Forging Ahead and Midlands Innovation recently worked with Loughborough University Policy Unit to bring together senior representatives from across the Midland’s research, investment and enterprise landscape for a high-level Westminster roundtable to examine how to strengthen the Midlands’ role in the UK’s innovation economy.
Held in Westminster and chaired by Loughborough’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nick Jennings, the session convened universities, investors, the British Business Bank, Barclays Eagle Labs, BVCA (The British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association), the Royal Academy of Engineering, regional authorities and successful spinouts.
The roundtable formed part of Forging Ahead, a collaboration of 15 Midlands universities working together to accelerate commercialisation, increase spinout success and support regional economic growth. With the Government’s Industrial Strategy placing innovation and regional productivity at the centre of its growth plans, the discussion provided a timely opportunity to shape the Midlands’ collective contribution.
Professor Nick Jennings welcomed and outlined the body of work that was growing through Midlands Mindforge and now through the new Forging Ahead Project to support commercialisation within partner universities.
At the beginning of the discussion, Dr Helen Turner, Director of Midlands Innovation set the scene with the current university commercialisation context in the Midlands. Professor Dan Parsons, Loughborough Pro Vice-Chancellor of Research and Innovation and PI for Forging Ahead, then introduced the programme and its ambition to attendees.
The roundtable discussion focused on three major themes: unlocking capital, developing talent and commercialisation capability and creating an integrated regional innovation system.
To read the full story, click on Forging Ahead’s LinkedIn page here
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