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The marketplace for science and technology is vast, fast-growing and complex. It cuts across all borders, between countries, industries and scientific disciplines. It involves many skills: corporate R&D managers, academic researchers, technology transfer officers, IP specialists, venture capitalists and policy-makers. And for success, what counts is what you know, and whom you know.

EEDA awards funding to Cranfield University and University of Cambridge to establish presence at Colworth Science Park - press release, 9th April, 2008

The East of England Development Agency (EEDA) has awarded a £1.85m grant to two of the world’s leading academic institutions, to establish an academic presence at Colworth Science Park in Bedfordshire. The science and innovation hub is being developed under a joint venture between Unilever and international property group Goodman.

Cranfield University and University of the Arts London are set to launch a new Master’s degree in Innovation and Creativity in Industry, providing the next generation of business leaders with invaluable creative, technology and business skills. The collaboration will bring together both universities’ expertise in arts and design and engineering to deliver a novel Masters’ degree in design (MDes) that aims to provide future leaders with an understanding of how to exploit creativity within technology organisations.

The E.Factor, in cooperation with the Centre of Entrepreneurial Learning, based at Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, invites you to learn more about this exciting online networking resource for entrepreneurs and hear about opportunities within the clean energy sector from top Keynote Speaker Peter Fusaro, chairman of Global Change Associates in New York.

Date: 21st April 2008

Download the Launch Invite from here

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE - 20 March 2008

MOD initiative to incubate innovation. Pilot likely to take place at HARWELL in the Oxford to Cambridge (O2C Arc)

A new pilot Centre for Defence Enterprise (1) will invite inventors, scientists and academics to join forces with private investors and develop new defence technologies to aid the Armed Forces, Baroness Taylor announced today.

Enterprise Capital Funds have been established to address a market weakness in the provision of equity finance to SMEs. Government funding is used alongside private sector funds to establish funds that operate within the ‘equity gap’; targeting investments of up to £2m that have the potential to provide a good commercial return.

Quick news:
“Milton Keynes offered Alps UK a unique position midway between London and Birmingham and in the centre of the Oxford Cambridge arc, which was hugely beneficial in reaching our customers quickly and efficiently.” Peter Woodland, Managing Director, Alps Electric (UK)

The Government wants to create a stronger and fairer Britain, equipped to meet the challenges of the future. A publication was added to the O2C library Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities & Skills, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform by Command of Her Majesty.

A new report, commissioned and funded by Milton Keynes Partnership on behalf of the East West Rail Consortium, has confirmed that there is a strong business and operating case for a new network of railway lines and train services linking Milton Keynes to Oxford, Aylesbury and Bedford by 2012.

Calling all technology businesses and entrepreneurs to showcase their achievements

Technology-led businesses and entrepreneurs from across the region have the opportunity to be recognised for innovative achievements at the inaugural Bright Sparc Awards. The awards are being run by the Sparc Technology Network and will honour those businesses or individuals who have truly excelled in their specialist field.