the business of physics or how your research in astronomy and space science could have wider...

The Business of Physics

Or how your research in astronomy and space science could have wider economic impact

Nathan HillSTFC Knowledge Exchange Service24th August 2007, Durham

Contents

IntroductionIt’s not all about researchKnowledge Exchange and its VectorsSTFC Industry Strategy and Knowledge Exchange activityWhat makes a good proposition?The STFC Knowledge Exchange Service and how we helpSupport for EnterpriseSupport for Collaborative R&DSummaryContacts

Sun Headline – 1st November 2006 (fake)

BIG BANG TO BIG BUST!Astronomers from STFC save New York from dirty bomb attack

Independent Headline – 1st November 2006 (fake)

UK Astronomers deal a punch to Al-Quaedah; protect citizens from ‘dirty bomb’ threat in subway- Handheld “INTEGRAL” space telescope key to protection- Southampton spinout company doubles in size- Smiths plc shares up 17% on $222m order- STFC Chief Executive Keith Mason gets 20% extra funding for astronomy and space scienceInside: Why UK support for ESA missions pays dividends

ESA Knowledge Transfer Case Study Gamma Astronomy to Homeland Security

STFC and ESA have supported technology for gamma astronomy for over 40 yearsThis and further support for two STFC/RSE Enterprise Fellowships led to the formation of Symetrica in 2002In November 2006, Smiths Detection announced a $222m contract for handheld radiation instrumentation for the US Department of Homeland Security for dirty bomb detectionEach instrument incorporates Symetrica detectors and electronics

A gamma-ray burstCredit: PRC99-09, STScI OPO, A. Fruchter (STScI)

and NASA

Gamma-ray Detector: credit

Smiths Detection

Contents


What will you do after your PhD?

1. Postdoctoral research2. Work in the city, or as a lawyer or consultant3. Work in industry including IT4. Go into teaching5. Not sure yet

Further research48%

Teaching8%

Inustry & Commerce23%

Government & Public Sector

8%

Other13%

It’s not all about research

Destinations of STFC PhD students 1.8.05 – 31.7.06

Industry & Commerce

PPARC study 2003

Financial Services: 24%Business Services: 24%Information Technology: 29%Manufacturing: 13%Other: 10%

+ add public sector jobs in MOD, DoH etc

NB 7% are self-employed

Physics in the outside world

Skilled people who have learned how to thinkPhysics-based industryTechnologies and techniquesImportance of fundamental discovery

Contents

Introduction



Knowledge Exchange and its Vectors

STFC Industry Strategy and Knowledge Exchange activity

What makes a good proposition?

The STFC Knowledge Exchange Service and how we help

Support for Enterprise

Support for Collaborative R&D

Summary

Contacts

Knowledge Exchange and its vectors

Knowledge Exchange involves the transfer of people, skills, Intellectual Property, money and infrastructure towards a project goal.

Vectors include:- Spinout- Licence- Collaborative Research & Development- Consultancy- Secondment

Contents


STFC Industry Engagement Strategy

Spread technologies to broader market areas:– Through industry & interdisciplinary collaborative

research– By supporting entrepreneurial activity in our

community

Support UK academic and industrial leadership in the STFC programme through Programme Technology Development

Engagement with Industry

Technology Capability

Enhancement

Programme Construction Contracts

Knowledge Transfer

Opportunities

Science & Innovation CampusesBrokering & Entrepreneurship – KITE ClubCommercialisation – CLIK

Contents



For Venture Finance investment:

- Team- Substantial Market- Potential for Market Disruption- Intellectual Property- Business Model


I assess:

- Team - Market / Economic Impact- Technology Maturity- Objectives / Strategic Fit- Project- Vector / Business Model- Finance- Contractual

Contents


STFC’s Networking ClubsSTFC KITE Club

– Established business network includes defence, security, aerospace, space, life sciences, healthcare, IT sector activities

– Team of Knowledge Exchange Advisors and brokering workshop programme

Sensors & Instrumentation KTN– The UK Sensing and Instrumentation

Network– We focus on the Instrumentation industry

and the scientific Research Facilities market– Aims to provide industry with a joined-up

approach to the market for Research Facilities

The STFC Knowledge Exchange ServiceHelp from Knowledge Exchange Advisors for partnerships, projects and fundingSector support:

– Healthcare & Life Science Technology– Security, Defence, Aerospace & Space– IT, Software and Electronics– Instrumentation & Research Facilities– Plus others – e.g. computer games, financial services

Events programmePublicity and technical publications

– KITE Club web site– KITE Club newsletter / Technology & Industry News

Support for entrepreneurship– Individual support– Funding and skills

Strong links with other Council activities

The STFC Knowledge Exchange Service

Introduction









Summary

Contacts

Spinouts and Entrepreneurship

Support from Knowledge Exchange ServiceFollow-on FundUK Research Councils’ Business Plan CompetitionSTFC/RSE Enterprise FellowshipsEuropean Special Applications FundRainbow Seed Fund

Recent Corporate TransactionsImense (July 2007)Mini-PIPSS leads to £575k angel financee-business: Image classification and searchTechnology development supported through £60k mini-PIPSS with Prof. Andy Parker, Cambridge University HEP & e-science Centre. Alex Efimov developed this project through the CERN PSRE2 activity, introducing Cambridge Ontology to Grid technology through a CERN Grid brokering meeting in May 2006. Particle Physics / e-Science – Cambridge / CERN

“We finally signed a favourable investment deal on Tuesday…This would not have happened without our miniPIPSS project” David Sinclair, CEO Imense

Recent Corporate TransactionsGeomerics (July 2007)Enterprise Fellowship leads to £2.0m VCGames industry(after earlier £0.5m round and £150k Technology Programme grant) We encouraged Chris Doran to apply for an Enterprise Fellowship and the formation of Geomerics resulted. We introduced Chris to BAE Systems at the Filton Advanced Technology Centre and to games industry players at a brokering meeting.Astrophysics - Cambridge

Cambridge Positioning Systems (January 2007)$35m trade sale to CSR plc TelecommunicationsProf. Peter Duffett-Smith founded CPS in 1999. Much has been written about the origination of this mobile tracking technology in radio astronomy. CSR purchased CPS to add positioning capability to its mobile Bluetooth devices.Radio Astronomy - Cambridge

Collaborative Research & DevelopmentPIPSS

– £175k/year (FEC) for 2 year partnerships (exceptionally 3 years)

– £110k (FEC) for mini-PIPSS pilot projects (<1yr)Discipline Hoppers (with MRC)Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

A recent PIPSS Award: University of Leicester & Forensic Science Service

£200,000 PIPSS awardFrom planetary imaging & image analysis to trace evidence identification (e.g. blood, semen, bruises, fibres, and paint flecks)Core techniques are multi / hyper-spectral imaging and image analysis

Building the partnership 9 monthsFrom application to award 9 weeksResearch project 14 monthsTime to market ~3 years

Images: Mars ©ESA 2007, Forensic Science Crown Copyright

Aerospace Music Information Retrieval

Algorithmic Trading Navigation

Cardiovascular Neonatal Disorders

Cell Imaging Nuclear

Collision Avoidance Oncology

Dentistry Optometry

Forensic Science Project Management

Hydrate analysis Spacecraft Charging

Image search Surveillance

Instrumentation Telecommunications

MEMS Telescopes

Microsatellites Text search & mining

Mineral Exploration

Application target in proposed projects

The STFC Knowledge Exchange Service

Introduction









Summary

Contacts

Summary & Contacts

Your research is importantBut it may also have external value and this is important too-Fundamental discovery-Technologies and techniquesImpacts-Your career prospects-The UK and world economy-Funding for STFC researchRemember the ‘soft’ aspects of teamwork / collaborative projectsSupport is available from your University / Institute and the STFC Knowledge Exchange Service

Summary & Contacts

Contacts:- Your PhD supervisor- Your University / Institute Technology Transfer Office- The STFC Knowledge Exchange Service

Nathan Hill+44 (1223) [email protected]

the business of physics or how your research in astronomy and space science could have wider...

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