i10 is a government-funded project which allows universities in the East of
England to leverage their knowledge and expertise to provide business support in
the region. John has undertaken a number of projects for i10, mostly for a
project called Tectrim (Technology Transfer in Multi Media). These have been
done for Essex, Hertfordshire and Anglia Ruskin Universities.
See www.i10.org.uk
John presented a master class on strategic alliances at the Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning. This was done for i10 fellows, students and academics who had been given grants to commercialise intellectual property.
For the Tectrim project (above), John worked with the Business Development Officer to look into IP in the electronics and IT departments. He prepared a set of brochures and web pages aimed at potential partners.
John worked with the Business Partnership office, looking into research
in the Computer Systems department, and preparing literature to offer this
research to partners.
He also took part in an event run for the “Spirit of Enterprise” programme,
presenting a seminar on the basics of starting a business.
John developed plans to assist the University to work with the business community. He also designed brochures to promote their research work to partners.
This project was funded to the tune of £112,000 by EEDA (East of England
Development Agency) through the European Union's Innovative Actions Programme.
Its aim was to increase the intensity of business collaboration along the
Ipswich to Cambridge high tech Corridor and encourage a flow of knowledge and
investment to move across Suffolk and North Essex.
John created a successful 'Regional Group' in Sudbury, the first and most
successful such group. Later he worked with the University of Essex to set up a
group in Colchester. The groups have been branded as Collaborate2Innovate
Commercial and survive despite the end of funding.
The groups now provide a full range of resources to help new and growing
companies, and aim to extend the Cambridge phenomenon through the corridor. It
has worked with many new businesses and has been instrumental in starting
three or four.
John has now become chairman of Collaborate2Innovate and is in the process of
developing its web site.