China Tomorrow – Building Innovation Links Between the UK & China 12th November 2009 Time: 09:00-16:30
THE ROSE BOWL, LEEDS
PROGRAMME
Organised by:
Supported by:
Introduction
Innovation is a key driver of future prosperity and is at the heart of future economic development. In difficult and uncertain economic times, it will be those countries that invest in and successfully exploit new and innovative ideas that will come out on top.
Following the announcement at the UK-China Business Summit with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, the main aim of the China Tomorrow initiative is to better equip organisations in the UK and China to work together on a wide range of innovation & technology projects and to commercialise the outputs.
China Tomorrow will therefore provide increased access to information; highlight the opportunities for commercialisation; and help increase collaboration between the UK & China.
This event, supported by Yorkshire Forward, will address the processes and issues involved in working collaboratively on such projects and will cover a range of topics including:
Best practice / dos & don’ts for collaborative working
The cross-cultural issues of collaboration
IPR and legal considerations
Funding opportunities, finding partners and routes to commercialisation
Case studies
Programme
09:00 – 09:30 Registration & coffee
09.30 – 09.45 Welcome Address Mr Jim Farmery, Assistant Director for Business, Yorkshire Forward
09:45 – 10:00 Chair’s Introduction Dr Nigel Kerby, Managing Director, Mylnefield Research Services Ltd; and Board Member of CBBC
10:00 – 12:00 The innovation & technology transfer landscape in China
This session will:
Outline the opportunities to develop collaborations with companies and academic and research institutions at the regional level in China.
Provide examples of how organisations in China have worked with counterparts in the UK on joint research or knowledge transfer projects.
This event is part of the UK Department of Business, Innovation and Skills Global Partnership Programme.
Speaker Information
Jim Farmery, Assistant Director for Business, Yorkshire Forward
Jim is responsible for all RDA activity and investment in competitiveness and support for priority sectors in Yorkshire and Humber. This includes encouraging greater investment in innovation amongst businesses in the region, working on specific areas such as Advanced Manufacturing, Low Carbon technologies,
e-business, procurement and supply chain development and encouraging greater collaboration with regional universities.
His teams’ work has also included next generation broadband network development and specifically on how public sector demand for broadband can be used to encourage greater investment in networks opens to all.
Jim’s career started at J Sainsbury plc joining from university as a management trainee where he worked on pricing strategies and new store development programmes using early GIS modelling systems. He subsequently developed his interest in the technology sector working for Pace Micro Technology plc, a world leading Yorkshire company in the digital TV set-top box industry managing the product development of early internet on TV systems and integrated digital televisions. More recently he has worked overseas in Belgium and Israel working for Terayon Communication Systems in digital broadcasting systems before joining Yorkshire Forward in 2001.
Dr Nigel Kerby, Managing Director, Mylnefield Research Services Ltd; and Board Member, China-Britain Business Council
Nigel Kerby graduated from the University of Leeds in 1975 with a BSc in Botany and in 1979 with a PhD.
During his academic career he worked with Sir William Stewart in Dundee on nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria and was a lecturer in microbiology at the University of Dundee. Since 1992 he has been the Managing Director of Mylnefield Research Services Ltd. (MRS), protecting and commercialising the intellectual assets and resources of the Scottish Crop Research Institute.
He has established long-term partnerships with leading international companies, sustaining globally important research in plant breeding, pathology, physiology, and analytical chemistry. The products of MRS are widely consumed in the UK and are market leaders in their categories; the sale of these products makes a significant contribution to the UK economy.
MRS has made charitable donations of £1.88 million since 2000 to support scientific research, education and the public understanding of science. Nigel Kerby is a frequent visitor to China with commercial agricultural, food and environmental interests. He is a Director of the China Britain Business Council and chairs their Innovation and Technology Forum. Recently, he joined the Board of Directors of a Chinese cooperative joint venture that is growing and marketing fruit produced in China.
Dr Wang Xianmin, Director, High-tech Development and Industrialisation Branch, Hunan Science and Technology Department (HSTD)
Dr Wang studied at Hunan University of Science and Technology, (Bachelor degree); China University of Mining & Technology, Beijing (Masters); Hunan University, (Ph.D); and Denmark Technical University, (Postdoctoral).
Since 2001, Dr Wang has presided over the high-tech areas of planning and project management of Hunan province at the High-tech Development and Industrialisation Branch of Hunan Science and Technology Department.
Specific areas of interest include: new energy vehicles with the Department researching and developing hybrid and pure electric vehicles based on energy-saving measures; wind power equipment manufactureand the development of wind energy technology; and the solar energy photovoltaic industry.
Mr Zhao Yahui, Assistant Director, Division of International Programmes, Hunan University
Mr Zhao has a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Hunan College of Finance and Economics and a Masters in Science in Education from Harding University, Arkansas, USA
Following an early career as a broker on the Shenzhen & Shanghai Stock Exchanges, Mr Zhao became Secretary to the President’s Office at Hunan College of Finance and Economics before being promoted to Section Chief at the Foreign Affairs Office of the College.
Mr Zhao has held his current position as Assistant Director, Division of International Programs at Hunan University since 2000.
Dr Qiu Junrong, Division Chief, Guangdong Academy of Agriculture Sciences (GAAS)
Dr Qiu obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Crop Genetic Breeding from South China Agricultural University, and his Master’s Degree in Management Science from Jinan University. He was also a Visiting Scholar at Edinburgh University from 1991-92.
He has worked at the Crop Research Institute of Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences (GAAS) and was Division Chief of the Science and Technology Department of GAAS for 20 years.
Dr Qiu is also a Director of the Plant Protection Research Institute at GAAS；the Guangdong Key Lab of New and High Technology for Plant Protection；the Guangdong Research and Development Centre for Prevention of crop pollution；and the Key Field Observation and Experiment Station (Guangzhou) for Pest Control, Ministry of Agriculture.
His current role is Division Chief, Science and Technology Department of GAAS and he is also a member of the Study Committee of GAAS.
Prof Qian Chaonan, Professor & Assistant Director, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Centre, Guangzhou
Deputy Director, NCCS-VARI Translational Cancer Research Laboratory, Division of Medical Sciences, Singapore
Scientific Consultant, Laboratory of Cancer Genetics, Van Andel Research Institute, Michigan
Prof Qian has a Bachelor degree in Medicine and a PhD in Oncology from the Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences in Guangzhou. He also has a Post Doc from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and from the Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Prof Qian’s academic appointments include Lecturer in Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou; Research Scientist and Scientific Consultant at the Van Andel Research Institute (VARI), Grand Rapids; Senior Scientist, National Cancer Center Singapore (NCCS), Singapore and Deputy Director, NCCS-VARI Laboratory of Translational Cancer Research Laboratory; and Professor, Department of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Centre.
Prof Qian’s Government & administrative appointments include Medical Expert of the national plan of “Healthy China 2020”, appointed by the Chinese Ministry of Health; Chairman of the New Campus Development Committee, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Centre and he was invited by the Chinese government to contribute to the recent proposal entitled “Reformation of The Health Care System in China”.
Dr Yu Xiong, Vice Chairman, China Innovation and Development Association UK
Dr. Yu Xiong is working towards closer Science and Technology cooperation between China and UK. He is Vice Chair of the China Innovation and Development Association, which is dedicated to helping the Chinese government to development projects with the UK. His contributions have won him a Chinese Government Award, presented by the Chinese Ambassador, Madam Fu Ying. He is a committee member of the Chongqing Youth Federation and a University Lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast, UK.
Steve Mohun, Partner, Haseltine Lake LLP
Steve is an experienced patent attorney who leads Haseltine Lake’s China team. A regular visitor to China, Steve has a wealth of experience in advising European companies on Intellectual Property matters in China, as well as working on behalf of a number of Chinese clients. Steve acts for a wide range of clients in the electronics & engineering fields, from multi-national companies to University departments and associated spin-off companies. Steve has presented a number of papers on European patent practice to corporations and professional associations in China.
In 2008 Haseltine Lake opened a representative office in Guangzhou, providing a liaison and information resource within China for Haseltine Lake’s European clients.
Giles Blackburne, Director, China-Britain Business Council
Giles Blackburne is a director at the China-Britain Business Council. Based in CBBC’s office in Yorkshire & Humber, he draws on over 20 years’ experience of dealing with China to provide advice on a wide range of business issues, from culture & communications to establishing a presence in China.
Paul Thorning, Director, Institute of Pharmaceutical Innovation, University of Bradford
Paul is Director of the Institute of Pharmaceutical Innovation (IPI), a world-class facility dedicated to drug development research and bioscience commercialisation based at the University of Bradford. The IPI places special emphasis on collaborations with China, and is a key partner in the Bradford China Science Bridges programme which has secured over £2m for collaborative research and open innovation with Chinese academics, clinicians and companies. Key themes within this programme include modernisation of traditional Chinese medicine as well as joint projects to develop new medicines for global markets. Paul is a member of the China-UK Joint Economic Trade Commission Healthcare Working Group, a forum established by the China and UK governments to promote co-operation and inform policy in healthcare. He is also a co-founder of Crystec Ltd, a China-based R&D company.
Simon Bedford, Overseas Joint Ventures & Investment, UKTI
Simon Bedford has enjoyed a successful career in export sales and marketing in the private sector. This has involved running a large export department and extensive travel overseas particularly in the Middle and Far East, India, Africa, and the USA. Over 30 years he has developed new and existing business through direct sales or establishing local operations.
Simon is on contract to UK Trade & Investment as a Regional International Trade Adviser. In this role he works with companies looking at an alternative to direct export including setting up a branch office, local distribution company licensing, Joint Venture, or wholly owned subsidiary.
Simon is an Associate Lecturer in International Business and Marketing at Hallam University, Sheffield and also runs training courses for businesses involved in exporting.
