Foreword from Jim Dick

Global President for Smith and Nephew Wound Management

Jim Dick, most recently global president for Smith and Nephew Wound Management, is an active member of Yorkshire Science.  Former chair of Hull Cityimage and on the board of Hull Citybuild, the urban regeneration company, he is also Chair of the Clipper Steering Group on behalf of Yorkshire Forward, which is overseeing the entry of the Hull and Humber yacht to the Round the World yacht race. Jim is non executive director of Bestak plc and Planet Broadcasting Company Ltd, a new commercial radio station based in Hull.

Under his leadership Smith & Nephew, in Hull became the primary manufacturing site and headquarters of global marketing, product development and business management.  Now recognised as a global leader in advanced wound management, Smith & Nephew has a world leading reputation for innovation in both products and management processes.  This achievement was recognised when Smith & Nephew was announced the winner of the 2004 A T Kearney UK Best Innovator Award.

“Throughout my working career I have always been passionate about innovation and tried to instil this passion in others.  For me, this is one of the reasons I am so pleased to be involved with Yorkshire Science. 

“For businesses to be successful innovation is going to become even more important for survival in a competitive global market, where companies will need to differentiate themselves.  I see promoting this message as very important and fundamental to the work of Yorkshire Science.

“The region has to have a thriving economy and business is at the very heart of that success.  Yorkshire Science is about promoting the need and value for innovation.  The regional innovation strategy illustrates our four main areas of focus, and right at the top of that agenda is business innovation.

“We are working very hard to create and establish a network of regional, national and global mentors that can guide and support business towards successful growth.  Responding to a global market place that is developing at a phenomenal rate, will have an adverse impact on companies that cannot adapt quickly enough; I think it is crucial that we do all we can to create the right environment for sustainable innovation and growth.

“We have to create strong critical mass in areas where we have real world class expertise in order to support businesses that are hungry for success.  Then we have to make sure that they are equipped with the right talent, technology, intelligence and focus to go forward. 

“There is a lot of hard work ahead of us, but we should all be keen, dedicated and ready to rise to the challenge.  Yorkshire Science has set up a sturdy strategy for innovation that is achievable provided we open up to the opportunities of collaboration and recognise the value of sharing experience, knowledge and best practice.  We can offer assistance to signpost towards knowledge centres, innovation hubs and potential funding avenues. 

“Fundamentally though, innovation has to start from within, and we need to ensure that businesses in our region acknowledge and accept innovation as a continuous development and not a single hit.  Businesses often say they cannot afford to be innovative, but, with the speed at which our world is changing, businesses cannot afford not to innovate, it is a matter of survival.”

Yorkshire Science Members

Regional Innovation Strategy Update

The Regional Innovation Strategy (RIS) created by Yorkshire Science and accepted by the board of Yorkshire Forward, identified incubation and technology park provision as a vital element for sustainable economic growth.

For innovation to flourish, it has to have the right climate and environment. 

Incubation and technology parks are already highly successful in mainland Europe, embracing a critical mass of brain power, state of the art resources, physical infrastructure and joined-up logistics.

Yorkshire Science suggests the next logical transition for regional incubation and accelerator facilities would be to include, as part of the support package, physical front-of house support, coupled with hands-on financial and business advice.

With an emphasis upon nurturing innovation, incubators and accelerators support innovative companies by supplying the ‘Red-Tape’ services such as advice on intellectual property, legal aspects and finance, thus freeing up companies to concentrate upon being creative and inventive.

Incubation units ideally need to be close to universities and other research centres and medium to large businesses.  Businesses not only benefit from the bespoke facilities but also the value-added benefits of networking and proximity to like-minded companies, shared knowledge and experiences.

The role of technology parks is to support businesses moving up and out of incubation.  Embedded technology and associated scientific excellence and expertise play a core role in each technology park.  When brought together with the associated high tech, high growth companies this would form the basis of a strong cluster.

Strategic and intensive technology parks would allow the region to punch its weight in terms of innovation provision.  Having the right facilities, culture and climate would allow Yorkshire and the Humber to attract large corporate R&D facilities and world leading academics to the region.

The region already has an active venture capital and finance capability.  Adding support services to technology parks would allow the exploitation of innovative ideas with a base of IPR specialists, lawyers and accountants offering in-house provision.

Having the right facilities, expertise and supply chain will help the region to secure joint venture opportunities with international companies, and a greater share of UK, EU and RTD funds.   

This concept has already proved its success with the establishment of Science City York and the Advanced Manufacturing Park, Rotherham.  As well as providing state of the art facilities and technology provision for their customers, both initiatives realise the wider aspirations of the RIS.  They exemplify the merits of successful collaboration between academic expertise, business needs and market forces and strategic investment from the RDA, local authorities and stakeholders.

Located in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) provides world-class advanced manufacturing technology solutions to industry, including Formula One and Boeing.

Capitalising on specialist cluster technologies, the AMP concentrates upon supporting companies involved in materials and structures, metallic and composite materials; focussing on precision industries such as medical, automotive, energy, oil and gas, environmental and construction.  Successful knowledge transfer is encouraged and the AMP is home to a highly successful collaboration between the University of Sheffield and Boeing.

Created in 1998 as a partnership between the City of York Council and the University of York, Science City York has become home to over 60 new high-tech companies.

A shining example of successful support for innovation , Science City York provides state of the art lab facilities for customers coupled with a wide range of support services, creating the right environment for business growth and sustainability.

Avacta Group and Medcom are two of the region’s high-tech, high growth companies that are enjoying the benefits of technology park location.

Avacta

Avacta is a Biophysics Company formed in 2004 as a spin-out from the University of Leeds.  The business out-sources analytical services to the biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical market, applying the precision measuring techniques of physics to biological and chemical systems.

Adopting the high tech, high growth philosophy, the company goes from strength to strength having floated on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) in August 2006.  Avacta is expanding its portfolio and currently focussing on the defence, security and biopharmaceutical markets, where it has significant co-development projects with the UK government and industry.

The company was founded by CEO Alistair Smith, Simon Webster and Kurt Baldwin.  It is currently developing two new technology devices.  One is a spectroscopy based chemical and biological detection system that could be operated remotely or as a compact hand-held system.  Its manifold applications include military detection, public health protection, clinical diagnostics or problem solving in drug development.

The second device is laser based hand-held technology that can scan small liquid samples to detect chemical make-up.  Both technologies aim for speed of detection and portability.  Both prototypes are at an early stage of development with ambitions to be in the market place by 2009.

Together with its entry to the LSE, expansion continued for Avacta with a move to the Biocentre at York Science Park.  The first class facilities offered by the state of the art Science Park made the move a logical choice.  There is an openness to embrace such companies to the city and the Science Park already supports a thriving bioscience cluster.

Innovation initiatives such as York Science Park adopt a ‘cluster’ ideology that is helping companies like Avacta to achieve their full potential at an accelerated rate.  These celebrated successes, in turn attract other cutting edge businesses to make the move to a nurturing climate with a view to develop and thrive.

Russell Hodgetts, Chief Operating Officer, expands on the benefits, he said:

“One of the biggest benefits of being located in York is that, door to door to London is only a two hour trip from Kings Cross.  As a floated company, this is a big bonus for us, being able to travel easily to the City .”

“There are quite a lot of companies on site that we interact with simply by virtue of being in the right place at the right time.  We are constantly networking with other Science Park companies; useful things invariably come out of these meetings.  We may well collaborate with organisations on site, especially  software application companies.

“We find the facilities and management excellent for a young company that is progressing really quickly and expanding.  It is a real advantage not to have to increase your infrastructure.  With managed offices, it’s all beneath one banner, which makes it very simple to obtain extra space that is lab ready and is easy to manoeuvre, it is an automatic add-on.

“There is normally a lot of back office work to consider in growth, it takes away some of the costs associated with growth.  It also frees up our staff from administrative work to concentrate upon where their talents lie.”

Medcom

York based Medcom is an award winning online publishing business.  Formed in 2002 the company uses the talents of a diverse team of animators, software experts, designers and specialist advisors to create technology driven, web based training.

The increase in broadband technology has allowed the company to create bespoke 3D animated programmes for customers including online medical training for junior doctors and post graduate surgeons.

Surgicalskills.net and foundationskills.net are two programmes that offer online training for new doctors and surgeons.  With stunning graphics of almost stomach churning quality, young doctors and surgeons can test their skills before attempting procedures on patients.  The programmes are developed by doctors and conform to standard training procedures.

The play station generation of future medics, doctors and surgical staff are able to train using a familiar medium, to simulate thousands of medical procedures.  It allows them to clock up training hours in the same way that a pilot would have to complete a number of hours in a flight simulator. 

Foundationskills.net has already received recommendation by the Royal College of Surgeons in the UK and trainee doctors in over 40 countries worldwide are already benefiting from surgical training using surgicalskills.net.

Medcom’s web based training capabilities have a multitude of possible applications and the company has access to expertise in almost any field.  Online training is developing into the norm and as 3D graphics become imperceptible from the real thing, Medcom can apply its innovative techniques to any sector.

The company employs a team of technicians, animators, programmers and clinical advisors.  Medcom has been situated at York Science Park since 2003 and finds the location an invaluable support for business.

Company Chairman Chris Matson explains:

“One of the main benefits of being located at the Science Park is that there are other companies that are specialists in their own particular areas and we can approach them for services we need.  This means that we can often share costs in a very effective and efficient way.  The location also lends itself to collaborative opportunities and we are in discussion, and indeed, have done projects with other science park companies.”

“If they want on-line learning projects, we can help them.  We are also in a unique position of being the only company to actually spin into the University.  It is on our doorstep and we work closely with them, enjoying all of the benefits that can bring.”

Engineering Design CIC Technology Improves Ping’s Swing Hitting the  Spot Every Time

The Yorkshire region is proactive in encouraging effective collaborations between academia and business, none more so that the Centres of Industrial Collaboration (CICs).

Dr Andrew Paulls is the commercial manager at the Engineering Design Centre of Industrial Collaboration (CIC) based at the Universities of Leeds and Hull.  As part of the network of twelve regional CICs set up and funded by Yorkshire Forward, the Regional Development Agency for Yorkshire and Humber, it helps companies to get products to market faster, and more cost effectively by providing greater certainty of ‘getting it right’ first time.

The Engineering Design CIC helps companies’ to fast-track R&D through formal design analysis and optimisation, eliminating risk and rapid prototyping.  The product technology testing intelligence is transferable to any industry sector and the CIC has been able to assist in radical product improvements from caravans to aerospace developments.

Alongside engineering and manufacturing design developments, Dr Paulls’s other great passion in life is golf.  Following the purchase of new ‘Ping’ clubs in February 2005, he found an ideal way to combine the two.  Andy Paulls explains:

“I bought my new clubs at a time when there had been some significant changes in the rules and regulations legislating golf.  I thought that our CIC technologies were perfect to assist in the R&D to improve sports equipment.

“Sports equipment is a highly competitive, fast moving and very high tech industry.  Ping is the golfing market leader and is constantly pushing the boundaries of manufacturing, creating innovations in intelligent equipment and product improvements.  Their application of scientific research techniques helps both amateur and professional players to improve their game, and they seemed an ideal partner to benefit from our expertise.  I was pleased to grab an opportunity to work with a company dedicated to continual improvements in the golfing world.”

Dr Paulls made contact with Ping, whose UK base - Ping Europe Limited - is located in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, and initiated a meeting with Paul Woods, researcher and mathematician at Ping.  The two ‘Paulls’ carried out an initial study looking at specific areas of potential interaction and how the application of engineering design techniques could assist in improving the ‘club’ performance and efficiency.

A meeting at the Phoenix Arizona HQ gave the go-ahead for further collaboration.  Ten months later, a delighted Dr Paulls has secured a project plan, contract and IP agreement.

Dr Paul Wood, Research Project Engineer at Ping, Phoenix Arizona said:

“At Ping, we are committed to using the best possible technology and being at the fore-front of research into new methods, materials and designs.  We are confident that our partnership with the world-class research group here at the Engineering Design CIC will help us to further improve our knowledge, and therefore, our designs.”

Thrilled with the results Andy said:  “I was amazed by how open Ping has been to our ideas on product development.  Obviously, I am quite happy to have ‘hands-on’ experience of the ‘impact testing’ side of development at no extra charge!”

The project began in earnest in February and is progressing at a fast rate.  The first task milestone has been achieved and transatlantic communications are working well.  Further phases will investigate improvements to ball materials and Dr Paulls is confident that the relationship will continue to grow and flourish.  He said:

“Ping is a great company to work with – this is a successful collaboration in every sense.  They appreciate the work we are doing and we really appreciate working with intelligent, enthusiastic and open minded people who respond so quickly to our research.  We are really excited that our technology will be used on a global scale.”

The CIC’s comprehensive computational analysis system dramatically speeds up the R&D process, lowers the costs and removes the wastage of design, manufacture and assembly. Investigation of potential process problems, stress limitations, optimising geometries and impact analysis determining strike/collision levels helps companies to reduce the number of failures, breaking the traditional chain of repetitive prototyping, testing, refining and retesting. The virtual modelling produces an excellent approximation to product lifespan, limitations and obstructions for the first time.

As well as improving the durability, performance and technique of top end golfing equipment, the Engineering Design CIC’s rapidly developing computational techniques in fluid flow, stress analysis and impact analysis have a myriad of other potential applications. The technology capabilities have been proven many times including the delivery of the Stress Concentration Expert System (SCONES) for the aerospace industry.  The comprehensive impact and stress analysis data reduced costs and R&D timescales using SCONES on simple problem solving exercises and the more complex Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for intricate problem solving.

Dr Paulls said:  “The methodology can be transferred anywhere.  We have recently completed a project for the caravan industry that resulted in a £3/4 million improvement.  Because the technology is so flexible, we are working with SMEs in the construction, electronics and furniture design industries.  We know that the Engineering Design CIC can really add value and we are keen to work with more small businesses, they don’t even need to be golfers!” 

Out and About With Yorkshire Science

Design, Create and Innovate Report

Yorkshire Science was delighted to be joint host with the CBI for a breakfast seminar entitled “Design, Create, Innovate” on 28th February 2007 at Thorpe Park Hotel, Leeds.

Business leaders and policy makers from across Europe were assembled to drive home the message about the importance of Innovation and Creativity as crucial forces for sustainable business growth.

We were especially pleased to welcome Deputy Director General for the Ministry of Trade and Industry for Finland, Mr Antti Joensuu.  With an animated display, Mr Joensuu illustrated the Finnish model of innovation.  With a population of only 5.2 million, Finland is ranked 3rd globally in the Business Competitiveness Index (BCI) and second in the Growth Competitiveness Index (GCI), with a GDP per capita of €29,612.

Comparative with these figures was the extensive collaboration and cooperation between companies, universities and research institutes in Finland.  He urged the assembled business, academic and public sector delegates, to embrace a culture of open innovation and cross border collaboration for greater success. 

He explained that in Finland there are thirteen Centres of Expertise, working as national clusters, not constrained by regional borders.  He said,  “In a truly global economy, national borderlines are an artificial construct.”  He stressed that “avoiding risks is the best way to avoid success,” explaining that the process of innovation is not a linear construct but more like “a plate of spaghetti.”  

Dr Tim Bradshaw, Head of Innovation, Science and Technology for the CBI, said that it was vital businesses grasp the opportunities of innovation now.  He said:  “Businesses need to wake up to the fact that innovation will play a crucial part of business survival.  Equally, they have to know that they are not alone.  There are many routes and assistance to innovation, such as collaboration through our universities, support agencies and business consultants.”

Flying the flag for creativity and design was Sebastian Conran of the Conran Group.  With a presentation that spanned the multi-disciplined and multi dimensional portfolio of the Conran Group, encompassing food, furniture, automobile interiors and architecture; innovation played a crucial role at every level of the business.  He said:  “There are three levels of creativity, the aesthetic which we associate with artists, such as Picasso.  Rational creativity is associated with invention and we include great leaders such as Brunel and Einstein in this category.  The third level of creativity is in the business sense, and here we think of entrepreneurs such as Sir Richard Branson.”

“The UK has a strong tradition of collaboration between rational creativity and business.  What leads to almost world-changing creativity is the collaboration of all three forms of creativity.  For example, the Dyson cleaner would not have been so successful had the design element been in isolation without the functionality.”

Mr Conran explained that Apple owed much of its success to its willingness to give equal billing to the aesthetic, rational and business elements of creativity.  He said:

“Even though the IPod is a premium price, it is a market leader and creates ‘itchy wallet syndrome’ because the ‘theatre of experience’ and attention to detail is prevalent in the quality of materials, from the peripherals through to the packaging, providing a luxury item, that is available to all.”

Yorkshire Science Director and joint host of the event Dr Trevor Gregory said:  “We were delighted to have such a high-calibre of speakers at this event.  I think it proves how high on the agenda innovation and creativity has become for contemporary business.”

“Successful businesses have innovation, diversification, and continual improvement as central lynchpins, providing a positive impact on performance and productivity.  We need to encourage and influence more businesses in the region to adopt this culture of innovation.”

Full interviews and presentations of the event are now available by visiting www.yorkshire-science.com.

Yorkshire Science At the 2007 Yorkshire Universities Conference

Yorkshire Science Council member, Professor Mike Roberts of the Central Science Laboratory (CSL) delivered a keynote speech at the 2007 Yorkshire Universities Conference held at the De Vere Oulton Hall Hotel, Leeds (7th and 8th February 2007).

Entitled ‘Collaborative Research and Big Science’, the presentation coincided with the recent launch of Framework Programme 7 (FP7) funding which commenced with effect from 1st January 2007.  Professor Roberts outlined the opportunities available for businesses in a European context.  Finding partners allows smaller businesses a route to large scale research projects with other businesses and our region’s higher education sector.

The ‘Big Science’ aspect was covered by Professor Bob Cywinski who talked about the theory behind the European Spallation Source and progress of the project.

Cross border and closer European collaboration forms one of the four main themes of focus for future science, technology and innovation activity contained in the Regional Innovation Strategy (RIS).  Yorkshire Science was pleased to sponsor the Knowledge Transfer strand of the conference, ‘Helping businesses to innovate’. This strand was chaired by Dr Ceri Williams, Senior Manager of Science and Innovation at Yorkshire Forward and the keynote was given by Dr Bob Keown OBE, Chairman of Beta Technology.

The Yorkshire Universities annual conference plays an important part of the academic calendar for the region.

Santander Conference -

European Regional Strategies for Innovation and Technology

Director of Yorkshire Science, Dr Trevor Gregory delivered a presentation on behalf of the Yorkshire and Humber region at the European Regional Strategies for Innovation and Technology Development Conference in Santander, Spain, March 2007.

Before an audience of international delegates, Dr Gregory talked of the importance of ‘Enhancing regional innovation performance through coherent strategy development.’

The annual conference sees delegates from across Europe present ideas and share best practice to ensure that the EU remains a driving force in the world’s economy. 

Delegates included international government ministers, and leading academics from the fields of economics, science and technology.  Topics of discussion included rising trends in the Knowledge Society, challenges facing regional innovation and technology development strategies and structural funds policies for promoting R&D.

It was an important event for Yorkshire Science as closer collaboration with Europe forms an integral part of the Regional Innovation Strategy (RIS).

Big Idea Competition

Yorkshire Forward and the Yorkshire Post newspaper have launched a competition called The Big Idea” aiming to back the great ideas of the region’s high flyers.

The winning ‘Big Idea’ will receive £35K of seedcorn funding to help develop the idea or invention towards commercial exploitation.  Fledgling entrepreneurs find it difficult to access early stage investment for their work, as by its very nature it is a high risk investment.  The ‘Big Idea’ competition will help one lucky winner overcome this delicate stage of development. 

Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency, has teamed up with the Yorkshire Post to launch a project aimed at providing the very support enterprising individuals currently lack.  Businesses and entrepreneurs with a great idea for a new product or service who need the financial backing to get it off the ground are urged to take part.

A panel of judges including entrepreneurs and representatives of business support, innovation and professional services organisations, will decide on the winning project.

The competition runs for six weeks, closing on the 22nd May 2007.  Entry is simple via the Yorkshire Post website or clicking on http://www2.yorkshiretoday.co.uk/businessbigidea/form.htm will take visitors straight to the entry form. 

Yorkshire is a vibrant region for entrepreneurs and competition is expected to be fierce.  The winning ‘Big Idea’ will have to make its case as a viable commercial proposition.

Funding is for early stage development and entries will need to prove a case for sell-on intellectual property that has a commercial value.  Shortlisted entrants will have to ‘pitch’ their ideas to the judges and sell their potential.  The winner will be announced in June.

For more info visit www.yorkshirepost.co.uk or www.yorkshire-forward.com

Lord Rooker Visit

Lord Rooker, Minister of State (House of Lords) for Sustainable Farming and Food, will be visiting the Central Science Lab (CSL), York, in May 2007.

Professor Mike Roberts of the CSL is a member of Yorkshire Science, the Science and Innovation Council for Yorkshire and the Humber.  As part of Lord Rooker’s visit, Yorkshire Science has been asked to present a broad overview of the science and technology provision in Yorkshire and the Humber.

CSL explores the sciences behind food safety, wildlife management, chemical safety and pathogen detection.  A state of the art organisation and facility, CSL's specialists look for ways to develop valuable intellectual property with a current focus in the fields of diagnostics, product formulation and biocides.

The CSL is actively seeking research partnerships, sharing technology gains to increase its intellectual property portfolio.  Lord Rooker has been invited to spend the day at the facility, meet members of Yorkshire Science and attend the launch of a new spin out company, based at the Centre.

BA Festival of Science

Yorkshire Science, as part of the Yorkshire Forward Innovation team, is taking part in the 2007 BA Festival of Science to be held in York in September 2007.

‘From Invention to Innovation’ will take place on 12th September featuring keynote presentations from business experts and leading academics.  The event will showcase inventive case studies from companies that are harnessing innovation, creating new products and processes for a competitive edge.

Representatives from emerging technologies such as advanced materials, bioscience, information and communication technologies will take part.

The day will conclude with a feature called “The Next Big Bangs”.  Leading experts in the field of intelligent transport, communication technology network security and sustainable building will discuss the challenges of the future.

‘Invention to Innovation’ is an open event and it is anticipated an audience of over 150 guests from the fields of business, science, technology and education will take part.  Booking details will be available later in the year; anyone interested in taking part should visit www.the-ba.net for more information.

For press and media enquires about Yorkshire Science, contact Tracy Milnes of Thinking PR on ++ 44 (0) 113 238 9580, or 07802 891458 or email at tracy@thinkingpr.com.