Senate

 

Division of Business Partnerships, Innovation and
Knowledge Transfer

 

 

1.      Strategic Partnerships

 

1.1       Fuel Cells

The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Patricia Hewitt, confirmed on December 14th  that Loughborough would be the site of the National Fuel Cells Centre of Excellence.  The launch phase is well underway. Details of the DTI/Industry funding package are expected shortly.

 

1.2       Rolls Royce Fuel Cell Systems  

Agreements concluded with emda shortly before Christmas have resulted in £950k funding to relocate the CREST PV Facility, and refurbish part of the space for which Rolls Royce Fuel Cell Systems have taken out a tenancy to carry out their R&D, Negotiations are ongoing to win a further tranche of funding to complete the refurbishment.

 

1.3             emda

emda have indicated that they require a Business Plan for Holywell Park before they consider any further funding applications from LU. Technopolis, a firm of technology transfer consultants who worked with us in developing the SEIC, will be undertaking the task, and linking it to the Estates Strategy Development Review and the submission to the Charnwood Borough Development Plan.

 

DBPIKT hosted a visit to the University on February 10th  by the new Chairman of emda Dr. Bryan Jackson, formerly of the Toyota Motor Company. Dr Jackson was shown the Innovation Centre, the SEIC and several research centres on campus, including Sports Technology.

 

1.4.           SEIC

Agreements lasting 6 months to allow two DSTL secondments to BAE SYSTEMS and thence to SEIC were concluded, and personnel are now in post.   This allows SEIC to negotiate a longer term involvement in SEIC.

 

2            Loughborough Innovation Centre

Phase 2 has completed on time and in budget.  Two of the large new units have been taken, and there is strong interest in the remainder.   It is expected that the centre will achieve full occupancy within about 6 months. Laser Optical Engineering have reduced their debt considerably and an agreement is in place to clear their debt.  The Hot Desk facility, which has been sponsored by a number of local firms and the development Fund, is open for business and has its first tenant.

 

3            Intellectual Property

All targets for the HEROBC and HEIF funded initiatives continue to be met and exceeded by activities across the Division.   Proposals for the implementation of HEIF 2 funds have been approved by Operations Sub Committee.  EMG have reviewed the HEIF targets and made some revisions, which have been approved by HEFCE.   Informal consultations have begun for HEIF 3, and OST have visited Loughborough to canvass views.

 

Derek Mapp has accepted the position of chair of the IP Advisory Board, which will bring invaluable experience and contacts to the operation.

 

A licensee for the polymer guitar has been found and detailed contractual negotiations are underway.

 

NESTA (National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) are funding a review of our licensing strategy and portfolio by a board member of the Licensing Executives Society.

 

4       Spin Out Companies & Licensing

The HEIF funded ‘Spin Out Officer’ has been recruited and is set to commence duties in March.    Derek Mapp will be undertaking a review of the portfolio, and wishes to meet each company in turn, with a view to assisting the location of commercial non exec directors. 

 

After a recent meeting of the IP Board, it was agreed that ‘non performing’ spin out companies should  be removed from the portfolio.  SP Informatics and UKIST have therefore been removed as spin out companies.  Dexterity Research is in a period of non trading after which we can apply to have it struck off the register.

 

Most of the spin outs are performing well and have all secured investment, in particular Dialog Devices (investment: NESTA £75K, Lachesis £75K), Sports Dynamics (investment: Lachesis £250K), and Hazid (investment £100K), and Micropore and Progressive Sports have secured substantial orders.

 

5.            Consultancy         

Consultancy quotes for the half year total £922,685.  Just over a quarter of these have converted to firm projects, but a couple of very large projects (£150,000+) are in negotiation and look likely to conclude shortly.   The team are confident that turnover will be higher than last year, as the order pipeline looks healthy.

 

6            Knowledge & Technology Transfer Centre

There are 12 KTPs with a total value of £1,276,087. We have just had the 1st KTP with JCB Services approved with the implicit understanding that a further 11 are likely to be approved over the next four years.  The KT Office is currently working on 10 KTP prospects.   Graduate Gateway currently has  14 graduates on placements with companies. Collaborative Training Accounts has 6 MTPs,  8 Case Ind/Acad, 6 RAIS, 25 EngD.