News

Cambridge Businessman speaks and writes about GORILLAS

June 2008

Stuart Evans, previously CEO of Plastic Logic - a Cambridge University Spin-Out destined to change the world of electronics - recently made an exciting presentation highlighting the development of four Cambridge companies which have grown to "Gorilla size" and have become world beaters. Since he writes and comments from the inside - and has "been there and done it" - Stuart's observations are worth reading and thinking about - by anyone interested in the evolution of international technology based companies.

Stuart's presentation

Entrepreneurs encouraged to raise money for Papworth Trust - and the Disability Cause

19 May 2008

The Papworth Trust is launching a wonderful new project whereby companies will be able to pump prime enthusiastic teams who will compete nationally to expand the initial £1,000 donation the company makes, to raise the largest amount for Papworth Trust. All concerned will benefit. The companies will gain reputation and profile for supporting a great cause, the teams will exercise their enterprise and management skills to make the most of the initial funding - by all the creative means they can think of.

The scheme is described in more detail in the Word document which follows. The Grand Challenge website gives all necessary details for all those interested and enables connections to be made and participation to be planned. Go for it!

The Grand Challenge - An Apprentice Style Fundraising Contest
The Grand Challenge website

NHS Innovations East - another Outstanding Year of Innovations - Rewarded at the Awards Dinner

16 April 2008

TV personality and well known General practitioner - Dr Phil Hammond compared the Annual Innovation Awards Dinner of NHS Innovations East, held this year in the American Aircraft Museum - Imperial War Museum, Duxford.

Twelve outstanding innovations, covering technology through to service delivery improvements were recognised as 200 distinguished guests gathered to celebrate Innovation in the NHS. Professor Alan Barrell, Chairman of NHS Innovations East welcomed Healthcare and Industry Leaders, including sponsors, Executives from the Strategic Health Authority, numbers of Chairman=en of NHS Trusts, including Dr Mary Archer from Addenbrooke's NHS Trust. Dr Maire Smith, Director of Innovation in the NHS Institute of Innovation and the South Cambridgeshire MP - Andrew Lansley, who is front bench opposition spokesman on Health were also present. Dr Neal McKay, Chief Executive of the Regional Strategic Health Authority paid tribute to Dr Peter Blenkinsop, CEO of NHS Innovations East and his team for the work done region wide in support of Innovation, Creativity and Quality in the NHS - at all levels. He also cited the regional Strategy for Health which is led by EEDA the Regional Health Authority. Dr Blenkinsop thanked all the "Innovators" - and remarked on the increasing quality of ideas coming forward each year. Sponsors included Siemens Medical, Smith and Nephew, Mills-Reeve, Boston Scientific, Barker Brettell and others. Sponsor representatives handed the awards to winners following short videos showing the inventions of the 20 finalists.

Detailed information about the Awards of NHS Innovations 2008 can be found on the website - www.HEE.org.uk. The website also has detailed information about the work of the organisation and the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement.

Alan Barrell elected International Fellow of Laurea University of Applied Sciences – Helsinki

14 April 2008

Professor Alan Barrell, Entrepreneur in Residence, Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning, University of Cambridge and Senior Enterprise Fellow, School of Entrepreneurship and Business, University of Essex, has been appointed International Fellow by the Laurea University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki, Finland. The links between Laurea and the Universities of Cambridge and Essex have become stronger in the past year with twenty students from Helsinki enjoying an outstanding three week "Bootcamp" hosted by the Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning late in 2007. Professor Barrell, who worked with the students when they were in Cambridge, has been to Helsinki, lecturing and helping with a major initiative aimed at profitable partnerships between Finnish companies and institutions and Asian counterparts. Laurea has masterminded a "Roadmap to Asia" programme, and Professor Barrel’s significant engagement in China, where he is a Fellow of Xiamen University, Fujian province and Advisor to Youth Business China has been put to good use.

At both Cambridge and Essex – the accent is on Entrepreneurship, and innovative approaches to entrepreneurial support and new business creation. Alan Barrell works extensively with large and small companies in support of imaginative and creative ways of developing profitable and competitive businesses. Following the visit of the Laurea students to Cambridge, one of the group also travelled with Professor Barrell to Beijing to participate in the highly successful “Education Without Borders “ conference – attended by 1500 Chinese students from 15 Beijing Universities and organised by Cambridge student Raymond Li and a group of Chinese Master and PhD student friends.

At a time when the European Union and Commission are encouraging more practical activities to bring Universities and businesses closer together to assist all aspects of lifelong learning, the strengthening of bonds between Cambridge, Essex and Helsinki is timely and welcome.

Alan Barrell said ..."Laurea and its staff represent the most entrepreneurial and creative aspects of University education and student support in Helsinki and Finland. The willingness shown to launch into imaginative new programmes, giving students much greater freedom to organise events and start businesses, is right in line with so much we are trying to do in Cambridge, Essex and other key centres. It is an honour for me to be appointed Fellow by Laurea and I look forward to making stronger still, the links between our Universities, our Businesses and our Regions."

In 2005 Alan Barrell was one of the first 10 recipients of the Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion. He works as an investor and is a director of a number of technology companies. Alan is currently Chairman of NHS Innovations East Ltd and is a founder shareholder of Library House Ltd., and founder of Dragon Cambridge International Ltd.

The Vexed Questions Surrounding Early Stage Funding

7 April 2008

Prompted by an article published on 26th February in Financial Times which quoted CEO of NESTA (National Endowment for Science,Technology and The Arts) Jonathan Kestenbaum bemoaning the withdrawal of 3i Group from early stage/start up funding, the O2C - Oxford to Cambridge ARC website has featured blogs on the issue of whether more public money should be made available to fill "the equity gap". Jonathan suggested this should be considered. The issues are, as all such things, complicated, and the FT piece has resulted in a flurry of correspondence. Since I have been responsible for some of this - I am putting it on my site and encouraging further discussion. I can be contacted at alan@alanbarrell.com. The O2C web address is www.Oxford2Cambridge.net.

One suggestion I have made, which I am sure would be helpful to many, is the establishment of a web based source of comprehensive information about sources of funds available for start-ups and early stage technology based businesses - indeed ALL early stage businesses, and the appropriate online access points, addresses etc.

I have put up for download, information on some of the actions and activities already being worked on in this field, with which I am involved, or of which I know. These include "Cross Border Angel and Small VC Syndication" and the "Venture Academy" models which are referenced in this "package". Much practical action is possible to make things clearer for many of those seeking information and support in financing early stage businesses. The "EQUITY GAP" may, for some, be as much of an information gap as an absence of available funds. Worth thinking about!

The discussion ranged into the larger domain of INNOVATION - and whether UK can continue to be successful in profitable Technology Transfer - and this was related to the funding issues - in my view TOO directly. Not every entrepreneur going to Silicon Valley from Europe gets the money needed to start a business! The few that do shout about the superiority of "The Valley" and the problems of the UK. More $$$$ are clearly on offer in the USA - but the arguments made are often too hollow and headline catching to help most entrepreneurs. Europe MUST continue to support Innovation and Entrepreneurship as the dynamics of the World Economy continue to change and the East becomes much more important. David Cameron's views are interesting in this regard.

Alan Barrell Chairs Meeting on Spin Outs

17 March 2008

Professor Alan Barrell Chaired a meeting at the Welwyn BioPark, University of Hertfordshire on 14th March 2008. The Programme is included here, together with an article posted on websites, written by Professor Barrell to support the meeting and for the interest of all those thinking of spinning out research ideas into businesses.

Download Alan's presentation here (right-click and choose 'Save As...' to download):
Presentation slides (Powerpoint, 4MB)
Meeting programme
'Leaving the laboratory for business' article

European University – Business Forum

2 March 2008

Alan Barrell gave a keynote address to more than 200 delegates who joined with Commissioners and EU Nation Ministers in Brussels on 28/29 February. The Forum was all about UNIVERSITY – BUSINESS COLLABORATION – to enhance entrepreneurship and competitiveness and make achievement of The Lisbon Agenda a closer reality. The two day event was exceptionally well attended from very many countries inside the EU, and some who have yet to join. The conclusions were that excellent ideas had been generated during the two days and would be developed and circulated. Further events would be organised by the EU Commission to keep things moving forward towards a more competitive and faster growing Europe – and more successful member states.

The website www.ec.europa.eu should be consulted for further information.

Download Alan's presentation here (right-click and choose 'Save As...' to download):
Presentation slides (PDF, 6.5MB)
Presentation slides (Powerpoint, 20MB)
Synposis (PDF, 12KB)

Love is Blind, Greed is Insatiable: The Classic Case of a China Business Venture

28 February 2008

New E-Book – a Chinese Case Study by Barrell and Wang. Read full news release...