Transcript Welsh Assembly Government

Welsh Industrial Liaison Officers (WILO)
Meeting
Virginia Chambers
10th June 2010
Updates
-
Welsh Assembly Government / UK Government
Reviews
Economic Renewal Programme
A4B
Business Innovation
Enterprise Europe Network
Welsh Assembly Government
• New First Minister
• Deputy Minister for Science, Innovation & Skills (DM – SIS)
- Lesley Griffiths
- deputy to Ieuan Wyn Jones
• New Chief Science Advisor
- Professor John Harries
- advise Ministers
- Links to Whitehall
ca £180m budget cuts for Wales announced by UK Government
Some Key Ministers
in Dept for Business Innovation & Skills
– Vince Cable – Secretary of State (BIS)
– David Willetts – Universities & Science
– John Hayes – FE, Skills & Lifelong Learning
– Mark Prisk – Business & Enterprise
Reviews underway
• Ministerial Advisory Group
- R&D & Commercialisation
- due to publish July 2010
• Deputy Minister – Science Innovation & Skills
- External Funding of R&D
• Cabinet debate on R&D and Commercialisation
Economic Renewal Programme (ERP)
• Commissioned by Deputy First Minister
• Driven by downturn and post recession economy
• Widespread consultation on business support and
economic development
• Consultation ended 11th May
• Report due 28th June
Early indications...
Programme is still in analysis phase….
• Issues raised in particular around:
– planning;
– procurement; and
– regulation.
• Investment needed in:
– 21st Century infrastructure;
– skills.
• Alignment of wider policies seen as a higher priority than direct
business support and a prerequisite for economic development.
• Access to finance still an issue – mixed response on role of
grants.
• Role of government needs to be properly considered.
7
A4B
• 7 projects totalling £2.6m approved (subject to
contract) at last panel
• A4B has now supported 204 projects total grant
£25m
• Challenge is to deliver against these projects
A4B
Observations from A4B Managers
• WAG budgets cannot be carried over
• Need better profiling of budgets taking into account
– Staff recruitment
– Procurement
• Outputs need to be recorded on IPM especially investment
induced
• CPD currently only for Convergence Area because of budget
pressures
A4B Reminder
• 2 New Calls for proposals
1. Large Application Development Projects (L-ADP)
- pilot to replace Proof of Concept
- for projects with potential to generate significant
income
- projects up to £150k over 18 months
- can support up to 6 projects
- closing date 19th July
- contact Terry Stubbs
A4B Reminder
2. Thematic Knowledge Exchange Projects
- Assisted Living
- Low Carbon Economy
- Lead institutions in Convergence area (partners in
other areas can be included)
- up to 9 projects can be supported
- closing date 18th June
- contact Gareth Wilson
A4B Portal
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Expertise Wales
First stage development completed
Promote portal to staff / data input
Need institutions agreement to include data on
centres of expertise (only 2 responses to date)
• Expect to launch July 2010
• Support available from WAG
** See information sheet
KTP
• Expression of Interest form for classic KTP replaces
outline proposal forms
• New template available through KTP portal
• Slight increase in classic KTP – need more good
applications
• sKTP – now 36% UK total
Business Innovation
• £35m EU project
• Design, IP and Manufacturing advisory services
• Innovation Managers
• Includes “Innovation Vouchers”
- Up to £10k available to businesses
- to buy expertise from academia or support bodies
• Please promote to your clients
Enterprise Europe Network
• Awareness Event planned (tbc)
– EcoInnovation
– Environment FP7
– TSB Low Impact Buildings
• Managing FP7 projects training course (Autumn)
• Travel and consultancy budget for FP7 and TSB still
available
• Consultation on FP8 (July-October)
contact – Lisa Wheatley
Dates for your Diary
18th June
June/July
23rd June
29th June
12th-16th July
19th July
July/October
Autumn
Closing date A4B KEP
Awareness Day
- EcoInnovation tbc
- FP7 Environment
- TSB Low Impact Buildings
UKIPO event – Cardiff City Stadium
UKIPO event – St Asaph
E-Crime Summit – Celtic Manor
Closing date L-ADP
Consultation on FP8 tbc
Managing FP7 tbc
projects (EEN)
Thanks for your support over the
years and best wishes
for the future