IWG-M-09-04
INNOVATION WORKING GROUP MEETING Wednesday, 1st April 2009, 10.30 – 13.30 Mitchell Hall, Cranfield University MINUTES OF THE MEETING
Attending Apologies Arrk Technical (Richard Wright) Arrk Technical (Phil Griffiths) AWM (Martyn Mangan) Axeon Plc (Rebecca Trengove) Axon Automotive (Steve Cousins) BERR (Robin Haycock) University of Birmingham (Gary Acres) Caterpillar Inc. (David Heaton) BMW (Jason Reakes) Controlled Power Technologies (Guy Controlled Power Technologies (Rick Morris) Quinn) DIUS (Jonathan Dinmore) Cranfield University (James Njuguna) EALAB Consortium (Allan Cooper) Cranfield University (Moji Moatamedi) EPSRC (Richard Bailey) Delta Motorsport (Nick Carpenter) Exide (Paul Griffin) ETI (John Batterbee) Foresight Vehicle (Ian Massey) EVO Electric (James Rosson) In Toto (Europe) (David Andrews) Foresight Vehicle (Brian Lawrence) Kleen Air Systems International (Peter Hug Engineering (Urs Halter) Newell) Imperial College (David Howey) Lubrizol (Ian Bown) Intelligent Energy (Dennis Hayter) Pi Shurlok (Adrian Carnie) Libralato (Dan Aris) Pi Shurlok (Paul Gosling) Loughborough University (Rob Thring) SAIC Motor UK (Adrian Tucker-Peake) LowCVP (Greg Archer) Tanfield Group Plc (Dan Jenkins) LowCVP (Roy Williamson) Tanfield Group Plc (Doug MacAndrew) Microcab Industries (Mike Wade) TSB (Andrew Everett) Millbrook (Phil Stones) Ove Arup (Neil Butcher) Pi Shurlok (David Price) Powertrain Technologies (Javan Balderson) QinetiQ (Louise Mothersole) Ricardo UK (David Greenwood) Sheffield University (Chris Bingham) TEC (Geoff Callow) Welsh Assembly Government (Steve Patterson)
1. Welcome & apologies James Njuguna from Cranfield University welcomed attendees advised of the opportunity of a a presentation on Cranfield’s strategic automotive research would be presented after the meeting plus the opportunity for IWG members to tour Cranfield’s research facilities.
2. Minutes and Matters arising The minutes of the last IWG 14th January as set out in paper IWG-M-09-01 were adopted as presented with the following notes and actions:
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Past Action: IWG Members were asked to indicate their interest or put forward nominees for representing academics, emerging businesses or funding bodies on the Members Council. This action is covered by an agenda item.
Past Action: IWG Members were asked to provide any further comments regarding the findings of the Engaging with Investors study. No further comments were received. The Engaging with Investors microsite is covered by an agenda item.
Past Action: The secretariat were asked consider the potential value of clarifying the goals and objectives of LowCVP and/or IWG by way of a mission statement or similar and comments welcomed from Members.
No further comments had been received however all present agreed that it would be useful to review and refresh the Groups Terms of Reference at the next meeting, and determine any overlaps or complementary activities with TSB, NAIGT and other organisations.
Members requested a link to the existing TOR. The IWG TORs as agreed at IWG 15th September 05 may be viewed at: http://lowcvp.islecms.co.uk/assets/workingdocuments/IWG-P-05-12%20TOR%20v3.pdf
Dave Greenwood and Greg Archer offered to review and redraft the existing TORs and circulate these for Members to consider and comment upon at the next IWG meeting
ACTION: IWG Chair and LowCVP Director to review and redraft TOR for Innovation Working Group for the next IWG meeting, 24th June.
3. LowCVP 3.1. LowCVP Activity Update Greg Archer provided an update of the secretariat activities as prepared in paper IWG- P-09-01. Highlights include: • LowCVP is now a not-for-profit company • Chairman meets Geoff Hoon & Angela Eagle • Neville Jackson becomes LowCVP Chairman • 6th Annual Conference announced • Parliamentary lunch hosted • Joint electric vehicle event with PRASEG • Car advertising seminar with SMMT & ISBAR • LowCVP support DfT to incentivise low carbon buses • “Engaging with investors” microsite launched
GA added that: • At the meeting with Geoff Hoon, GA had enquired further regarding the £250M investment announced to encourage ultra-low carbon cars (ULCC). The Minister invited LowCVP to consider how this money could be most effectively spent and Jonathan Murray is developing a response to Treasury which will be discussed at the LowCVP Steering Group meeting 29th April. • The value of the VAN CO2 database was emphasised to the Minister, including its role in stimulating the awareness and uptake of lower carbon emitting vans. • The Bus Working Group have been assisting DfT in developing options for the reform to BSOG to encourage low carbon buses. Details are expected to be announced in the Budget09.
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• Speakers at the LowCVP annual conference now include Boris Johnson and Geoff Hoon. The conference will also include a video link with California and form the destination of the Revolve Brighton to London Eco-Rally. The final programme for the conference will be circulated to Members mid-April. • Continuing to strengthen the Partnership, the joint LowCVP – PRASEG event on electric vehicles, a major success, was very well attended, over-subscribed with standing room only on the day.
3.2. LowCVP incorporation and fees GA advised that Members should have received an invitation to the join the not-for-profit LowCVP. Current Members should join by April 2010 to provide continuation of involvement. Also, it had been agreed that Members who join before June 2009 will receive a 60% discount on already low fees.
To join Members only need to complete the online form: http://www.lowcvp.org.uk/datacapture/application.asp
(Full details on Membership can be found at http://www.lowcvp.org.uk/about-lowcvp/how-to-join.asp)
3.3. IWG Representation on LowCVP Members Council Louise Mothersole commented that the term ‘Emerging Businesses’ may not provide a suitable representation for established companies such as QinetiQ. DG clarified that in deciding upon the representations put forward the constitution of IWG had been considered primarily and this had determined the three areas. Also, all IWG Members have representation on the Members Council via the IWG Chair.
GA also clarified that there are an additional five ‘open’ places on the Members Council to permit flexibility and balance in its constitution. Members seeking a place should contact GA directly
ACTION: Any IWG Member seeking one of the five ‘open’ places on the Members Council should contact the LowCVP Director at [email protected]
Members agreed that the term ‘research businesses’ would be more suitable than the originally proposed ‘consultants’, which was accepted and adopted.
Geoff Callow commented that we need to ensure that we do not lose the community and contribution of individuals and organisations that will identify with the term ‘consultants’. Martyn Mangan also commented that TSB would likely represent national ‘funding bodies’ however this viewpoint may not align with RDA/DA objectives and views. Members agreed that, subject to proposed organisations becoming Members of LowCVP, IWG will be represented on the LowCVP Members Council by
• Research Businesses – Dave Greenwood, Ricardo • Academe - Rob Thring, Loughborough University • Emerging Businesses – Mike Wade, MicroCab • Funding Bodies – Andrew Everett, TSB
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Council Members are invited to attend the final meeting of the Steering Group which takes place 29th April 2009. The first meeting of the Members Council takes place on 22nd July.
4. Innovation Workprogramme 4.1. Innovation Workprogramme update Roy Williamson updated Members on launch of the Engaging with Investors microsite developed from the Engaging with Investors study which has received positive feedback from members and business support organisations.
Responding to a query on whether success of the site would be tracked, DG commented that the deal-flow would be unlikely to be forthcoming which would greatly limit an assessment of success on financial ground, however a proposed measure of ‘success’ could assess the influence in maximising applications and opportunities for Members. The Secretariat will consider how success metrics might be considered when developing the follow-on Engaging with Investors project in the 2009/10 workprogramme.
Gary Acres commented that success can also be created and influenced by media coverage and there may be a role for LowCVP in promoting and heightening interest in the successes of Members. There may also be a role to communicate innovation developments and opportunities outside the UK
Adding to this, Louise Mothersole commented that in her recent experience of meetings for the EU Green Car Initiative, few UK organisations had been involved and there may be a role for LowCVP in raising awareness and stimulating UK participation.
Members agreed accessing European funding is challenging without investing substantial time and effort for a limited change of success. Successfully securing funding also appeared to be related to having engagement of an OEM.
LM added that there is an EU funding opportunity in Ground Transport opening for applications this July. IWG 24th June may provide a suitable opportunity to highlight the opportunity to members in further detail.
Members also pointed out that there may be limited understanding of how linkages between funding sources such as EU Framework, EU Interreg, TSB, RDA and EPSRC.
It was noted that there may be a role for LowCVP in raising awareness of funding opportunities specifically, and also in supporting application and consortia development.
IWG Member Cliff Funnell is the UK Point Of Contact for FP7 Surface Transport. DG agreed to contact Cliff to discuss how LowCVP can best support Member engagement and whether there are opportunities for IWG to influence the direction of funding..
ACTION: Dave Greenwood to contact Cliff Funnell to discuss LowCVP actions to support Member involvement in EU programmes and how IWG may influence the direction of future funding.
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Members may contact Cliff directly at: Cliff Funnel Associates. [email protected] 01243 552921
4.2. Project Development: Engaging with OEMS and Tier1s Roy Williamson led a workshop session presenting the objectives and proposed methodology of the IWG project ‘Engaging with OEMs and Tier1s, before posing several questions to the Group to help develop the brief. The presentation may be view at: IWG-P-09-12 -Engaging with OEM Tier1s -Project Development.pdf
Responses are summarised below: • The nature of engagement will depend on the stage of development of the technology, however Development and Demonstration and likely to be of most interest to OEMs and Tier 1s than early stage research which they would likely conduct themselves or market products which are a direct option for procurement. • The project should target innovations that are disruptive/ revolutionary rather than directional/evolutionary. • LowCVPs Passenger Car working group provides valuable access to engaging relevant contacts in OEMs. Heads of Research will be the most appropriate contacts to reach. • Areas of focus may be guided by considering legislative barriers such as emissions as well as opportunities such as PHEV’s. • AWM have valuable experience in brokering automotive ideas. • Some SMEs only respond to orders, thus the project should present added value to the SME business model • Target SMEs are those with realistic innovative ideas. • There will be a role to filter potential ideas before engaging OEMs for which the Partnership is well placed to provide. This advisory role will need to avoid issues of due diligence or be litigious at this stage. • Advisory Group members for the project will be Rob Thring, Dan Aris, Chris Bingham, Gary Acres, Geoff Callow, Louise Mothersole, Steve Paterson, James Njuguna, Nick Carpenter, David Howey and Dave Greenwood. • The successful approach may be to engage suppliers to OEMs rather than OEMs directly. • A ‘dragon’s den’ styled competition could provide a focus for the project. This could consider the format of an annual event organised by a group of investors wherein ‘winners’ to pitch on a second day, with investors briefed on the sector and prospectors trained in presenting the right material on the previous day • The competition concept provides a means to bring together not only OEMs, Tier1s and SMEs, but also investors and the goals of the LowCVP Engaging with Investors project • The final outcome for ‘winners’ may be access to investors and OEMs, plus further mentoring and expertise as per the Carbon Trusts incubator programme
ACTION: The Low Carbon Vehicle Technology Challenge will be developed by the Secretariat and Advisory Group.
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5. Strategic Networking 5.1. Energy Technologies Institute update John Batterbee presented how the ETI is coordinating with other funding bodies in developing major demonstration and evaluation activities, with a focus on the electrification of transport. Further details on ETI can be found at http://www.energytechnologies.co.uk/Home/Technology-Programmes/Transport.aspx
5.2. Technology Strategy Board Update David Greenwood presented on behalf of Andrew Everett and presented how TSB and EPSRC are coordinating their approach to funding competitions through the Low Carbon Vehicles Innovation Platform – Integrated Delivery Programme. An open call for collaborative project in the low carbon vehicle area will be announced in June. Successful applicants of the recent competition are being announced very shortly. The presentation may be viewed at: IWG-P-09-13 Technology Strategy Board update 01 April 09.pdf
5.3. Advantage West Midlands Update Martyn Mangan provided an overview of the roles of Regional Development Agencies and Devolved Administrations before highlighting the major significance of the West Midlands in the automotive sector with clusters around low carbon and niche vehicles and intelligent transport systems. The presentation may be viewed at: IWG-P-09-14 Advantage West Midlands update 01 April 09.pdf
6. AOB Rob Thring provided an update regarding a project application previous discussed at IWG meetings. The application to EPSRC had passed a preliminary stage and been peer reviewed, and the outcome of the peer review and potentially a panel meeting will take place in April.
7. Automotive research at Cranfield University [Over Lunch] Mike Bayes presented a strategic overview of Cranfield University’s expertise. The presentation may be viewed at: IWG-P-09-15 Cranfield University -Automotive Overview 01 April 09.pdf
Professor Kambiz Kayvantash then presented the research objectives of the University’s Centre for Automotive Technology highlighting strategic research and coordinated partnerships. The presentation may be viewed at: IWG-P-09-16 Cranfield Centre for Automotive Technology 01 April 09.pdf
Next meeting
24th June at Imperial College, London
Roy Williamson Low Carbon Programme Manager Tel: +44 (0)20 3178 7864 Mob: +44 (0)7846 016 599
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