The government is investing unprecedented amounts in supporting innovation and collaborative research. High level speakers from Innovate UK and the CBI will give their perspectives, while examples of successful projects will share their experience in developing partnerships and securing funding.
At this free event, you will find out about the funding available to support business and learn what makes a successful application to Innovate UK funding.
There will also be the opportunity to meet and network with University researchers and industry partners involved in exciting new technologies, and the option to attend a bid writing masterclass to learn the do’s and don’ts of bidding for funding. Spaces are limited for the masterclass so please ensure you’ve secured your place.
Timetable
9:30
Arrival and refreshments
10:00
Welcome and introductions – Professor Jerry Roberts, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise), University of Plymouth
10:05
Keynote - Dr Ian Campbell, Interim Executive Chair, Innovate UK
Innovate UK, part of UKRI, is the UK’s business-led innovation agency and with the Government’s ambitious target of spending 2.4% of GDP on R&D by 2027, innovation is an exciting place to be. Ian Campbell will discuss the funding competitions, the challenges, opportunities and support available to all sizes of business. Ian will also talk about maximising some of these opportunities through business and academic collaborations.
10:35
Case study: the Amprologix story - Mat Upton, Professor in Medical Microbiology and Ian Fotheringham, MD of Ingenza
No new classes of antibiotics have been introduced into clinical use for the past 30 years. A University of Plymouth spin out, Amprologix is aiming to meet a growing need for new antibiotics as harmful microbes become increasingly drug-resistant. In partnership with world-leading biotechnology and synthetic biology company Ingenza, Innovate UK funding has been secured to support this exciting collaboration.
11:05
The industry perspective - Felicity Burch, Director of Innovation, CBI
In 2017 the CBI published 'The road to 3%', calling on the government to set out a roadmap for how we increase the UK’s R&D expenditure to an ambitious target of 3% of GDP and build the competitiveness of the UK’s innovation ecosystem. Felicity will provide an overview of the CBI’s work and what is required to drive increased innovation in our region.
11:30
Tea and coffee break
12:00
Case study: Liminal Materials: The Cloud – Anthony Rowe, Director of Squidsoup
Liminal Materials is a collaborative research and development project, funded through Innovate UK’s Industrial Challenge Fund (Audience of the Future: Design Foundations), and delivered by the University of Plymouth and Squidsoup; a UK-based international group of artists, researchers, technologists and designers working with digital and interactive media experiences.
12:25
The role of Universities and Place – Adrian Dawson, Director of Research and Innovation
Research has shown that businesses in the far South West are less likely to apply for R&D funding. How can Universities support business in the development of successful collaborative partnerships, and in creating an effective innovation ecosystem?
12:40
Panel Q&A - Chaired by Professor Jerry Roberts
13:10
Lunch, networking and exhibits
14:00
Bidwriting master class run by the Knowledge Transfer Network, and aimed at both academics and businesses interested in bidding to Innovate UK (numbers limited so booking required).
N.B. THIS WORKSHOP IS NOW FULLY BOOKED
Who is this event for?
This event is free to attend, and aimed at anybody with an interest in R&D and innovation funding, whether they be:
- A business or academic, looking to find out what funding is available, and to learn the secrets of successful collaborative bidding.
- A policymaker or economic stakeholder, interested in how we maximise the amount of funding for Innovation in our region.
