Past events 2016
Over 11,200 people have attended the 160 plus events we have run for local businesses and innovators, with about 100 people attending each event.
Events 2016
Our recent events covered themes including innovation, entrepreneurship and enterprise. Find out more about each event, including a link to the full recording, where available:
This event explored the current role of Innovation Centres within Wales and looked what was needed for the future.
Date: 9 December 2016
Chair: Prof Rick Delbridge, Dean of Research, Innovation and Enterprise, Cardiff University
Speakers:
- Dr Nick Bourne, Cardiff University
- Gareth Jones, Welsh ICE
- Victoria Norman, Signum Health
- Dr Justin John, Life Sciences Hub Wales, Welsh Government.
Innovation Centres and their communities aim to enhance innovation and entrepreneurship across key economic sectors, create jobs and grow the economy. There are a number of successful Innovation and Incubation Centres in Wales, housing everyone from sole traders, micro's and SME's to large and multinational corporates.
Offering more than just buildings, Innovation Centres provide innovative environments and create supportive communities essential for the economy and businesses to grow and prosper. But what does the landscape look like for the future, how should these centres develop and what do businesses and organisations need?
The session explored Innovate UK’s regional strategy, the funding available and how to apply.
Date: 9 November 2016
Chair: Dr Dave Bembo, Director of Research and Innovation Services, Cardiff University
Speakers:
- Dr Andy Sellars, Innovate UK
- Prof. James Birchall, Cardiff University & Extraject Technologies Ltd.
Since 2007 Innovate UK, the UK’s Innovation Agency, has committed £1.8 billion to innovation, helping more than 7,600 organisations with projects estimated to add more than £11.5 billion to the UK economy and create 55,000 new jobs.
The session also included an overview from Prof Birchall, a Professor at the Cardiff University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Director of a successful spin out company. James has successfully secured over £15 million in collaborative external grant funding from a broad range of sources including Research Councils, the pharmaceutical industry, government bodies and charities.James shared his experience of applying for, securing and managing Innovate UK funding, both as an academic and Director of Extraject Technologies Ltd.
Listen to the 'Funding Innovation' session and view the slides.
This event explored whether in today’s continually innovative retail market, should the smaller, traditional retailer adapt their stores to the changed retail habits of today’s consumer.
Date: 11 May 2016
Chair: Prof Rick Delbridge, Dean of Research, Innovation & Enterprise, Cardiff University
Speakers:
- Dr Eleri Rosier, Senior Lecturer in Marketing & Strategy, Cardiff University
- Steven Salaman, Owner, Wallys Delicatessen.
The event also raised a discussion on how Cardiff independent traders can compete with the new St David’s Shopping Centre in terms of retail innovation and benefit from the ‘St David’s effect’. Two differing perspectives were provided by the speakers, outlining the benefits of traditional vs innovative and service vs technical approaches.