Grants Factory: Alternative Funding for your Work

13 June 2017, 2-4pm

Venue TBC

Innovation and enterprise funding routes can be a significant and rewarding - but often overlooked - alternative to traditional funding sources. This session, delivered by Kent Innovation and Enterprise (KIE), will increase your understanding of the innovation and enterprise landscape, including Innovate UK and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs), and how they can help you access this funding.

The session also includes presentations from Prof Colin Robinson, Professor in Biotechnology/Head of School at Biosciences, and from Dr Jesse O’Hanley, Reader in Environmental Systems Management at Kent Business School, who will share their experiences of securing alternative funding and working with industry partners.

As ever it’s free and open to all, and tea and coffee will be available. However, do let me know if you intend to come so that I can make sure both room and catering are appropriate.

Grants Factory: Who Owns What and Why?

Understanding Intellectual Property and Copyright

7 June 2017, 12-2pm

Venue TBC

In the digital age the question of intellectual capital has becoming increasingly complex. Trying to identify the ‘originator’ of an idea or theory is difficult enough, but is made more complicated still if that idea or theory leads to financial benefit. Fortunately, here at Kent we have two expert guides who can lead us through this confusing and sometimes hostile terrain. Lucy Druesne is the Deputy Director of Kent Innovation and Enterprise, which works with external organisations to share expertise and develop new ideas and technologies. She has helped a range of academics across Kent to understand and make the most of their intellectual property for impact. Chris Morrison, on the other hand, is the University’s Copyright and Licencing Compliance Officer, supporting and advising staff and students on protecting their own copyright, but also not infringing that of other people.

Together they will help to demystify the subject, and provide practical and simple advice to those trying to navigate this new world. The session is intended to be informal and interactive, so if you have specific questions do bring them along. As ever it’s free and open to all, and a light lunch will be provided. However, do let me know if you intend to come so that I can make sure both room and catering are appropriate.

The Three Rules of Impact

The Award Winning Julie Bayley

Two years ago we held the first of our 'Maximising Impact' events. Shortly after, we invited the Award Winning Julie Bayley (Coventry) to talk us about 'what works' when it comes to impact. Julie has a refreshingly open and approachable take on impact, and listening to her speak gives hope to all who are confused and intimidated by impact.

Last Wednesday we held the second 'Maximising Impact' event, and it made sense to have Julie speak to us again. This time she built on what she'd said before by setting out three basic rules of impact.

'Large Hadron Colliders All Round!'

A large hadron collider. Come on: you know you want one.

It has come to our attention that some people may be swayed by the promises of R&D investment made by the major parties when it comes to voting in the general election on June 8th. Both Labour and the Conservatives have promised to increase spending on research and development to 3% of GDP, and the Lib Dems have pledged to 'double' R&D spending across the economy. 

Don't listen to them. They'll promise it all and deliver nothing. When it comes to empty promises, only one party has the necessary track record: The Fundermental Understanding of Critical Knowledge for All party. We are committed to strong and stable research leadership. We recognise that 3% of GDP is a derisory insult to the the people of this great country of ours. It is positively European. It reeks of garlic and foreignness. 

'It's Very Much Worth the Effort'

Dr Richard Guest

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks (ITNs) are one of the most popular schemes within Horizon 2020, and it’s easy to see why: they offer an opportunity for the recruitment of talented early career researchers to be trained in any discipline, whilst also enabling them to flex their wings across national and sectoral boundaries.

However, this popularity comes at a cost, and the success rates for them can make bleak reading. A perfect opportunity, then, to hear from a successful applicant about what’s involved and how best to prepare for the ‘trial by resubmission.’

Dr Richard Guest, from the School of Engineering and Digital Arts, has just received funding for AMBER (enhAnced Mobile BiomEtRics), an ITN that addresses a range of current issues around biometrics on mobiles, and stretches across five universities and seven industrial partners.

Praxi MacPraxface

Call that a name? Delegates at the Praxis MacPraxface Conference 2016 have a go at renaming the organisation

Exciting news has reached us about a new naming competition. As you know, there's nothing we like more than a naming competition. I mean, what could possibly go wrong? I think the success of NERC's boat-naming scheme, and the subsequent competition to rename David Attenborough, demonstrate that we have nothing to fear.