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Supporting Entrepreneurs at Venturefest

To showcase how we can support innovative entrepreneurs and small high-tech start-ups, STFC recently attended Venturefest, a key event in Oxfordshire’s innovation calendar. Now in its 14th year, Venturefest, which is organised by the Saïd Business School, is designed to attract innovative entrepreneurs and businesses from around the region to encourage business collaboration support and advice.

Paul Vernon, Head of Campus Development

(Credit: Venturefest)

STFC’S Business and Innovations department, which manages I-TAC and the ESA Business Incubation Centre, supported the event highlighting the different areas of support STFC can offer small businesses. Paul Vernon, Head of Campus Development and Andy Bennett, STFC’s ESA Technology Transfer broker were on hand to discuss issues such as access to fully equipped laboratory space, local, regional and national funding, and IP expertise.
Andy Bennett said, “It was a great networking opportunity and a good event to catch up with people. There were also some very good presentations about innovation in particle physics and space science.”

STFC stand at Venturefest

(Credit: Venturefest)

The day was split into three streams that allowed attendees to participate in lectures designed to enable them to develop better business skills and learn more about funding opportunities. The breakfast session was led by Professor Chas Bountra and Dr Alasdair Gaw from the Technology Strategy Board (TSB). They discussed new drug opportunities in pharmaceutical research. Dr Alasdair Gaw announced TSB investment into drug development to bring new treatments to patients quicker. Keynote speeches were given by Peter Tufano, the Professor of Finance at Saïd Business School and Will Hutton, Principal of Hertford College, Oxford University.

STFC’s Chief Executive Officer John Womersley led a afternoon session in the Innovation Futures stream discussing the impact of particle physics research, whilst Professor Richard Holdaway, STFC’s Director of RAL Space also chaired the ‘Technology from Space’ session.