China Tomorrow – Building Innovation Links Between the UK & China
16th July 2009 Time: 09:00-16:30
Technium Spingboard, Cwmbran, Newport, Wales

PROGRAMME

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Programme

09:00 – 09:30        Registration & coffee

09.30 – 09.35        Chair’s Introduction – Mr Michael Thomas, Regional Manager Asia Pacific, International Business Wales

09:35 – 10:10        Welcome by Dr Stephen Davies, Director, Technium Programme, Welsh Assembly Government

10:10 – 10:20         Address by senior representative from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China

                             Mr Chen Futao, Minister Counsellor – Science & Technology

10:20 – 12:15        The innovation & technology transfer landscape in Chongqing

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 Chongqing have worked with counterparts in the UK on joint research or knowledge transfer projects.

- Prof Pan Fusheng, Deputy-Director General, Chongqing Science and Technology Commission

- Yuan Jie, Director General, Chongqing Intellectual Property Bureau

- Li Leiting, Head of Chongqing High-Tech Incubation Centre

12:15 – 12:30        Summary of morning session

12:30 -   13:30      Lunch

13:30 – 14:30        Best practice / dos & don’ts for collaborative working and the cross-cultural issues of collaboration

                            Mark Jones, Manager, China-Britain Business Council Wales

14:30 – 15:00        IPR  considerations

                           Dr Charlotte Crowhurst, Patent Attorney, Potter Clarkson LLP

15:00 – 15:30       Funding opportunities, finding partners and routes to commercialisation

                           David Maas, Manager, Xenos – Wales Business Angels Network

15:30 – 16:00       Discussion / Q&A session to include Mr Miles Rees, Business Outreach Manager, Intellectual Property Office

16:30                  Event close

Please note this programme is subject to change.

This event is part of the UK Department of Business, Innovation and Skills Global Partnership Programme.

Speaker Information

Dr Stephen Davies, Director, Technium Programme, Welsh Assembly Government

Stephen Davies is the Director of Technium, a Wales-wide network of 10 state-of-the-art incubation centres managed by the Welsh Assembly Government.  Technium is designed to support the growth of young Science & Technology Businesses within Wales and to provide a supportive environment for international companies looking to establish a presence in Wales/UK.

Steve has 12 years experience working in business incubation and has gained an in-depth understanding of the challenges faced by early stage technology businesses.  He initiated the Technium programme back in 1999 together with partners from academia and the private sector. He currently manages the Technium strategy on behalf of WAG.

Steve also spent 15 years working for a US-owned semiconductor manufacturer where he worked as Design Manager developing next generation products for the telecomm industry. Steve worked both in the USA and Wales during this period.

Steve holds a PhD in Semiconductor technology, an MBA and is a Chartered Engineer.

Mr Chen Futao, Minister Counsellor – Science & Technology, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China

Mr Chen Futao is the Minister Counsellor for Science and Technology at the Chinese Embassy in London
A former Director-General of China Science and Technology Exchange Centre, Minister Counsellor Chen served as Consul (First Secretary, Counsellor) of the S&T Group in the Chinese Consulate-General in San Francisco from May 1999 to April 2001; Counsellor (Deputy Director-General level) in the S&T Division of the Chinese Embassy to Sweden from April 2001 to August 2004 and Counsellor for Science and Technology in the Department of International Cooperation of MOST from August 2004 to May 2005.

Earlier in his career, Minister Counsellor Chen served in the Personnel Bureau of the State Science and Technology Commission (SSTC) from July 1985 to July 1987. From July 1987 to May 1999, he was Principal Staff Member, then Deputy Director and Director in Foreign Affairs Bureau of SSTC.

Prof Pan Fusheng, Deputy-Director General, Chongqing Science and Technology Commission

Prof. Pan obtained his Doctor’s degree at Northwestern Polytechnic University (NPU). He is President of Chongqing Academy of Science & Technologies, Director of National Engineering Research Centre for Magnesium Alloys, First Deputy Director-General of Chongqing Science & Technology Commission of Chongqing Government, Vice-President of the China Magnesium Association, and Member of the Materials Committee of the State Council Degree Commission.

His Research work is focused on magnesium alloys, aluminum alloys, metal matrix composites and thin-strip casting. He studied and worked at Oxford University (1991-1993), the State Materials Testing Institute of Germany (1995-1996) and Chiba University of Japan, and is author or co-author of more than 200 scientific and technical papers and 9 books.

He was awarded the HLHL Prize in 2008, the National S&T Prize in 2005, Dupont S&T Innovation Prize in 2001 and the S&T Prize of Ministry of Education of China in 2000. He was Chairman of “1st UK-China Advanced Materials Symposium 2005”, .”3rd China-Europe Advanced Materials Symposium” and “3rd International Conference on Magnesium”.

Yuan Jie, Director General, Chongqing Intellectual Property Bureau

After acquiring a bachelor’s degree in medicine studying pediatrics at Chongqing Medical University, Yuan Jie worked as an assistant in the Pediatric Department of Chongqing Medical University, and as a doctor at the Children’s Hospital.

From 1985 - 1998, he worked for the Scientific Cadres Management Department of Chongqing Science and Technology Commission, and was head of the department from Jul.1997 to May 1998. He studied in Brazil Rio State University from Jun.1992 to May 1993, and the University of Sao Paulo from May 1993 to May 1994

From 1998 - 2000, Yuan Jie worked as secretary of the General Office of Chongqing Municipal People’s Government and he then became the secretary of party committee, vice director of the Chongqing Mechanical and Electrical Institute. He acquired his MBA in 2001 and a master’s degree in engineering in 2002.

From February 2003 – February 2007, he worked as director and vice secretary of the Chongqing High-Technology Incubation Centre and is now vice director of Chongqing Science and Technology Commission and director of Chongqing Intellectual Property Bureau.

Li Leiting, Head of Chongqing High-Tech Incubation Centre

Li Leiting obtained his Mechanical engineering technology bachelor degree from Yuzhou University and is now Director of Chongqing High Technology Incubation Centre.

He was section chief of Department of Social Development, vice section chief of the Department of Industrial Technology and chief of staff of the Department of International Cooperation of Chongqing Science and Technology Commission.

He studied English at Sichuan International Studies University;  science and technology project management in Japan; and science and technology management in the UK.

In 2006 one of his articles was awarded the Outstanding Paper Award of the "China - Chongqing young talent Forum" and Chongqing Municipal Government awarded him the title of "Chongqing honorary personnel in Environmental Protection".

Mark Jones, Manager, China-Britain Business Council Wales

Mark is the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) lead for the Education & Training sector and lived in China for four years working for public and private funded universities in Hunan and Zhejiang provinces.

Prior to joining CBBC, he worked for Bangor University in North Wales as International Officer for mainland China and Hong Kong. Mark is based in Cardiff as Manager of CBBC’s recently opened Wales office.

Dr Charlotte Crowhurst, Patent Attorney, Potter Clarkson LLP

Charlotte Crowhurst is a patent attorney and partner at Potter Clarkson LLP, a leading European patent and trademark firm based in Nottingham.  Charlotte has a PhD in chemistry and specialises in drafting and prosecuting patent applications relating to chemical inventions.  Her day to day work largely concentrates on helping her clients obtain patent protection for their inventions in Europe and all around the world. Charlotte works with businesses of various sizes from small and medium sized firms and universities to large multinational companies.

She has a particular interest in China and in intellectual property practices in China.  She has travelled to China many times.  This has enabled her to build up knowledge on intellectual property in China.  Charlotte has lectured to Chinese companies on European and UK patent law and strategies for protecting inventions in Europe.  She is an advisor to the Chongqing Intellectual Property Bureau on foreign intellectual property matters

David Maas, Manager, Xenos – Wales Business Angels Network

Originally qualified as a Chartered Town Planner. David worked in strategic planning and economic development for several major local authorities in England and South Wales. He subsequently gained a post graduate Diploma in Management Studies from the University of Glamorgan.

Following a career in the public sector including major relocation projects with British Airways, Sony, Panasonic and Tesco, and leading the City Centre Redevelopment Team for Cardiff, David joined a local SME manufacturing and supplying DIY products as Sales and Marketing Manager, becoming Sales and Marketing Director shortly afterwards. This included establishing and running the Company’s German subsidiary.

David was instrumental in building the family business into an international brand with sales in over 24 countries. The business was sold to a UK Plc. David then took up a similar role in a West Midlands based business with responsibility for developing international sales and national accounts in the UK.

Following the sale of the business he joined Xenos as Manager for the South Wales region in 2007. Following internal reorganisation David was appointed Manager for Xenos in November 2008 with responsibility for running the Business Angel Network throughout Wales.

David is married, and lives just outside Newport, South Wales. He is interested in sport and classic cars, and has 12 caps for the Welsh Hockey Veterans.