Research and Development

Thursday 18th November 2010, Guoman Charing Cross Hotel - London, 09:00 - 16:00

Research and Development 2010: Delivering Our Future Prosperity

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Overview

Research and development within higher education is crucial to Britain’s economic success. Despite recent funding cuts placing financial constraints on further and higher education institutions, it is more important than ever for the UK economy, that universities and business work together on future research and development.

The importance of science and research is recongnised in the government's Comprehensive Spending Review. The government will continue its support for the highest value scientific research, maintaining the science budget in cash terms over the Spending Review period with resource spending of £4.6 billion a year by 2014-15

The most recent estimate is that UK universities’ economic output is £59 billion a year, and amounts to 2.3 per cent of UK GDP. In a knowledge economy, universities are the most important mechanism we have for generating and preserving, disseminating, and transforming knowledge into wider social and economic benefits. Nearly £600 million has been invested in the Higher Education Innovation Fund since 2001 to support university spin-outs, generating an estimated £3 billion to £4 billion in value.

Sir James Dyson’s review (March 2010), commissioned by Prime Minister David Cameron, highlighted the need to establish joint university-business research and development institutes, initiating a multi-year science and research budget to provide a stable investment climate for Research Councils, and reforming research and development tax credits with a focus on hi-tech companies, small businesses and new start-ups.

Research and development is a priority for the coalition government. In ‘The Coalition: our programme for government’ the government stated that our universities are essential for building a strong and innovative economy and will take action to foster stronger links between universities, colleges and industries. Furthermore, Business Secretary Vince Cable made clear in his speech in June 2010 the importance of maximising the economic benefits of our science and research..

Agenda

This timely conference will offer delegates the opportunity to discuss and examine how universities and business can work together to transform knowledge into economic growth.

09:00	Registration and Coffee
09:40	Chair's Welcome Address Dr Alun Tlusty-Sheen MInstKT, Director, Research and Enterprise Services, University of Westminster (CONFIRMED)
09:45	Government's Role in Raising the UK's Innovation Performance Business and higher education collaborative investment in UK R&D Establishing the right incentives and systems to encourage and support innovation by business The IP system: its role in capturing value, management and exploitation by UK businesses. Steps to further strengthen incentives and support for the creation and commercial exploitation of knowledge by businesses Funding incentives to innovate: UK's R&D Tax Credits system The development of University Enterprise Networks John Alty, Chief Executive and Comptroller General, Intellectual Property Office (CONFIRMED)
10:05	Science and Innovation: Ensuring our Future Prosperity Impact through inspiration and innovation Commercialising the output of our science and research base Delivering world-leading exploitation of space systems for managing our changing planet Capitalising on our space manufacturing, services and applications success which is forecast to be worth at least £400 billion by 2030 20-year strategy to grow the UK’s share from 6 per cent to 10 per cent of the space manufacturing and applications market Science and Innovation Campuses: collaboration and knowledge exchange with industry and academic researchers Translating scientific leads into leading positions in new industries Spin-out companies from the STFC’s Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Tim Bestwick, Chief Executive, STFC Innovations (CONFIRMED)
10:25	Strengthening our National Capabilities in Innovation and Technology Building an innovation economy Building capability in the underpinning areas that enable a sure and effective response to market needs Future of Technology and Innovation Centres £30 million in five new research and development competitions Incentives for UK business to drive technology-enabled innovation Investing in low carbon technologies Innovation platforms that address societal challenges to give business the future market definition they need to be competitive Future of knowledge transfer networks David Bott, Director of Innovation Programmes, Technology Strategy Board (CONFIRMED)
10:45	Sponsor Presentation: The Pharmaceutical Industry – Future Direction and Contribution to Driving Science and Innovation Challenges and opportunities New ways of working to drive innovation The value of knowledge exchange and partnerships Dr Aileen Allsop, Vice President R&D Science Policy, AstraZeneca (CONFIRMED)
11:05	Questions and Answers Session
11:30	Coffee and Networking
11:50	Special Keynote: Driving Economic Recovery through Higher Education and Business Collaboration What does business wants from higher education Increasing the number and quality of graduates and post-graduates with STEM qualifications as well as transferable ‘soft’ skills and business awareness useful in the workplace Promote broader and deeper business-university links (including SME-university links) across a wide spectrum of types of interaction How business and universities can best work together Professor Tim Wilson, Vice-Chancellor, University of Hertfordshire & Board Member, HEFCE (CONFIRMED)
12:10	Case Study: Translating Research into Marketable and Beneficial Products Imperial Innovations: protecting and maximising commercial opportunities arising from research at Imperial College Imperial Innovations and the technology transfer challenge Business development – Imperial’s interaction with industry Imperial business development team - driving the creation of strategic research collaborations Providing skilled technology-related services for industry through a network of highly specialised academic experts from Imperial College London Intellectual property sourcing Supporting spin out companies International market opportunities Tony Hickson, Managing Director Technology Transfer, Imperial Innovations (CONFIRMED)
12:30	Questions and Answers Session
12:45	Lunch and Networking
13:45	Innovation in Higher Education: Strengthening Enterprise and Business Engagement Engaging in enterprise activity with the region and beyond Maximising the impact and visibility of University based research Embracing research opportunities Securing future grant funding and engage with business Professor Kevin Schurer, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise, University of Leicester (CONFIRMED)
14:05	Attracting Inward Investment: Selling our Strengths Abroad Developing the understanding and support for the academic sector to help them fully exploit their commercial potential through international engagement. Encouraging university and industry collaboration and knowledge sharing Fostering R&D partnerships in the UK and internationally Nick Stuart, Independent Innovation Consultant (CONFIRMED)
14:25	Questions and Answers Session
14:50	Coffee and Networking
15:10	Commercialising the Output of Our Research Base Building strong relationships with University academics to encourage disclosure and cooperative management of the most promising innovations Closing the gap between universities and industry through a translational infrastructure Becoming an attractive partner for industry and investors Commercialisation for the benefit of society Impact of basic research Demonstrating commercial potential Case studies Dr Richard Jennings, Director of Technology Transfer, Cambridge Enterprise (CONFIRMED)
15:30	Questions and Answers Session & Discussion
15:45	Chair's Closing Remarks
16:00	Coffee and Networking

*programme subject to change without notice

Sponsor:

AstraZeneca

Audience

Delegates will include vice chancellors, pro vice chancellors, heads of strategy development, scientific advisers, directors of science and innovation, senior economic development manager, heads of knowledge transfer partnerships, directors of technology and engineering services, heads of public sector research institutions, head of science profession project, curriculum development professionals, directors and managers of enterprise and business development, heads of engineering, directors of trade and investment, inward investment directors/managers and be drawn from public central government departments and agencies, local authorities, research councils, research and development organisations, regional development agencies, science parks, businesses and employers, voluntary and community sectors and social enterprises and the private sector.

Research and Development

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Thursday 18th November 2010, Guoman Charing Cross Hotel - London, 09:00 - 16:00

Research and Development 2010: Delivering Our Future Prosperity

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