Summer Newsletter 2013
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EnterpriseEnterprise HuHubb starts up n 29 April,April, a host ofof leadinleadingg innovators, entrentrepreneurs,epreneurs, bubusinesssiness aangelsngels and venture capitalists gagatheredthered Oat Prince Philip House for the formal launch of the Academy’s Enterprise Hub. A flagship programme launched as part of the Academy-led Engineering for Growth campaign, the Hub will leverage the experience and expertise of Fellows to support and encourage the next generation of early-stage engineering and technology businesses throughout the business cycle. As well as mentoring and other strategic and practical support from Fellows, the Hub will provide entrepreneurs with networking opportunities and introductions to potential sources of funding. Over 70 Fellows have already pledged to donate their time – totalling more than 800 days a year – to contribute to the Hub’s programme. Delegates at the launch event, including Universities and Science Minister the Rt Hon David Willetts MP, heard from Ian Shott CBE FREng, who chairs the Academy’s new Commenting on the launch, Business Secretary, the Rt Hon Enterprise Committee. Dr Vince Cable MP said: “This stellar list of mentors – many of “The vision for the Hub is to seed a culture of success among whom have founded and led some of the UK's most successful the most ambitious and high-potential technology-intensive engineering businesses - will ensure the next generation of SMEs in the UK,” Ian Shott explained. “It will build their talent keeps Britain at the forefront of science and innovation.” capabilities and provide them with essential connections to The Hub strengthens the Academy’s commitment to established financing and business clusters that offer access promoting engineering innovation and entrepreneurship to to finance and routes to market.” drive economic growth for future prosperity. It will embrace Academy President Sir John Parker GBE FREng said: “I believe several existing Academy activities, such as the Engineering the Enterprise Hub provides a terrific opportunity to bring to Enterprise Fellowships scheme, now in its third year, and the bear the unique talents and networks of our Fellowship to Academy-ERA Foundation Entrepreneurs Award. Alumni of address an area of real national need.” both, as well as winners and finalists of the MacRobert Award, will be invited to join the Hub and share their experience and The occasion also saw the announcement of a major gift from advice. The Hub will therefore enable the wealth of business Dr John C Taylor OBE FREng towards a dedicated centre for and entrepreneurial expertise that the Academy has for many enterprise at Prince Philip House. The proposed centre will years encouraged to be deployed in a targeted way in the provide high-quality space for Hub activities as they grow national interest. It will strengthen the Academy’s performance and develop. The Hub's activities have also attracted early and reputation as a valuable national resource for business support from the ERA Foundation (to provide initial funding and enterprise. for a staff post), Sir Robin Saxby FREng and Weir Group plc. The success of the 2012 Annual Fund appeal has also allowed Top: Dr John Taylor OBE FREng addresses the audience the Academy to contribute funding, and operations are now Above: Academy President Sir John Parker GBE FREng, Past President Lord Alec getting underway. Broers FREng, and Dr Mike Lynch OBE FREng President’s column 2 Infrastructure and transport 7 Newsletter First QEPrize awarded 3 People and talent 8 Innovation and entrepreneurship 4 Business and manufacturing 9 Summer 2013 Technology and society 5 Academy roundup 10 Energy and natural resources 6 Obituaries 12 1 The Academy is fundamentally a partnership organisation — bringing together people President's and organisations in the profession, universities, government and business — to column support national engineering capacity, economic growth and societal benefit. Fellows can read about the highlights of the progress the Academy has made in the last year in the Annual Review for 2012-2013, which was recently distributed ahead of the annual general meeting. The review details how the Academy is supporting cutting-edge engineering research, is delivering valuable programmes to enhance and expand the engineering skills pipeline and raising the profile of engineering with key audiences. The award of the first QEPrize has brought these messages home to a worldwide audience. Throughout its history, the Academy has grown and achieved increasing impact and influence because of the steadfast support of its Fellows. The launch of our new Enterprise Hub is the latest exemplar of the Academy leveraging its core strengths in the Fellowship. The new Hub has the potential to make a real difference both to the nation’s technology enterprise landscape and to the Academy’s reach. Already, more than 70 Fellows, all with hands-on experience of starting up and running successful businesses, have signed up to the Hub. As mentors, supporters and advisers, they will help some of the best new technology start-ups not only to get going, but get growing. The Hub’s own start-up phase has significant financial support from Fellows and organisations with a track record in successful innovation. Dr John C Taylor FREng has Meetings and visitors made a very significant commitment towards providing physical infrastructure for the Hub. The success of our 2012 Annual Fund appeal to the Fellowship means that the In his capacity as President, Academy can also contribute. This important new initiative is off to a truly flying start. Sir John Parker has met: Her Majesty The Queen The Academy – as the Forum for engineering – is well on the way to realising our HRH The Princess Royal ambition to develop as the partner of choice for our great industrial companies. So Professor Muffy Calder – Chief Scientific much of what we achieve is undertaken in collaboration with businesses that are Adviser for Scotland at the heart of UK engineering, manufacturing and construction. With half of our Peter Hansford – Government Chief Fellowship having made their mark in business or industry, it is right that we continue Construction Adviser to develop our working relationships with top businesses as we seek to help many more companies join their number. House of Lords Conservative Peers Sir Paul Nurse Hon FREng PRS – President of the Royal Society The University of York was the generous host of this year’s Summer Soirée and Exhibition, at its centre dedicated to encouraging collaboration between disciplines The Rt Hon George Osborne MP - and sectors to drive innovation. The exhibition was themed Engineering: Designed Chancellor of the Exchequer for Living, and showcased advanced engineering from the university’s research Queen Elizabeth Prize Judges and Winners departments. Guest of honour was Royal Fellow HRH The Princess Royal, who Sir Adam Roberts – President of the British viewed demonstrations of new applications of research in the fields of acoustics, Academy nanoparticles, and neuroimaging. Professor Lord Stern of Brentford Sir John Tooke – President of the Academy The Academy’s new campaign, Engineering for Growth, has now secured a number of Medical Sciences of excellent partners from business, research, government and the engineering The Rt Hon David Willetts MP - Minister of profession. The campaign website has recently been launched and a number of events State for Universities and Science and media activities are planned to bring home how engineering drives growth across many dimensions. He attended the following events and meetings: The news that the Chancellor has decided to maintain investment in public funding Council for Science and Technology for science and engineering research is an encouraging development for growth meeting in the UK. The Presidents of the four national academies had a meeting with the Regional visits: Chancellor as part of our joint work together to bring home the message that our Tech City and UCL, London research base is the wellspring of future innovation and growth. But we need to harvest its output and that means continued investment and involvement by the Rolls-Royce, Derby engineering companies that turn scientific ideas into marketable products and The School of Engineering at the services. University of Edinburgh, Selex ES Skyscanner and Wolfson Microelectronics, Edinburgh QEPrize awards ceremony Soirée at The University of York IET Board of Trustees dinner Innovation in biomedical engineering event 2 President's column First QEPrize awarded On 25 June, the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering (QEPrize) was awarded for the first time. Four of the five engineers who created the internet and the World Wide Web received their award from Her Majesty The Queen in front of an audience that included the Duke of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent and the three leaders of the UK’s main political parties. As Lord Browne of Madingley, Chair of Trustees of the QEPrize, said in his address, “Her Majesty was at the vanguard of this revolution when she sent her first email in 1976 – which was The winners each received a trophy also the year in which the Royal Academy designed by 18-year-old Jennifer Leggett, of Engineering was founded, with who won a national competition that His Royal Highness Prince Philip as its called for students to come up with a Senior Fellow.” design capturing the essence of modern engineering, and who was singled out for The Queen and the winners were praise by The Queen for