PAXIS Workshop, Salamanca June 23, 2005

1. PAXIS Workshop, SalamancaJune 23, 2005 Wales, an example of the regional infrastructure for Higher Education Global Start-ups Dr. Richard Thompson Wales Spinout Programme Finance Wales Professor David Brooksbank Dr Brychan Thomas Welsh Enterprise Institute

2. Aim • To consider the Welsh infrastructure as a case study of the support required at regional level to facilitate Global Start-ups from Higher Education. • To understand how the infrastructure could be optimised!

3. Welsh regional infrastructure Context: • Undergoing considerable change • Change led by the Welsh Assembly Government • Minister for Economic Development and Transport • National Assembly for Wales Economic Development Committee

4. Regional Support Wide ranging tiered infrastructure: • UK Central Government • DTI, Research Councils etc. • (10 year science and technology plan) • Wales Assembly Government (WAG) http://www.wales.gov.uk • Wales Trade International (WTI) http://www.walestrade.com • Finance Wales (FW) http://www.financewales.co.uk • Wales Spinout Programme (WSP)http://www.spinoutwales.co.uk • Joint Enterprise with all 12 HEI’s • Welsh Development Agency (WDA) http://www.wda.co.uk • Knowledge Exploitation Fund (KEF) http://www.kef-wales.org.uk • Education and Learning Wales (ELWa) http://www.elwa.ac.uk • Higher Education Funding Council for Wales • HEED Funding (3rd Mission)

5. Welsh Approach to HE Spinouts • 1990 – 1999, only ~17 Spinouts Wales Spinout Programme • 1st five years (2000 – 2005) • 95 spinouts • ~25 (potential) GlobalStats (international) • 80 currently trading • 290 jobs • Diverse range of activities • £6 million Levered in funds • £1.7 million loaned (50% all ready repaid) • 17 loans fully re-paid

6. Wales Spinout Programme Objectives: “To promote and support the creation of new businesses in the context of the Higher Education Sector in Wales” “To help the new businesses to achieve their full potential”

7. Wales Spinout Programme • HE only • Pan Wales Programme • Co-operation between all 12 Welsh HEI’s and Finance Wales • 7 Spinout Managers • Commercial people embedded in HE • Offer advice and mentoring to potential Spinouts • Work with and alongside the WILO’s

8. Wales Spinout Programme - Support • Potential support for each Spinout includes: • Spinout managers support to develop a business plan and mentoring for 12 months • Unsecured loans of up to £25,000 (3 years, with support) • Marketing and consultancy support • Facilities and space in the HEI • Development training (Sales etc) • Help then to achieve their potential (signposting/monitoring)

9. GOVERNMENT Policy Funds Business Support Organisations Programmes/Initiatives Business Support Mechanisms Global Start-ups Model of Public Funded Business Support

10. “Top down approach” Feedback requirements Provision Gaps Request response “Bottom up requirement” Consultative Approach to Business Support Feedback loop

11. GlobalStart – regional support • Comprehensive report prepared on the Welsh Regional Infrastructure • Literature review and background research • Preparation of support matrix and checklist for other regions • Overview presented • Case study interviews (ongoing)

12. Areas of Support • Refining and protecting the idea • Business planning • Market research, consultancy, finding Premises • Start-up • Finance • Training / business skills / mentoring / marketing • Technology (R&D) • Internationalisation (Global), • exporting, online sales, trade fares

13. Case Studies • 20 Spinout companies short listed International (or international/global potential) • First examples: • Case Study 1: Geo Info company • Case Study 2: Pet Care company • Case Study 3: Under Grad company • Case Study 4: specialised Testing company (Data for individual companies will remain anonymous)

14. External Support Links to Predictive Solutions Professional Bodies: Robotics Institute, Society for Biomolecular Screening Industry Bodies: Innomedica, IBC Life Science, HTS Industry Group: Aberystwyth Qualitative Biology and Quantitative Analytical Biotechnology Group Predictive Solutions Ltd. Spinout Programmes: Aberystwyth Challenge Fund, Wales Spinout Programme Universities: University of Wales, Aberystwyth, UMIST Government Department: DTI Bio Wise

15. Case Study Examples Support Matrix

16. Business Support Organisations in Wales • Private Consultant • Chamber of Commerce • Welsh Development Agency • Local Authority • Business Eye • Enterprise Agency (CAVE, Business in Focus) • CETW/CCETS • Universities • Further Education Colleges • Other

17. Business Support Mechanisms • Information services • Business advice • Short courses • In-house training courses • Business support • Financial support • Marketing advice • Sales support • Mentoring • Technical support

18. Business Support Information Resource for Wales Type of Support Number of Providers • Business Advice 13 • Business Clubs and Forums 35 • Business Support Organisations 26 • Education: Universities and Schemes 28 • Entrepreneur Schemes 21 • Finance Sector 17 • Government Bodies 16 • Information Sources 13 • Patents and Intellectual Property 8 • Technology Sector 16 Source: Business Eye (2004)

19. Tentative GlobalStart Support Matrix for Wales

20. Mapping the Welsh Regional Infrastructure • Regional/team approach • Long term (8 years +)

21. Ongoing work: • Complete case studies • Analyse results • Feed into infrastructure • Refine our understanding of the support mechanisms • Generic information for other regions • Provide comprehensive information resource • Refine Globalstart support matrix • Review availability/potential availability of support