Innovation for a Better Future
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Green Tech 2015 #Greentech2015 Celebrate Bristol’s year as the UK’s first European Green Capital For the latest news and events, visit bristol2015.co.uk /Bristol 2015 /@bristol_2015 Innovation for a better future 4064_Bristol_festival_of_ideas_ad_A5_AW.indd 1 01/04/2015 14:08 FOREWORD CONTENTS Foreword Contents Bristol and the surrounding region has a rich history of FOREWORD .........................................................................................................................................2 technological innovation. The nation’s most famous engineer, CONTENTS ..........................................................................................................................................3 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................4 Isambard Kingdom Brunel, is closely associated with the city. THE RISE OF SUSTAINABLE TECH IN THE WEST OF ENGLAND .................................................5 We witness his entrepreneurship and technical excellence on ADVANCED ENGINEERING a daily basis: the Suspension Bridge, the Floating Harbour, SS Airbus .................................................................................................................................................. 7 Great Britain and the Great Western Railway. CFMS ....................................................................................................................................................8 DNV GL ................................................................................................................................................9 This proud tradition has continued RegenSW & Marine Energy Accelerator Programme (MEAP) ...............................................10 over the centuries, now in areas of National Composites Centre ....................................................................................................... 11 Renishaw .......................................................................................................................................... 12 advanced engineering and aerospace, Stirling Dynamics ...........................................................................................................................14 high technology, ICT (information CITY INNOVATION and communications technology) FirstGroup ........................................................................................................................................16 and microelectronics, digital and Fusion Processing .......................................................................................................................... 17 creative, city innovation and, most Keynsham Civic Centre .................................................................................................................18 recently, clean technology. HAB Housing ....................................................................................................................................20 Skanska............................................................................................................................................. 21 As an engineer and as a businessman Warm Up Bristol .............................................................................................................................22 I have found this heritage inspiring. Wessex Water ..................................................................................................................................23 It helps to make Bristol the ideal DIGITAL & CREATIVE place to base an innovative, Bristol City Council ........................................................................................................................25 Capital 2015 and this provides a great technologically driven company. Crocodile ..........................................................................................................................................26 opportunity to showcase the expertise Green Running ................................................................................................................................28 I see Garrad Hassan, now part of and successes of these companies. I Power Up Bristol.............................................................................................................................29 DNV GL, as a microcosm of the local hope that you find their contribution Playwest ...........................................................................................................................................30 innovation and entrepreneurship. Simpleweb and The Curve ...........................................................................................................32 to the nation’s economy inspiring and We are part of the vibrant sustainable see it as proof of how the region is HIGH TECH energy sector which has made this Atkins ...............................................................................................................................................34 leading national and international region the national centre for green Bristol BlueGreen ...........................................................................................................................36 innovation. For Venturefest many technology and business. Western Power Distribution ........................................................................................................37 of them are gathered in Brunel’s FINANCIAL INNOVATION This guide to a selection of the very own Engine Shed. He will be Bath & West Community Energy ................................................................................................39 exciting technology companies in keeping an eye on us all! Triodos ............................................................................................................................................. 40 Bristol and the surrounding region Clean Energy Prospector ..............................................................................................................42 Andrew Garrad is a celebration of green technology ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................................................................................................43 Chairman, Bristol 2015 based here. Bristol is European Green 2 #Greentech2015 www.bristol2015.co.uk 3 INTRODUCTION THE RISE OF SUSTAINABLE TECH IN THE WEST OF ENGLAND Introduction How the rise of sustainable tech The 2015 International Green Technology Festival, in the West of England is great held as part of the Bristol 2015 European Green Capital celebration, involved a series of events news for our economy and activities designed to promote innovative and successful green technology from the region. As the companies featured here show, the opportunity to shine a light on entrepreneurs and businesses in its existing greentech businesses, z Greentech is at the centre of City Innovation the West of England are increasingly as well as helping to create new economic growth for Bristol and Bath. – the city is focusing their attention on the ones. A great example of this was Environmental challenges are now a test-bed for many future city significant commercial opportunities Bristol 2015’s Green Capital Digital core to the requirements of many new innovations combining cutting-edge being offered by greentech, that is the Challenge where teams competed technologies. It is now increasingly advanced engineering, digital and technology which makes a positive to develop apps and games that accepted that commercial technology high technology. change by reducing our impact on tackle environmental challenges. development has to also be green and z Digital innovation – drawing the planet. And it’s a great place for sustainable. It is no longer a trade-off, on the region’s expertise in them to do it, as McKinsey & Co. and “Bristol & Bath is the but part of the core requirements. high performance computing, the Centre for Cities stated in a report This collection of company profiles silicon chip design and last year “Bristol & Bath is the only only fast growing & offers an insight into some highlights software development. fast growing & globally significant globally significant of the region’s strengths in greentech. z High Technology – a significant tech cluster in the UK.” It cannot be comprehensive, but it will growth opportunity for the region Greentech is profitable because it tech cluster in the UK” provide an indication of the growth covering ICT, microelectronics and makes sound business sense. Today, McKinsey & Co. & Centre for Cities, 2014 opportunities in the Bristol area and their combination in robotics. the conservation of natural resources for Great Britain to create jobs and z Financial Innovation – finance and the use of renewable resources Not only are these greentech inward investment. is required to bring forward new is seen as a business imperative, companies improving our everyday The companies are grouped in the greentech products and services, not just because it is good for the lives, but they are helping to following five sections: and we have pioneers in the region. environment but because there bring jobs and investment to the are commercial opportunities and region which in turn is great news z Advanced Engineering – to I hope you find some inspiration business risks in corporate supply for our economy, both regionally recognise the region’s aerospace,