Each day of WMTC during the lunch time period a series of 15 minute presentations took place in the exhibition areas giving an insight into the latest research and development initiatives, cutting edge technologies and a little ‘off the wall’ thinking.
| Chairman - Dr John Chudley, Director of Research and Innovation, University of Plymouth chairs the Innovation Hour at WMTC 2006 |
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The Chairman’s views prior to the conference:
Dr John Chudley quotes from ‘ The Science and Innovation Investment Framework 2004-2014’¹ to define the current UK knowledge transfer strategy in order to define the area he sees as a challenge:
“Harnessing innovation in Britain is key to improving the country’s future wealth creation prospects…. [Britain] must invest more strongly than in the past in its knowledge base, and translate this knowledge more effectively into business and public service innovation. (para 1.1) Securing the growth and continued excellence of the UK’s public science and research base will provide the platform for successful innovation by business and public services (para 1.19)”
“The opportunity to facilitate lively debate at WMTC on a particular concept will assist with the development of initiatives and encourage entrepreneurial thinking,” he explains. “Innovation leads to wealth creation. As well as being exciting and fun! The Innovation Hour will feature fast, fun presentations to encourage lively debate through like minded entrepreneurs.”
John Chudley is responsible for the setting up and development, through the merger of Enterprise and Research Support offices, of an integrated office responsible for pro-active support to academic staff in identifying and securing commercial and non-commercial research funding; for protecting and exploiting intellectual property; and for maximising the University’s collaborative links with both the regional, national and international industrial/commercial community. He explains: “Since it is impossible to separate research areas which may or may not prove to have commercial potential or to be centres of excellence in all areas, a key task of this organisation will be to bring together the research and business strategies in focussed areas.”
¹HM Treasury, DTI, Department for Education and Skills Science and Innovation Investment Framework 2004-2014; HMSO: London, 2004.
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