European Funding for Environmental Projects
9:30am – 13:00pm, 14th June 2011, The Innovation Centre, Exeter
Enterprise Europe Network South West is holding an event in Exeter on the opportunities for European funding for environmental projects.
Attendees will learn what European funding is available for projects, via the Environment thematic area of FP7 and the CIP Eco Innovation Programme. The event will provide opportunities to meet with regional and national support teams and network with potential partners and experienced FP7 and CIP Eco-innovation participants. In addition there will be an introduction to the Eurostars and Research for SME’s programmes.
The event, organised in partnership with the South West Environmental iNet and the Environmental Sustainability Knowledge Transfer Network, will also provide details on how to access further support and how to write proposals. In addition, there will be a case study from an organisation that has successfully accessed European funding. A buffet lunch will be provided and the speakers will be available for 15 minute 1:1 sessions in the afternoon, booking will be undertaken on the day of the event.
The event will be of interest to businesses, academics and other interested parties seeking EU funding in the following areas of:
• Coping with climate change
• Sustainable use and management of resources
• Improving resource efficiency
• Protecting citizens from environmental hazards
• Mobilizing environmental knowledge for policy, industry and society
• Materials and process recycling;
• Sustainable building materials;
• Environmental sustainability in the food and drink sector;
• Greening business models and green procurement solutions
Related articles
- European businesses invest in eco-innovation to hurdle rising materials costs (ecomagnificent.com)
- 10 years of eco innovation (conversations.nokia.com)
Seminar on PV and LED lighting at University of Bath
Photovoltaic and LED lighting solutions at the University of Bath, Thursday 12 May 2011
The technologies of light are set to have a huge impact on the green economy. Photovoltaic solar panels are set to become a viable supplement to electricity generation.
Whilst solid state lighting with LEDs can drastically reduce the electricity required to light our homes and businesses. LED and PV technologies have much in common, both are based on semiconductors, both operate at low voltage, both need high efficiency, both require initial investment with long return, both require new approaches for building integration and both will see huge growth in the next few years.
This event is for anyone advising on or working with renewable energy solutions, those looking to understand developments in PV and LED lighting, how they compare, and the prospects for them being used together. Given the potential, an interactive roundtable discussion will seek to identify the issues with combining PV and LEDs on a larger scale, the road blocks, when such combined deployments can be expected and what their impact would be.
The University of Bath is hosting this seminar in Lecture Theatre 2.1, Building 3E Claverton Campus, Bath, BA2 7AY. Directions available at www.bath.ac.uk/maps and advanced registration is required at www.regonline.co.uk/lightingenergy
Bristol’s first Health Innovation Showcase
A unique exhibition, the first of its kind to be held in Bristol, will showcase the outstanding health innovation achievements in the city and offer a glimpse into the future at what new developments might bring.
The Bristol Health Innovation Showcase is the first exhibition from BRIG-H (Bristol Research and Innovation Group for Health), a partnership of universities and NHS Trusts committed to improving the health of people in Bristol and beyond through research, innovation and closer collaboration.
The Showcase will take place at UWE’s Exhibition and Conference Centre on Wednesday 30 March from 5.30 to 8.30 pm.
The event will provide an opportunity for professionals and members of the public to see first hand 30 exciting innovations on display which have been developed by members of the partnership. Clinicians, researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs behind the latest developments and innovations will be on hand to answer questions and explain their inventions, new procedures and advances in health services.
The BRIG-H partners are: the University of Bristol, University of the West of England, Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, North Bristol NHS Trust, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Trust, in association with Bristol City Council, NHS North Somerset, and NHS South Gloucestershire.
Scientists, clinicians, and health executives from these organisations have worked together to create new innovations and processes that have benefited health in Bristol.
Deborah Evans, Chief Executive NHS Bristol and Chair of the Bristol Health Leadership Executive, said: “We know that Bristol is regarded as a beacon of innovation. Innovation in health is changing the lives of patients and the city: inventions, research, new companies, treatments, devices and tools are transforming the care and quality of the lives of patients. This event is an ideal opportunity to be inspired by examples of Bristol innovations that have changed people’s lives and talk to the people who have made it happen.”
Professor Richard Luxton, Director Institute of Bio-Sensing Technology, UWE, said: “This event demonstrates how the partners working together can make huge gains. We want to encourage other researchers and clinicians to get involved in innovation and applications for their research. There are many projects which would not have happened without the expertise and innovation of both universities, and the support of the NHS Trusts. We hope this event will show just how much we have achieved together, and the enormous potential there is in the city for further innovation and health improvement in the city in the future.”
The innovations on display range from medical innovations, through to novel improvements to service delivery and community health initiatives. Innovations on display include:
The TOBY trial: – A new treatment pioneered by Professor Marianne Thoresen (University of Bristol) with partners North Bristol Trust and funded by the Medical Research Council, Olympic Medical and SPARKS aims to prevent brain damage caused by lack of oxygen (Asphyxia) at birth by giving cooling treatment within the first six hours of life. The novel treatment lowers the affected babies’ body temperature to 33.5°C and induces hypothermia for 72 hours before gradually rewarming the baby in intensive care. After clinical trials the treatment was introduced in Bristol’s two neonatal intensive care units in 2006 and 60 per cent of babies now survive without significant injury compared to 30 per cent previously in Bristol. In May 2010 the treatment was recommended by NICE for asphyxiated babies. Professor Thoresen is now working with Professor John Dingley (Swansea University) and University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust to improve the prognosis for these babies even further by adding inhaled Xenon gas to the cooling regime.
Adults with Asperger Syndrome: plugging the service gap – The Bristol Autism Spectrum Service (BASS) was established to fill the service vacuum for adults with Asperger Syndrome who are unable to access support from mainstream services. It has received national recognition as an example of best practice and contributed to the government’s strategy for adults with autism. The service model is being replicated in other UK regions. BASS facilitates assessment and diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome for adults, provides a programme of post-diagnostic support and provides training for mainstream providers. By plugging the service gap for adults with Asperger Syndrome the new service helps to improve mental wellbeing and life outcomes for individuals. Training has been delivered to 500 health and social care professionals, employment agencies and JobCentre Plus staff. The project leaders from Bristol Autism Spectrum Service, AWP are: Dr Ian Ensum, Matt Trerise, Annie Alexander, Amy Baddeley, Dr Rona Aldridge, Dr Peter Carpenter, Simon Allen and Gemma Allen.
OdoReader – Diagnosing bacterial infections at the bedside – OdoReader is a prototype device which accurately and rapidly identifies disease causing bacteria in diarrhoea such as the bacterium Clostridium difficile, which is highly infectious and causes a severe form of diarrhoea. OdoReader captures and analyses the chemicals in the smell of the diarrhoea and is able to give an accurate diagnosis within 20 minutes. This new prototype device is robust and reliable and can help prevent the spread of infection. There are plans to develop similar devices for other infections and this device is ideal for use in the developing world. The project leaders are Professor Chris Probert, (University of Bristol) and Professor Norman Ratcliffe (UWE) collaborating with North Bristol NHS Trust and University Hospitals Bristol NHS Trust. OdoReader is being developed with the support of the Wellcome Trust and will be ready for launch in 2013.
The BRIG-H consortium will also be hosting a Health Innovation Challenge during the afternoon before the exhibition, bringing together scientists, researchers, clinicians, patient representatives and others from Bristol, to generate new ideas and facilitate collaborations and initiatives to improve health in the city.
Researchers look at using virtual antennas
Virtual antennas – using several antennas of equipment nearby – can improve the performance of wireless devices in some cases, say researchers at the University of Bristol’s Centre for Communications Research (CCR)
CCR has also launched a £10m Doctoral Centre opening next week
The Big M review – Future innovations in mobile technology
Over 200 mobile professionals and developers gathered in Bath for the Big M conference on Monday, looking at a range of key issues for the mobile industry.
David Simpson has written a great review here: http://davidsimpson.me/2011/03/23/the-big-m-conference-bath/ and highlights Paul Golding’s presentation on future innovations.
Paul, the lead Innovation Architect and CEO of Wireless Wanders in Swindon, is a great example of the strength of the region – he has been on the leading edge of the mobile industry for 20 years, defining, designing and implementing many new products and services. He is the inventor of the first ever mobile internet portal (Zingo), designed for Lucent Technologies in 1997 and developed further for NTT DoCoMo in 1998. He was recently consulting as Motorola‘s Chief Applcations Architect and now resides at O2 as a founder member of “The Lab,” which is an “intrapreneurial” venture to exploit new business opportunities using Web start-up methodologies. He also founded the O2 Incubator. He is also a mentor in the Springboard Incubator program.
His presentation from the Big M is here and well worth a read: http://www.slideshare.net/pgolding/big-m-conference-future-mobile-innovations
Related articles
- Motorola Mobility Announces Intent to Acquire Dreampark (prnewswire.com)
- Future of innovation: Readers’ predictions about mobile gadgets. (slate.com)
Martin McCourt, CEO of Dyson, interviewed at UWE
Martin McCourt, CEO of Dyson, on the challenges posed by the recession, Dyson’s model of investing in innovation and the need for great people coming through a great education system to drive business forward.
Martin McCourt, CEO of Dyson, interview at UWE
The film is part of the Distinguished Executive Address series of talks organised by the Bristol Business School at UWE Bristol.
Medical electronics spotlight in Bath
i-Med: How medical electronics will deliver patient power
Thursday, 24 March 2011 and Friday, 25 March 2011, Bath Ventures Innovation Centre, Broad Quay, Bath, BA1 1UD
Experts in medical electronic systems are gathering in Bath next week for the SiliconSouthWest iMed seminar. This looks at the increasingly important area of medical electronics and applications, particularly with the use of wireless networks. Speakers from the NHS, silicon and embedded systems companies and applications developers will explore the opportunities for developing the next generation of medical systems and their place in the healthcare ecosystem.
Confirmed Speakers:
- Noel Hurley, Chief Operating Officer, Toumaz Technology
- Phil Evans, Director, Ocean Blue Software
- Tim Phipps, Cambridge Consultants
Plus healthcare expert panel led by Dr Nigel Harris, Director, Bath Institute of Medical Engineering
- Stephen Hope, Docobo
- Angus Donald, NHS Innovations South West
- David Rogers, Ex President and Chief Executive, Lucent EMEA
Bristol hosts its first Wiki Academy
Image via CrunchBase
When: Saturday 19 March 2011 from 10am
Where: Room 1.06, Merchant Venturers School of Engineering, Woodland Road, University of Bristol, BS8 1UB
The first Wiki Academy in Bristol is being held tomorrow at the Bristol University School of Engineering with a range of volunteer speakers, including Steve Virgin, a member of the Wikimedia UK board. The Academy is using a room with a networked Windows PC and Powerpoint and will make the slides available online afterwards. Use of slides isn’t mandatory: talk through the relevant WP pages if that’s more informative.
The Academy looks at the different ways to use Wikipedia and includes a discussion on microgrants. The agenda for the day is here
Psychological issues vital after nuclear accidents says researcher
The psychological issues of nuclear accidents such as Fukushima Daiichi in Japan are just as important as the immediate health issues says a leading trauma expert speaking in Bristol. “Twenty five year on, we can safely say that the biggest problem of the Chernobyl accident was not cancer or ecological but psychological, and I think that will be the situation in Japan,” said Elena Bodnar, director of the Trauma Risk Management Research Institute at the University of Chicago. Her experiences with the Russian nuclear disaster led to the innovative design of a face mask.
- Japan Radiation Leaks Feared as Nuclear Experts Point to Possible Cover-up(alternet.org)
- Nuclear power plant accidents: listed, visualised and ranked since 1952(guardian.co.uk)
- Fukushima Fallout: How Bad Could It Get? (news.sky.com)
- Japan: New meltdown fears at second reactor; how much radiation has been released in Fukushima crisis? (boingboing.net)
- Second Chernobyl in Japan ‘very unlikely’, IAEA says (earthtimes.org)
Local student scoops Intel prize
Roxanne Pollard of Chipping Sodbury School
A student from Gloucestershire has won major engineering award for her electronics design.
Roxanne Pollard (19) from Chipping Sodbury School designed a bicycle helmet incorporating special indicator safety features and has been invited to represent Great Britain at the 2012 Intel-sponsored International Science and Engineering Fair in the US with all expenses paid.
The award was part of the Young Engineer for Britain programme, whose sponsors include SW firms STMicroelectronics, Airbus and GKN.
Alan Egan (16), who attends King Edward VI Camp Hill Boys School in Birmingham, won The Duke of York’s Award for the creative application of electronics in the Young Engineer for Britain national final with a multimedia router, which provides quick and easy routing of multimedia content from various inputs to multiple output destinations using a simple and intuitive colour-based interface.
The Group 1 (16-18) winner was Aseem Nishra from Hymers College in Hull with jeans that react like a set of drums when the wearer taps their thighs. The Group 2 (14-16) winner was Hemang Rishi from Winchester College with a novel robotic vacuum cleaner. The Group 3 (12-14) winner was a group comprising Shea Quinn, Gavin Fox and Caolan MaGee from Abbey Grammar School, Newry with a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Assistant.
Entering the Young Engineer for Britain competition
Any secondary school students aged 12-19 can enter the 2012 Young Engineer for Britain Competition with enhanced exam projects, or, projects designed specifically as entries for the competition. More details can be found at http://www.youngeng.org/index.asp?page=165
Bristol information day on ENIAC innovation programme
The European ENIAC Programme launched its 4th call for proposals (ENIAC Call – 2011) on On February 23rd, and the Technology Strategy Board are investing over £1m into this year’s call. The programme is aimed at companies engaged in research or design for microelectronics, nanoelectronics, micromachined systems (MEMS), System in Package (SiP), and System on Chip (SoC) design.
To help South West companies prepare of their proposals, the Electronics Knowledge Centre, in partnership with the NMI and the Microelectronics iNet, is holding an information day in Bristol on March 17th at the University of the West of England (UWE). This event will provide companies an opportunity to learn about the ENIAC programme, how to apply, and how to find the right collaborative partners.
The event will also include the opportunity for companies to “pitch” their capability, particulary if they are looking to participate in the programme. This will be followed by a brokerage session, giving companies the opportunity to discuss project ideas during private “one to one” meetings.
March 17th
University of the West of England, Bristol
Speakers from: ENIAC JU, Technology Strategy Board, University of Sheffied, Philips BV
in association with NMI and the South West Microelectronics iNET
Registration fee: £15 + VAT (Members)
£30 + VAT (Non Members)
Click here to Register or for more details
SW hosts Sustainable Design conference
A landmark conference on Sustainable Design and what it means for their business and industry as a whole is being held in the SouthWest. It will be a key opportunity for designers, businesses and the public sector to fully understand what sustainable design is, how it can be harnessed, how design professionals can extract maximum benefit from it, and how to communicate this value to clients.
The Somerset Design Enterprise Network is hosting the Sustainable Business by Design conference on 22nd March 2011, at Somerset College, run in association with the Creative Industries iNet and also funded by The Design Programme, Design Council, Somerset Design Enterprise Network, South West Design Forum, Arts Council, ADK Design, Business Link and Exeter College.
Speaking at the event will be a range of industry experts, including David Kester, Chief Executive of the Design Council, and Mark Shayler, Design Advisor & Eco-Designer, as well as Lynne Elvins, a Design Consultant and Advisor on Sustainable Innovation and John Boult, Associate Professor Design Strategy at Brunel University and Designer.
“Somerset & the South West has a vibrant business and design community, and its clear that early adoption of sustainability can provide a competitive advantage and offer commercial opportunities,” said Andrew Knutt, Chair of the Somerset Design Enterprise Network. “Design plays a key role in helping industry achieve this and our ‘Sustainable Business by Design’ programme will explore and demonstrate how organisations can improve their brands, products, processes and services.”
To register attendance and find out more information please visit www.sustainable-design-uk.com.
Related articles
- Is Sustainable Design Wearing Thin? (treehugger.com)
INets launch to stimulate SW innovation
Five iNets have been officially launched in the SouthWest to encourage innovation. The five cover Microelectronics, Biomedical, Environmental Technologies, Aerospace and Advanced Engineering and Creative Industries, and one of the aims is to have more cross-disciplinary working (see Innovation Lab story).
“It’s very easy for small companies to be left behind in innovation,” said Baroness Hanham, undersecretary of state for Communities and Local Government which oversees the European funding in the projects. “We are very good in this country at innovation and then hiding it under a stone and there is so much innovation going on here.”
The iNets are backed by £12.5m from the outgoing South West Regional Development Agency, £6.1m from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and other partner investments.
“We are committed to creating real opportunities for people in the South West, and it is easy to see from the entrepreneurs and businesses what a difference a support network like this can make to the local economy,” said Baroness Hanham. “The iNets project is helping local businesses realise their potential through sharing expertise and knowledge and opening up life-changing opportunities for many people.”
Related articles
- iNet nabs $5.1 mil for SW England (variety.com)
Working with Chinese avionics firms
The presentations from last month’s visit to the region by Chinese avionics companies are up at the West of England Aerospace Forum.
Chinese Aerospace Supply Chain and Partnering Mission – Event Slides
Working With Chinese Partners – Vince Cunningham
Briefing on AVIC & COMAC – Douglas Barnes
Chinese Aerospace Market – Paul Calver
Welcome
Welcome to SW Innovation News, gathering all the innovation news from the technology clusters in and around the SouthWest UK. Find us on Twitter at @SWtechNews
Sponsors
Sponsorship opportunities here
