Open innovation is key to identifying the industries of the future on which UK prosperity will depend, and the Bristol & Bath Science Park offers an exciting place to accelerate this in the South West.
That was the message delivered by writer and economist Will Hutton, who was speaking at the park’s first anniversary event today. Just a year after opening, space at the park has been snapped up twice as fast as anticipated with over three quarters of the first phase already let.
Coinciding with today’s event, three international science and technology-based companies announced they are to move or expand into the park's Grow On Centre, including Japanese power electronics firm TDK-Lambda, Marine Current Turbines, part of Siemens, and advanced numerical simulation research body CFMS.
Speaking at the today’s event, co-hosted by Science City Bristol, Mr Hutton, chair of the Big Innovation Centre at the Work Foundation said: “For Britain to compete effectively in a global economy, a strong culture of open innovation is vital to building the high value industries of the future.
“The South West has the ingredients in place to develop a vibrant open innovation ecosystem – international research-led universities, major blue-chip corporates, a potentially strong SME sector which embraces disruptive technologies and a developing skills base. It still falls short of a proper innovation eco-system. However the Science Park offers the potential to provide a new hub to accelerate open innovation in the region.”
Mr Hutton went on to participate in a panel discussion with business and university leaders about how best to encourage open innovation and collaboration between the South West’s leading academics and key sectors to build the industries of the future. These sectors include creative and digital, wireless, advanced materials and clean technology companies.
Science Park chief executive Bonnie Dean said: “We are delighted to welcome Will Hutton to the Bristol & Bath Science Park to champion the role of open innovation in accelerating the transfer of research from universities and research centres into industry.
“The UK invests over £4bn a year in research and the new ideas generated from this investment represent a significant opportunity to reshape and rebuild our economy. We are grateful to Will for offering inspiration to the region and for encouraging business and academia to embrace the power of open innovation.”
Science City Bristol director Lorelei Hunt added: “The Bristol and Bath region is a major centre for research-led industries such as aerospace, electronics, life sciences and green technology. Their future competitiveness depends on working in a broader way – across organisational boundaries, between large and small businesses and universities in an effective and vibrant ecosystem. We are thrilled to welcome Will Hutton to our inaugural event here today, as a leading advocate of open innovation and its capacity to transform the UK economy.”
Bristol and Bath were made a joint Science City in 2005 in recognition of the region’s strengths in research-led industries such as aerospace, electronics, life sciences and green technology.
Marine Current Turbines, a tidal energy company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Siemens company, has moved from the Science Park’s Innovation Centre into the Grow-On Centre, providing office and research space for up to 72 members of staff. TDK-Lambda has taken space for its advanced power electronics research engineers who will work closely with research laboratories in North Devon, Israel and Japan. Since announcing the move the firm has already seen a five-fold increase in the level of applicants from candidates with traditionally hard-to-find skills. Lastly, CFMS, an independent, not-for-profit engineering design simulation
organisation formed as a joint venture between leading engineering firms, will move to the Science Park from Bristol Business Park in January 2013.
Guests at today’s event also witnessed the unveiling of the world’s largest solar chandelier – a major new work illustrating the link between science and art, creativity and innovation. Created by the internationally acclaimed and Bristol-based artist Luke Jerram (Play Me I’m Yours – street pianos placed in public spaces around the world, including Bristol) whose three glass sculptures of viruses will be permanently on display at the Science Park, the 5m-high chandelier, pictured, is suspended from the ceiling of the Science Park’s stunning three storey-high, glass-fronted Forum building. It is made up of 700 glass Crookes radiometers, individual glass bulbs containing metal paddles that spin when powered by sunlight, causing the chandelier to shimmer and flicker.
