Enhancing Impact through Physics Innovation Strategy at University of Liverpool

1. Liverpool Physics Innovation strategy 08/07/2015 Dr Marco Palumbo m.palumbo@liv.ac.uk

2. Dr Marco Palumbo: an introduction • Department of Physics Innovation Partnership Scheme Fellow and Commercial Manager • Laurea in Materials Engineering from the University of Lecce, Italy • PhD in Molecular Electronics for the University of Durham, UK. • 8 years circa of postdoc R&D experience, half of which spent in industry. • First Business Development role with the High Value Manufacturing CATAPULT (Centre for Printable Electronics). • I care about Technology Innovation: how to get there and how to raise resources and build teams. • In a UK University context the Impact agenda is important too.

3. Let’s start with a map and a definition 'For the purposes of the REF*, impact is defined as an effecton, change or benefit to the economy, society, culture, public policy or services, health, the environment or quality of life, beyond academia' (HEFCE et al 2012a). Go beyond the campus. REF act as a catalyst, although not necessarily a popular one. We (I) still do the work we would do anyway. Because it is the right thing to do. *UK University assessment on Research Outputs, Impact and Research Environment. It has a 6 years recurrence. Next REF In 2020.

4. Why Innovation and why Impact for UoL’s Physics? • A simple plan: • Diversify the funding stream. And increase it. • More Europe. • More Industry. • 2. Delivery is a must not an option. Technology Readiness Levels classification are meaningless without an indication of the time taken to full technology transfer. • 3. Engage everybody: Academics; PGRs; PhDs; Undergraduate Students.

5. TRL: a useful, albeit incomplete, tool • Block interfaces (Univ./RTO/Industry) are critical stages of development. • Even when you are successful in facilitating the translation from one block to another, there is still the Valley of Death to go across. • Innovation is hard.

6. A necessary reminder Universities Technology push: disruptive at its best but a painfully slow process Industry Market pull: possibly (not necessarily) only incremental, but faster and far reaching • Only few technologies go through this process. • Interaction is difficult, but a closed box system is damaging for all. • Universities and Government play an essential role in an innovation ecosystem as they de-risk technologies on industry’s behalf. • Government plays a crucial role in assuring an healthy synergy between Universities and Industry. • There is a time and a role for everyone.

7. R&D as an enabler • Liverpool’s view (before Oct. 2013): • Fundamental discoveries are sustained by strong R&D programmes. • Most, if not all, R&D can in principle find its way into application. • However: • c. Lack of dedicated personnel in charge of pushing Innovation and Commercialisation means that the Innovation process was too slow and that the Department had not strong access to market insight. • From all above the appointment of an IPS Fellow and Commercial Manager in Oct. 2013 to cover STFC-funded groups. The key message is: to accelerate the process you need to work on it.

8. [trivial factoid n. 1] Nothing gets done without resources. [trivial factoid n. 2] Sitting ducks get shot. [trivial factoid n. 3] If you build a ditch too deep it takes some efforts coming out of it. UoL’s Physics Impact SWOT

9. From a 8M£/year Department to a 10M£/year Department in two years time. This is in a time of “flat cash” for science and with some of the Dep. groups slow in income generation. • From Jan. 2014 to date 2.3M£ in new innovation-based projects (full supply chain) for the STFC-funded groups secured. (STFC:EPSCR=60:40) • Working on Innovation pays off.

10. Still: more work to do in the diversification of the income stream

11. Some of the project we work on 1. 2. PraVda – sensors for proton therapy Portable sensors and crystallography 3. 4. Tissue equivalent phantom Sensors for mass spectrometry All in collaboration with medical institution and/or industry.

12. Sensor City University Enterprise Zone Liverpool HEP is a key partner of the UEZ

13. Company Involvement • Large Multinational • ARUP, BAE Systems (Military Air and Information), BAE Systems (Submarine Division), Bentley, Bruker, BT, Cammell Laird, Cinetic, Delphi, ENWL, Enzen, Fianium UK, Frigorificos Andaluces de Conservas de Carne, GE – Aviation UK, GETRAG Ford Transmissions, GOM-UK, Hexagon Metrology, Jaguar Land Rover, JK Lasers, MicroEpsilon UK, National Instruments, Tyrolit, Unilever, United Utilities • Research Institutions / Government • Animalia, Fraunhofer IFAM, Irish Centre for Composites Research, Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group, National Nuclear Laboratory, Northwest Coast Academic Health Partners, Rutherford Appleton Laboratories, STFC • Funders / Service Support / etc • Acceleris Ltd, Armstrong Properties, BITC, Brabners Stuart, DWF, FOZ, IET, Inner City Solutions, Liverpool Science Park, Mazars, MD Insurance Services, Mersey Maritime Limited, North West Fund, Plus Dane group, The Chrysalis Fund, Wirral Council • Local SMEs • 2Bio, Aimes Grid Services, Biomer Technology, Brain Boxes, Briggs Automotive Company, Croft Filters, C-Tech Innovation, Damibu, Data Performance Consultancy, Deva Electronic Controls, Feedwater, Frontier Ballistic Ventures, GH Dynamics, Human Recognition Systems, JP Imaging Ltd, Karm Research Group, LayTec, Lucid Optical Services Ltd, Mast, MDA Digital Ltd, Mechan Controls Plc, MedEPad, Micro Materials, Micropply Limited, Minta Instrumentation, Minta Medical, Morban Intelligent Living, Nanoflex Ltd, Northwest Automotive Alliance, Ocean Chest, Omniscan, Optis, Opto (UK) Ltd, Oxtox Ltd, PSS Engineering, Q Technologies, Red Ninja, ScraperWiki, Sepsis, Traffic Observation & Management Ltd., Try&Lilly, Ultamation, Uniscan Instruments, United Automation, Victrex • SMEs outside region • Arch Interface, CTEC, FAR UK, FARO Systems, Heliotekton/BIPV, Integrated Materials Technology, Lambda Photometric Ltd, Laser Cladding Technology, LOOP Technology, M-Solve, Powerlase, Prozone, Rescon (UK) Ltd., Sonoscan Europe Ltd

14. Demand for Sensors • Sensor market is growing at over 10% per year. • Global market for sensor systems currently $490bn globally. • In the last decade 1 in 3 global patents were sensor related. • The UK sensor industry contributes £13bn, 73,000 jobs and £6bn of exports. • 1.4 million people employed in sensor-aligned professions in the UK, 159,000 are in the North West and 27,000 in the LCR.

15. What Will the Sensor City UEZ Offer to Businesses? • Co-Working space • Shared meeting rooms, break out areas and refreshment facilities. • A Technology Development Zone • Integrated underpinning open laboratory services • Software development • Electronics lab • Shared equipment • Close location to universities will facilitate knowledge exchange and access to further facilities. • An Open Innovation Lab • Tailored ‘sandpit’ model, to support innovation and collaborative design between university and industry. • Entrepreneurship Coaching and Business Mentoring • Bespoke coaching and company mentoring. • Develop industry-partnered student internships. • Integrated provision from the LJMU Centre for Entrepreneurship, the Liverpool Business School and the UoL Management School • Access to Funding • Create funds to support pre-seed opportunities, proof of concept studies and Enterprise Scholarships. • Develop an active investor network of Business Angles and Venture Funds • £2m is available from the Mayoral Investment Fund (MIF)

16. Lime St Station Copperas Hill Sensor City Science Park

17. In summary Find the resources Build partnerships Create an Innovation culture

18. Questions?