Innovation Archives - Page 19 of 19 - North East Local Enterprise Partnership

A high ranking team of top business, academic and civic talent has been unveiled by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership as the first Innovation Board for the North East. The board will support the LEP in driving innovation systems across the region to propel economic growth and investment.

The new board will be chaired by the North East LEP’s innovation champion Professor Roy Sandbach. The private sector is represented by Dr Alan Lowdon, Neil Hemming and Dr Peter Simpson, all of whom have established international reputations for innovative work in their fields.

They are joined by senior university figures, Professor Peter Fidler, University of Sunderland and North East LEP board member; Professor Nick Wright, Newcastle University; Dr Tim Hammond, Durham University and Prof George Marston, Northumbria University. Government agencies are represented by Innovate UK and Research Councils UK.

Two North East LEP board members from the business community, Gillian Hall, former senior partner of Watson Burton and Arnab Basu, CEO of Kromek, have also joined the high powered board. Mayor Norma Redfearn, North Tyneside and Cllr Iain Malcolm, Leader of South Tyneside Council will represent the North East Combined Authority.

The North East LEP’s innovation strategy is a key element of the regional Strategic Economic Plan for “more & better jobs”. The aim is to drive the region ahead as a global innovation eco-system, in which corporate organisations can find innovation solutions, and smaller businesses in every sector, including social enterprise, can grow quickly.

Progress is already being made. Five priority innovation-hub projects across the region secured over £26m investment from the government’s Local Growth Fund in July. A further investment of around £100 million, including European funding, has been allocated to the area for innovation initiatives that relate to the region’s areas of business strength or in the context of broad community need. The new Innovation Board will oversee dynamic and effective use of these investments.

The North East is also building a powerful national innovation profile. Recent announcements that the Space Satellite Catapult and the Digital Catapult will locate centres in the North East are linked to the innovation programme, and are just the start.

Prof Sandbach said: “We have created a hugely talented, nationally and internationally experienced board to drive innovation in the North East. It was important that we put the right people in place to help deliver the strategic leadership of this important focus on innovation for the region.

“Clearly, through this leadership group, we’ll need to engage, consult and collaborate broadly across many sectors. I’m absolutely convinced that we will be able to do this. I’m looking forward to working with the Board to achieve real innovation momentum for the North East.”

The new Innovation Board’s members, who have been appointed for an initial two-year period by the enterprise partnership’s board, will direct and oversee the region’s innovation strategy. Members, who are unpaid, will meet up to four times a year, with the first meeting on December 1.

North East LEP chair Paul Woolston said: “The newly formed Innovation Board is a fundamental part of driving forward a new era in North East innovation and ultimately delivering more and better jobs for the North East. The appointment of board members allows us to push ahead with our innovation strategy.

“The members we have recruited will help the North East to engage on a regional, national and global level with those businesses and agencies able to help us to achieve our ambitions of economic growth through innovation.”

The North East LEP is also close to appointing an executive Innovation Director to directly manage the programme, and expects to make an announcement in the near future.

For more information about the North East Local Enterprise Partnership Board Members, visit here.

A world-leading centre of excellence for hyperbaric testing will be built on the north bank of the River Tyne by Newcastle based engineering group British Engines and Newcastle University, with funding support from the North East Local Enterprise Partnership’s North East Investment Fund.

The Neptune Test Centre will be the first of its kind in the UK and will be the first commercial facility of its kind in the world, with only two other rival test facilities owned by the US and Russian governments.

A planning application is being submitted to Newcastle City Council, and if approved, building will start on the £10m project (including £5m from the North East Investment Fund’s Regional Growth Fund allocation) in early 2015, regenerating the now derelict Spillers Tyne Mill site on Newcastle’s Quayside (acquired by British Engines from the Homes and Communities Agency).

The centre will house four hyperbaric chambers that simulate the environment of subsea depths up to 4,500m. Two of these chambers are currently owned by BEL Valves (one of British Engines’ engineering businesses) and a third by Newcastle University, the major investment will be in a new 4.5 metre long, 2.5 metre diameter chamber simulating the pressure of 4,500m of water – the largest commercially available hyperbaric chamber in the world.

It will not only offer unrivalled research and development opportunities for the university and BEL Valves, but also provide unparalleled testing facilities for other manufacturers of subsea components from across the world.

Richard Dodd, chief operating officer of British Engines, said: “There is a known bottleneck in the industry due to the lack of easily available, large diameter, high pressure hyperbaric facilities, which is only being exacerbated as oil and gas developments move into deeper waters and more high pressure environments. Our business, BEL Valves, has certainly experienced this in trying to gain access to facilities in a timely and cost effective way.

“We already have close links with Newcastle University, collaborating with them on many projects, as well as developing our future engineers. This facility will improve our research and development capability, allowing us to continue developing world-first technology from the north east and further strengthen our links with the university.”

Professor Nick Wright, pro-vice-chancellor for research and innovation at Newcastle University, said: “This new facility will complement the new Neptune National Centre for Subsea and Offshore Engineering being led by the University.”

“This is an incredibly exciting project – bringing together industry and academia to create a unique facility that will significantly enhance research capacity, providing crucial infrastructure for emerging research opportunities. It will also provide a unique training ground for highly skilled graduates, addressing key skill shortages currently faced by UK industry.”

Helen Golightly at the North East LEP, said: “We are delighted to have been able to support this significant development. Investing in new world class and unique facilities such as the hyperbaric testing facilities is essential and firmly puts the North East on the global map. The announcement is a huge boost to the oil and gas sector in particular – the centre will be key to attracting investment from new and existing businesses into the area, helping to deliver more and better jobs.”

The Neptune Test Centre could be complete in mid-2015, with the large deep water chamber being installed mid-2016. As well as the testing facilities the centre will also house dedicated research and development offices for the university, training rooms, conference rooms and visitor facilities such as break out rooms and a canteen.

Alex Lamb, chairman of British Engines, added: “This world-leading project could not have happened without the support of the various local authorities, agencies and the university. British Engines is excited to see the project come to fruition and we’d like to thank everyone involved for having the confidence in a visionary project from the start.”

For more information please contact Emma Greenwood at British Engines on 07580 811 163

The North East’s progress towards becoming an international centre for innovation is coming under the spotlight at a major conference in Newcastle.

Prof Roy Sandbach, who leads the North East Local Enterprise Partnership’s (LEP) strategic innovation strand, will be outlining the exciting programmes and projects that are underway in a keynote speech at Venturefest North East.

The one-day conference, bringing together business leaders, academics and innovation experts from across the UK, takes place at the NewcastleGateshead Hilton on Tuesday, October 21.

The North East LEP is now close to revealing the leadership and membership of its new Innovation Board, which will be central to co-ordinating and channelling the region’s innovative work. The appointments will form key building blocks in the enterprise partnership’s innovation strategy, which is already progressing strongly with the creation of a number of innovation hubs and networks.

The LEP has successfully secured funding for five of its six planned innovation projects through the Government’s Local Growth Deal.

The Centre for Innovation in Formulation, led by the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) and to be based at NETPark, will receive £7.4m; £5.6m has been allocated for the Low Carbon Energy centre, to be based at Newcastle Science Central; £5.6m for the Newcastle Life Sciences Incubation Hub to be based at Newcastle University; £6.8m for the NETPark Infrastructure Phase 3; and £3.5m for the Sunderland Enterprise and Innovation Hub, to be hosted at Sunderland University, which also includes the internationally important FabLab.

Prof Sandbach will also outline the region’s growing strategic engagement with the Government-backed ‘catapult centres’ which aim to develop and commercialise innovative products and technologies.

CPI is part of the Advanced Manufacturing catapult. Additionally, one of the first three Space Satellite catapult regional centres of excellence is to be set up in County Durham. The North East LEP is also working with universities and business groups to ensure the region can benefit from opportunities offered by the new Connected Digital Economy, Offshore Renewables and Future Cities catapults.

The enterprise partnership has set out a programme for achieving its innovative aims for the region in its Strategic Economic Plan (SEP). Prof Sandbach will update the audience on progress towards the three priority projects – creating an innovation supernetwork to join up ideas and developments across the region, the acceleration of commercialising innovative ideas from the North East universities, and the innovation projects programme, which is an open call for new ideas that require funding.

The second phase of the programme includes the £25m catalytic competitions, which will be the subject of Venturefest workshops during the afternoon. The two contests will each offer funding of £12.5m to develop innovative ideas that stimulate collaboration in business sectors with the potential to offer major competitive advantage for the region.

Delegates at the event will have the chance to discuss the themes for the contests, which will bring together stakeholders from universities and SMEs as well as end users, whose input will be vital in commercialising the successful projects.

Prof Sandbach said: “The NELEP’s innovation strategy is all about creating a regional hub for development and commercialisation that will put the North East on the international innovation map. We need to be able to communicate our ideas and successes to the global economy, and the appointment of the new Innovation Board will help achieve that.

“We are making great organisational and programme definition progress towards our goals. Right now, we are putting the vital building blocks in place for our strategy. The opportunity to consult and share ideas with partners and stakeholders at Venturefest will play an important role in ensuring we have a solid foundation to build on when the funding is released.”

Google UK comes to Venturefest North East next month, to deliver the key note speech to delegates at this year’s innovation conference on 21st October at Hilton NewcastleGateshead.

Venturefest North East is the region’s innovation conference, organised by NewcastleScienceCity in conjunction with the Government’s innovation agency, Innovate UK, with support from the North East Local Enterprise Partnership.

Joe Faith who is a Product Manager at Google UK, will deliver a keynote presentation at the conference, focusing on what lessons the UK can learn from the ‘lean innovation’ modelsemerging from Silicon Valley in the United States.

Using his experience of working with start-ups on the Google Cloud Platform in silicon valley, Joe will tell entrepreneurs attending the conference how lean innovation and the use of ‘Minimum Viable Products’ can help get world-leading products to market faster and cheaper.

A former senior lecturer at NorthumbriaUniversity, Joe moved to the US in 2011 to take up a post with Google based at their headquarters in California. In 2014 he returned to the UK to startthe development of a major new product in London.

Delegates attending the free all-day conference will hear from a variety of other innovation experts, each presenting case studies of successful innovation in practice.

With everything from lessons learned from human space medicine with Simon Evetts of Wyle Group, NASA’s primary life science and medical operations service provider, through to the state of innovation in the UK, presented by Innovate UK, the government’s innovation agency, the conference will have something for everyone.

Delegates will be also be given a unique preview of the brand new Innovation Programme being launched by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (North East LEP). Opportunities that the Innovation Programme will present for regional businesses will be discussed in a talk led by Professor Roy Sandbach, our Innovation Champion.

A number of workshops will also be held throughout the day where delegates will hear from sector specialists including the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult (OREC) about the latest innovation in the offshore engineering sector, as well as the latest NHS innovations, including the amazing potential of 3d printed human body parts, presented by the Bone Cancer Research Trust.

Conference tickets are free and the full event programme is now available online at www.venturefestnortheast.com.

Follow the latest developments online at @VenturefestNE.

The North East has been selected as one of the UK’s leading centres in satellite technology, allowing companies to tap into a market which is expected to exceed £40bn by 2030.

The region has been designated one of the first three centres of excellence in the country by the Satellite Applications Catapult, part of the UK’s network of technology and innovation companies, to drive economic growth in key sectors.

The North East Satellite Applications Centre of Excellence is a regional consortium led by Business Durham the economic development company for County Durham and including Business and Enterprise Group, Smart Specialisation Ltd, the region’s five universities and both Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and will work with businesses wanting help and advice to break into the satellite applications industry or get more support for current work.

Satellite applications, data and technology is a rapidly developing sector with the market growing by an average of 7% each year since 2008. Latest developments include satellite systems using earth observation tools to monitor and track building control and satellite based radar to track ground and building movements in areas prone to landslides or subsidence.

Stuart Martin, CEO of the Catapult, said: “The North East Satellite Applications Centre of Excellence offers an impressive partnership looking at opportunities to unlock a range of high value market opportunities within the region. The new centre will ensure the successful commercialisation of new technology and innovation, cementing the UK’s position in key technology sectors.”

The Centre will provide North East businesses with access to the tools and support to tap into a market that is continually growing. One of the key objectives of the Centre is to engage regional companies in solving industrial problems using satellite data and technology. These solutions are typically high value with the opportunity to export into global markets.

John Hildreth, North East Satellite Applications Catapult Centre of Excellence Manager, said: “This is a hugely exciting and developing sector and we are delighted to be working with our partners to provide a Centre of Excellence for the North East. The bid that we prepared covered regional issues and looked at the application of satellite data in sectors such as the offshore oil, gas and renewable as well as the transport and logistics allowing companies in the North East to gain a competitive advantage. Securing Centre of Excellence status also adds to the regions ever-growing reputation as a leader in scientific innovation”.

Graeme Gordon, Global Commercial Director of Satcom Global Limited said: “As a provider of global satellite communication solutions based in North East, we are delighted to hear that the Satellite Applications Catapult will be launching a Centre for Excellence here in the region. This initiative will provide us and other like-minded technology companies with access to a much needed forum for the sharing of industry expertise, and identifying opportunities for collaboration.

Satcom Global is committed to driving satellite solutions innovation in the remote-land, maritime and aviation sectors, offering a global commercial outlet for solutions developed and championed here in the North East of England. We are very excited about working with the North East Centre for Excellence, sharing our knowledge and strong industry links, bringing mutual benefit to the region.”

Professor Roy Sandbach, Innovation Champion for the North East Local Enterprise Partnership commented: “Winning the competition to host this Centre is a vote of confidence in North East business and in the consortium of development agencies and Universities who brought forward this proposal, led by Business Durham.

The North East Strategic Economic Plan sets out a clear strategy for the future of the North East economy – at the heart of which is the creation of business growth, investment and good quality jobs through innovation, with a focus on our key industries. Many of these, including sub-sea manufacturing, automotive, digital and health sciences might benefit from engagement with satellite application technologies and the people who develop them. In addition, there may be significant opportunities for applications in our public services. Having this Centre here creates a hub for innovation dialogue and inward innovation investment. Exactly what we need.

Overall, our aim is for the North East to be recognised as a unique environment for new technology application. It’s great that the Satellite Catapult has recognised this regional goal”.

Stephen Catchpole, Managing Director of Tees Valley Unlimited, the Local Enterprise Partnership for Tees Valley, added: “Being awarded Centre of Excellence status is important as it will contribute to the expansion and diversification of the local economy.

“It also will help give companies a competitive edge, placing them at the forefront of high value new technologies and innovation and enable them to tap into new business opportunities both at home and abroad.”

The North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has given the green light to a £10 million investment from its North East Investment Fund, including £8m from its Regional Growth fund allocation, to help fund the first phase of a multi-million pound world-class innovation centre to be based at Durham University.

The Centre for Innovation and Growth (CIG) is a research hub designed to foster strong innovation and growth. The early phases of this project will support research arising from the long-standing relationship between Durham University and the consumer goods giant Procter and Gamble (P&G).

Universities and Science Minister David Willetts said:
“Innovation is a key driver for economic growth in the UK. This investment will help to create a world class innovation centre in the North East and provide exciting new job opportunities. Collaborative working between universities and industry is vital if we are to remain ahead in the global race for innovation and growth.”

University and industry partners will be able to work together at the CIG to co-produce innovative solutions to commercial research needs using cross- and multi-disciplinary teams.

Chair of the North East LEP, Paul Woolston, said:
“This is a significant investment from the North East LEP’s investment fund, which helps to strengthen innovation growth across the North East. The Centre for Innovation and Growth further cements the commercial relationship between Durham University and Procter & Gamble and fits very strongly with the open innovation brand that we want to ensure the North East, its universities and institutions, are known for.

“P&G is one of the world’s leaders in open innovation and the centre provides an opportunity for the company and non-competitive partners to bring problems to the North East and the North East to provide solutions. It will strengthen our reputation and branding as a problem-solving region and help to create more and better jobs.”

Future expansion of the centre is anticipated to provide an open innovation hub in which Durham University can work with a range of non-competitive industrial partners. The centre will house data handling and laboratory space and act as a catalyst to revolutionise business engagement on a local, national and international scale.

It will link together corporate business partnerships, supply chain partners, national and local businesses, partnerships with leading research groups in other universities, and government laboratories. P&G is growing its UK academic programme around Durham and a few other select UK universities.

The Centre for Innovation and Growth will be built in four distinct phases. The first investment will support a “private cloud” for data management and partnership working to expand Durham University’s facilities for open innovation.

Dr Tim Hammond, Director of Durham Business and Innovation Services at the University, said:
“The centre will foster an environment of strong innovation and growth which builds on Durham’s multi-disciplines, its ability to build teams that deliver business partners’ needs, and its proven track record of extensive open innovation over broad domains with leading open innovation exponent, Procter& Gamble.

“It will leverage Durham’s international reputation and use its very strong international business and academic partnerships to realise stronger business growth and boost the world class status of Durham science.”

Work currently being undertaken between P&G and Durham University, such as developing products to wash clothes at lower temperatures, will be applicable to many other industries worldwide. This North East centre is particularly significant because of the relationship and international standing of both Durham University and P&G.

Professor Roy Sandbach, who leads the strategic innovation strand for the North East LEP said:
“The Centre for Innovation and Growth is exactly what we need for the region, a strategic collaboration between a prestigious university and a innovation-centric corporate business partner with global reach. Our regional profile as a destination for inward innovation investment will be greatly enhanced by this initiative.

“The strategic relationship between Durham and P&G has already been brilliantly developed by both sides. Innovation delivery needs great dialogue leading to focussed programmes with shared action and clear metrics. Durham and P&G have shown everyone the way in this. I’m hoping that the new Centre will catalyse even more creative innovation, managed with efficiency and momentum and with broader collaborations. It will generate more jobs and build the open innovation brand for the region. The rest of the world will sit up and seriously consider the North East for innovation investment.”

Further information from Christine Holland, Holland PR & Marketing Ltd. Tel 01670 790246 or 07711 698246.

Newcastle University secondments will drive regional innovation agenda.

Two specialists from Newcastle University have been seconded to the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to drive forward the region’s innovation agenda.

Professor Michael Whitaker and Katharine Paterson are bringing their expertise to work for the North East LEP team headed by Prof Roy Sandbach. They will use their skills and contacts to boost the links between the region’s universities and businesses to fuel growth though innovation and the development of higher level skills.

Professor Whitaker is Professor of Physiology and Associate Dean of Innovation at the Faculty of Medical Sciences at Newcastle, where he works to further links between the university and the commercial sector. He is co-Director of the joint Durham/ Newcastle/NHS North East England Stem Cell Institute. He is also co-ordinator for the regional pharmaceuticals manufacturing initiative, FirstforPharma.

He will work at the North East LEP on a part time basis, co-ordinating a common approach to open innovation with the region’s universities based on industry needs both regionally and globally. Prof Whitaker’s work will particularly concentrate on opportunities in the life sciences and pharmaceuticals industry for healthcare innovation through the NHS. His new role ties in with his previous work to draw up a regional strategy for the sector, particularly around ageing, stem cell biology and regenerative medicine.

He said: “The North East is the perfect size to develop a network for innovation through an equal partnership between business and universities. We can build on already existing strengths in high value manufacturing and continue to develop exports and jobs, while also attracting companies to the region by adding to the region’s high level skills. This is an exciting opportunity for me and for the region.”

Katharine Paterson has joined the North East LEP on a full time basis until January 2015. She was seconded from her role at Newcastle University, where she was based in the Stakeholder and Funding Development team. Katharine, who has spent more than 20 years working in the region’s academic sector, also runs her own start-up business which has developed an innovative cotbed for babies and toddlers.

She said: “I was previously Director of the North East Higher Skills Pathfinder, where I engaged with all of the region’s universities and colleges, so I’m known in the universities and have insights into their needs, issues and aspirations in terms of how they can continue to support economic development, in particular through supporting innovation and the development of higher level skills that local businesses need.

“At the North East LEP, my role is to act as the voice of the universities within the LEP area, and also take the LEP’s work out to the universities, acting as a bridge and a focal point for them.”

Newcastle University’s vice chancellor Professor Chris Brink offered the two secondments to the North East LEP to strengthen the innovation team headed by former Procter & Gamble innovation leader, Professor Roy Sandbach.
Professor Sandbach, the David Goldman visiting Professor of Innovation and Enterprise at Newcastle University Business School, said: “The North East LEP is focussed on building dynamic innovation partnerships across the region and with innovation leaders everywhere. Katharine and Michael will play key roles in building these partnerships, especially between business and academia. It’s brilliant news that they are joining the team.”

North East LEP chairman, Paul Woolston, said: “We were delighted to accept Newcastle University’s very generous offer to second these two innovation experts to us.

“Michael Whitaker and Katharine Paterson have both proven abilities in the area of innovation and bring with them strong links between the academic and commercial worlds that will help to drive the North East LEP’s agenda for growth though innovation.”

Further information from Christine Holland, Holland PR & Marketing Ltd. Tel 01670 790246 or 07711 698246.

Automotive event links businesses with academic technical experts.

Connecting automotive businesses with the expertise of four of the region’s universities to boost innovation and growth will be under the spotlight next week.

A major event staged by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (NELEP) and the universities of Newcastle, Northumbria, Durham and Sunderland, is aiming to act as a catalyst for increased collaboration between industry and academics to create new investment, businesses and products.

Driving Innovation 2013, a free half-day event at Gosforth Park Marriott on October 23, will give automotive businesses the opportunity to talk about technical or developmental challenges that are putting the brakes on improvements or the creation of new products and services. Experts from the four universities will be able to provide guidance on setting up new collaborations for bespoke projects or ongoing work.

The day will showcase a number of areas where the region’s universities are leading the field in innovative automotive technology, including energy recovery, engine development, precision/micro-manufacturing, autonomous driving, electric vehicles and sensors, smart electronics, and lighting.

Keynote speaker Richard Ebrahim, who is heading production of Nissan’s new Infiniti luxury model at Sunderland, will speak at the event about the automotive industry in the region. The Japanese car giant has a successful track record of collaboration with academia in its research and development work, both in conventional vehicles and the new generation of electric cars.

The event is the first of its kind co-organised by the North East LEP to drive its North East Innovation programme.
North East LEP director Edward Twiddy, who will also address the conference, said: “Driving Innovation 2013 is a key building block to encourage universities and local businesses to work together to encourage growth, as recommended by the Witty Review carried out for the Government.

“One of our key remits is to lead innovation-driven work, and find ways to bring together applied research, academia and industry. The event also highlights how our universities are collaborating on important sectors such as the automotive industry, to share their collective expertise for the benefit of the North East economy.”

International innovator Prof Roy Sandbach, who spent three decades with global consumer products giant Procter & Gamble and who leads the North East LEP’s innovation strategy, will be at Driving Innovation.
Prof Sandbach, who is the current David Goldman visiting Professor of Innovation & Enterprise at Newcastle University Business School, said: “This is a great example of the new sense of focused collaboration that the North East LEP must foster. It really deserves active support.

“We all need to show our commitment to economic growth through collaboration across institutions, businesses and innovation agencies. This is a team game. And I am very happy that the universities are taking the lead on this. This is perfectly consistent with the strategic direction outlined in the just-published Witty report to focus on strengths and create collaborative networks with universities at the heart. We are at the front of the pack with this event.”

He said the North East LEP’s innovation strategy is now crystallising to build on innovation hubs and support networks.

“The North East LEP will build a credible outward-facing engagement with global innovation opportunities and it will develop a vibrant innovation culture through training and mentoring,” said Prof Sandbach.

“This demands cross-organisational leadership and I am confident that all the key players will step up. They have to, for the region to thrive.

“We all want this region to be recognised for innovation. It is in our DNA.”

Driving Innovation takes place on Wednesday October 23 at Gosforth Park Marriott from 8am to 1pm. To book a place, register online at www.ncl.ac.uk/sage/drivinginnovation2013 or contact Nicola Taylor, Newcastle University email: [email protected] or phone: 0191 208 5488.

The initiative is funded and supported by the North East LEP and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.

Further information from Christine Holland, Holland PR & Marketing Ltd. Tel 01670 790246 or 07711 698246.

Category: Innovation

High ranking North East Innovation Board unveiled

Neptune Centre of Excellence brings Hyperbaric testing to North East

Innovation progress highlighted at key conference

Google innovation expert to speak at Venturefest North East

E Satellite Catapult Centre

New innovation centre will improve international problem solving

Innovation experts join North East LEP

North East LEP working with universities to drive innovation