing new markets in the following stages: 1. Technology activity but no clear product direction 2. Products crystallise from the emerging technology 3. New markets identified with multiple colonisers 4. Dominant designs emerge in each market 5. Early colonisers sidelined by dominant designs 6. Shakeout and consolidation 7. Consolidators dominate the maturing markets The current wave of interest in alternatives to fossil fuels as energy sources has generated hundreds of different companies developing competing technologies in wind, wave, bio-mass, solar, ground source heat systems etc. Many of these new ideas have been around for some time (stage2) but only now has a market appeared to fuel the move of the ideas to stage 3. The logical progression is for dominant designs to appear and for the existing power companies to take control of them with a few new ones emerging to challenge the existing order. | Date: 10/04/2007 &news_uid=49 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=49 Story: Defence diversersification agency to close The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence Mr. Adam Ingram announced that With effect from 1 April 2007, the Defence Procurement Agency (DPA), the British Forces Post Office (BFPO), the Defence Communication Services Agency (DCSA), the Disposal Services Agency (DSA), Defence Estates (DE), the Defence Bills Agency (DBA) and the Duke of York's Royal Military School (DYRMS) cease to hold agency status. It has also been decided that the Defence Diversification Agency (DDA) should be closed later this year. Given that many of the reasons for making these organisations agencies are now embedded in the wider department, particularly for those that are also Top Level Budgets, agency status now adds little value. Richard Hall of the IAS says on the release of this news " The technology transfer work done by the Defence Diversification Agency has now been integrated into the day to day operation of the MoD's Defence Procurement Agency and the Research Acquisition Organisation. This, together with the IPO of a large part of government defence science as Qinetiq, has reduced the need for a separate agency resulting in this agency closure. Recent MoD initiatives to engage with innovative smaller companies include the: RAO's Competition of Ideas http://www.ideas.mod.uk/MoD Grand Challenge http://www.challenge.mod.uk/ Many of the ideas developed by the DDA have positively influenced these initiatives." | Date: 12/04/2007 &news_uid=38 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=38 Story: "Today, the Technology Strategy Board will allocate £100 million for Collaborative R&D, bringing business and the research community together to work on user driven R&D from which new products, processes and services emerge." Budget 21 March 2007 For further details see: Spring 2007 Competition | Date: 22/03/2007 &news_uid=34 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=34 Story: A more generous tax credit for research and development spending will be worth an extra £100 million a year to industry, the chancellor said. The R&D tax credit rate will rise from 150 per cent to 175 per cent for small companies and from 125 per cent to 130 per cent for large companies from April 2008. At the same time the size of the company that can benefit from the top rate of R&D will double from 250 to 500 employees. Richard Lambert, director-general of the Confederation of British Industry, called the extension of the R&D tax credit "an important incentive for companies to invest in innovation and locate in the UK". He said that raising the rate for small companies would "significantly increase the volume of their credit, reducing their R&D costs by 15 per cent". | Date: 22/03/2007 &news_uid=24 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=24 Story: On 16th January 200 the Innovation Advisory Service held an Open Innovation workshop at 3M in Bracknell. Open Innovation is simply the idea that companies, by looking outside their boundaries  can gain better access to ideas, knowledge and technology than they would have if they relied solely on their own internal resources. As the same time they can open up new external markets for their own intellectual property. This workshop helped delegates explore the ideas behind Open Innovation - and also offered practical guidance about how it could work for their company. It was particularly aimed at senior management and those tasked with enhancing innovation in their organisation. The day included interactive sessions run by experts from the IAS and SQW Ltd and the opportunity to hear how the hosts, 3M, place innovation at the heart of their business. Workshop materials and refreshments were provided with networking opportunities built into the day. There was no charge for delegates to attend this event. To register for future events or request further details pleasr e-mail events@iasse.co.uk with your name, position, company and contact details. | Date: 16/01/2007 &news_uid=21 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=21 Story: Richard Hall and Peter Haycocks of the Innovation Advisory Service are delighted to be attending the launch of the Medway Innovation Centre on 21st March. The MIC is an incubator for hi-tech small business and start-ups supported by Medway Council and BAE Systems as part of its innovation strategy. The facility is based within BAE Systems at Rochester, Kent. The Centre is also supported by the University of Kent, the University of Greenwich and the Royal Bank of Scotland. | Date: 21/03/2007 &news_uid=18 http://www.iasse.co.uk/index.php?id=52&uid=18 Story: NESTA lays down first challenge for innovation in health: Focusing on health, the first Challenge aims to identify and develop solutions to issues around chronic disease management, mental health, and ageing. The Challenge programme | Date: 08/03/2007