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TUESDAY 24 APRIL 2012

Welcome to the April issue of our ebulletin, which highlights some of the achievements and developments that have taken place across the N8 Research Partnership over the past couple of months.

Regener8 and the Medical Technologies IKC have announced a Proof of Concept funding call for regenerative medicine projects with an N8 academic lead. The call will open on 20 June 2012 at a launch event hosted by the University of York, at which Iain Gray (Chief Executive of the Technology Strategy Board) will be speaking.

METRC-supported QuantuMDx, one of the most promising biotechs to emerge from the UK is now launching its first major recruitment drive in the N8 region, creating a range of exciting job opportunities for up and coming scientists to further develop its groundbreaking technologies.

The Times Higher Education (THES) highlighted the N8 "vim” which is leaving the rest trailing, and our demographic change research was presented at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress, attended by the likes of Sir Richard Branson and Sir Terry Leahy.

Our N8 work on infrastructure, equipment and asset management was presented to national funding partners at a meeting in Manchester, and we are busy finalising our report which we will be publishing next month.

Finally the N8 Research Partnership was featured as part of a conference series sponsored by the UK Centre for Innovation and Research, as an exemplar of how universities are using collaboration as a powerful mechanism to work with business.

I hope you enjoy reading this e-bulletin and please get in touch with your comments and ideas.

Best regards,
Sarah Jackson
Director, N8

 

Regener8 to Launch Proof of Concept Funding

Regener8 and the Medical Technologies IKC are set to launch a new funding call for regenerative medicine projects with an N8 academic lead, which will be launched and applications opened at an event being held at the University of York on 20th June 2012.

Since Regener8 was established in 2007 it has pursued the objective of promoting the translation of research in regenerative medicine into commercial products. Regener8 and the Medical Technologies IKC have funding available to accelerate and enhance innovation in key projects that meet clear selection criteria and demonstrate significant commercial potential.

Successful projects will be able to demonstrate from the outset that they have a well defined and achievable end point with a clear commercial objective linked to clinical utility.

Read more

 

QuantuMDx creates cutting edge science jobs in N8 region

One of the most promising biotechs to emerge from the UK, METRC-supported QuantuMDx, is launching its first major recruitment drive in the N8 region, creating a range of exciting job opportunities for up and coming scientists to further develop its groundbreaking technologies.

METRC, the N8 centre for nanotechnology, science and engineering research, has provided QuantuMDx with access to world leading research in the N8 universities. This led to the company relocating to Newcastle at the end of last year. The high growth company, which is developing the world’s first handheld, clinical DNA diagnostic and sequencing device, has begun recruiting for a range of scientific positions to further develop its groundbreaking technologies.  Nine scientists are being sought, including six PhD level candidates, with expertise in molecular biology, chemistry and engineering.

Read more

 

Research Intelligence - Vim up North leaves the rest trailing

The Times Higher Education recently ran an article on the N8 Research Partnership, citing N8 as 'the poster group for research collaboration and academic links with industry.'

When David Willetts, Sir Alan Langlands and Iain Gray all turned up to the launch of the N8 Research Partnership's Industry Innovation Forum in Leeds earlier this year, the group of eight northern English research-intensives knew they were "doing something politically correct". After all, said Trevor McMillan, pro-vice chancellor for research at Lancaster University and chair of N8's executive management group, it is rare for the universities and science minister, the chief executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England and the chief executive of the Technology Strategy Board all to attend an event outside London.

Read more

 

Access to a world leading asset base beyond 2012

The Pro-Vice Chancellors for Research of the N8 Universities, Directors of Research Operations and national funding partners met at the University of Manchester on 14 March 2012 to review progress, test findings, and highlight key issues relating to asset collaboration between the N8 universities.

National funding partners including Universities UK (UUK), the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) met with N8 to further discuss asset collaboration.

Presentations were made by N8 universities on topics including addressing cost, cultural and logistical barriers; sharing equipment; creating a simple, shared accessible asset register and effective business models for access and costing.

Read more

 

Enterprise and the third mission

N8 Research Partnership Director Sarah Jackson recently presented on the N8IIF at the 'Enterprise and the third mission: The Transformation of Contemporary Universities' seminar, which was held at the University of Manchester.

The focus of the meeting was on stimulating the interface between universities and the private sector. The seminar provided a forum for academics and practitioners to debate the social, economic, and political imperatives facing Higher Education.

The N8 Research Partnership was featured as an example of how universities are undertaking third mission activities, and using collaboration as a powerful mechanism to work with business.

Read more

 

The economy's silver lining

Professor Tom Cannon, Academic Lead of the N8 Research Partnership’s social sciences team, gave a presentation at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress, which took place from 9-16 March 2012 in Liverpool.

The Global Entrepreneurship Congress featured entrepreneurs, political figures and corporate leaders who shared their valuable insight in the main conference and a series of fringe events. The line up featured the likes of Sir Richard Branson and Sir Terry Leahy, and this was the first year the prestigious event was held in the UK.

Professor Cannon explored the latest themes in entrepreneurship research. He described the economic impact of demographic change on business with particular reference to the variation within the North of England.

Read more

 

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