Conference 2015 Report: What can government do to support technology transfer and innovation?

Dr Karen Lewis, Associate Director, Innovation, BBSRC,  and member of PraxisUnico’s Board and Conference Committee (pictured) reports on this session which provided an opportunity to explore the various approaches taken by Governments (in the UK and internationally) to support innovation and deliver economic and societal benefit from publicly funded research.

Speakers include Celia Caulcott (Executive Director, Innovation and Skills, BBSRC and RCUK); Debbie Buckley-Golder (Head of Research Engagement, Innovate UK); Deirdre Glenn (Director Manufacturing, Engineering &Energy Commercialisation, Enterprise Ireland) and Yasemin Koc (Innovation Advisor, British Council).

Fundamentals of Technology Transfer

Amy Firth, Marketing & Communications Manager reports back from the training course which took place April 21-24 in Peterborough.

This was a great course – by half-way through, I’d almost reconsidered my chosen career in favour of jumping ship for technology transfer, thanks to the energy and enthusiasm of both delegates and trainers. By the end, I had a new appreciation for the scope and complexity of the role.

Phil Elstob, Course Director and Business Development Executive for Cancer Research Technology and Newcastle University co-ordinated a lively three days of discussion and learning.

“Knowledge transfer is a people business”

A few weeks ago PraxisUnico’s Policy Officer, Tamsin Mann, spoke at a KnowledgeLondon Forum (KLF) event about the macro environment for Technology and Knowledge Transfer, the issues as we perceive them and possible solutions or routes to address them.

Tamsin was providing context for local activities since the main purpose of KnowledgeLondon is to allow practitioners of technology transfer and knowledge exchange to talk about their day-to-day experiences of working with companies and academics: attracting the former and incentivising the latter to bring about fruitful engagements.