Wednesday 1st February, 10.00-16.00 at The Wilton Centre, Redcar 

Who Should Attend?

Company directors and senior managers of high growth / potentially high growth SMEs operating in the Process Industry

It is vital for high growth entrepreneurs to analyse the competition, generate and communicate new differentiators and implement strategies to exploit new opportunities. The day will comprise 4 sessions:

1. Your Success Factor. Forming the mindset that every successful entrepreneur needs.

2. Your Battleground. Analysing your competitive market place. Where is the gap?

3. Your Vision. Building a long-term strategy to exploit the gap. 

4. Your Difference. Communicating your expertise, your difference.

FREE to qualifying SMEs, Register early as places are limited.

To Reigster contact steven.bagshaw@uk-cpi.com

Innovation Accelerator’s client Primary Dispersions Ltd gave a presentation of their work to The Oil and Colour Chemists Association (OCCA). An audience from major paint and ink manufacturers and suppliers attended.  

Dr Stephen Devine gave an excellent presentation entitled “Nanomaterials – the future is smaller than you think.” He initially explained the dramatic changes in properties of materials when reduced below 50nm. The subsequent rise in surface area and forces required to separate nano-particles are calculated to be enormous.  

Steve went on to describe the operation of the ConCor mill developed by Primary Dispersions where an inner spinning rod is moved close to the wall of an outer spinning chamber. The gap between the two rapidly spinning elements can be adjusted to micron levels and thus huge energies can be focussed on a very narrow area of dispersion. Particle breakdown is achieved without beads or other abrasive media as most of the interactions are particle to particle.

The shear forces produced are over 10 times more than conventional bead-milling, but as the forces are concentrated in a very precise gap it means less heat build up, less aggressive milling, faster through puts and an overall large saving in energy. The technology is powerful enough to separate TiO2 nano-particles but controllable enough to grind heat sensitive active pharmaceutical ingredients.

It was demonstrated this process was able to take dispersions previously heavily bead-milled and quickly further reduce particles to nano-scale with a much improved size distribution range. Impressive results were demonstrated on a range of nano pigments (ZnO, TiO2 etc) and minerals (clays) suitable for surface coatings such as inkjet inks. Intriguingly some discussion of fully stable water in oil emulsions had been achieved in early trials without the need for surfactants, giving potential applications in the food industry.

Dr Devine admitted this was just the start of determining what the technology could do and Primary Dispersions are actively looking for partners to develop products and processes further. He urged any interested parties to contact him. Mailto Steve Devine

Innovation Accelerator’s client DRD Power Ltd gave a presentation on their work in developing a demonstrator unit which produces electricity from waste heat. The unit can extract energy from low grade heat sources (90-130oC) typically found on many chemical processing plants. This heat has up until now been uneconomic to process, however, DRD Power’s excellent work means a robust capability now exists in which electricity can be extracted from low pressure steam or waste water streams, even those containing contaminants.

The presentation at Teesside University on 24th November was hosted by the Institute of Measurement and Control, and was well received by the audience prompting a long discussion section. Roger Mallinson of DRD Power explained the processes, some of the problems which were overcome and the technical specification of the plant.

The demonstrator unit is presently undergoing testing at Hunstman Tioxide in Greatham, and a full technical feasibility assessment will be concluded at the end of 2011. Early results have been very encouraging, with electricity produced from waste heat at temperatures as low as 78oC. Energy is converted from heat to electricity through the Organic Rankine Cycle which, although it is a well known process, operating efficiently at these temperature levels is a major achievement.

A 200kW rated ORC unit is able to produce electricity worth £100,000, equivalent to CO2 savings of 700T per annum. Part sponsored by The Carbon Trust and ONE, DRD Power have recently being given an IChemE – Highly Commended award for innovation and excellence. DRD Power intend to build and develop similar units based on the knowledge gained from this demonstrator.

Many industries are potential clients, so anyone with a waste heat stream between 90-130oC on part of their process should contact DRD Power and visit the demonstrator.

A presentation on The Innovation Accelerator was given to a Biosciences KTN meeting for the Technology Strategy Board’s competition “Technology-inspired innovation.”

The workshop at the University of Stirling on 4th November was run by the Biosciences KTN and Scottish Enterprise.

CPI were promoting their National Industrial Biotechnology Facility (NIBF) and the Anaerobic Digestion Development Centre (ADDC) as well as the Innovation Accelerator. The presentation was well received with a lot of interest in the NIBF’s scale up capacity as well as AD potential collaborations.

The workshop discussed how companies could apply for TSB competitions and how to find partners for collaborative projects.

Innovation Accelerator staff will assist any company looking to bid for TSB grants or competitions. www.innovateuk.org

Pitching for Management™ in Newcastle – 7^th Nov

Sponsored by Lloyds TSB Commercial and in association with Intramezzo and UKBI

Connecting local businesses with top-level senior talent (huge salaries not expected)

 You are invited to present at Pitching for Management free of charge!

AngelNews, a relevant news service for entrepreneurs and investors is launching Pitching for Management in Newcastleon Mon 7^th November at Ward Hadaway’s offices and you are invited to take part.  These events enable fast-growing businesses to pitch for talented people to join their teams for sweat equity, commission and/or salary.  Audiences are typically made up of senior executives with various skills in roles ranging from sales, marketing and finance directors, to mentors, NEDs and CEOs. 

This is a beneficial opportunity for you to find great people to work with, to build a strong management team, hone pitching skills, become investor ready, network with senior business people and raise the profile of your business.

To reserve your free pitching slot call 01761 452248 or book online at http://pitchingformanagementinnewcastle.eventbrite.com/

For further information about the concept, including testimonials visit: www.pitching4management.com

17-18th October – 3rd water technology funding platform – Leeuwarden/NL

Innovation Accelerator and Clean Capital would like to make you aware of Watervent’s funding event in Leeuwarden, Netherlands, held on the 17-18th October 2011.

The event primarily addresses Water Tech Entrepreneurs and Investors with the following objectives:

- Those that are looking for funding and venture capital

- Those that are looking for (first) clients i.e. reference applications

- Those that looking for interesting new technologies i.e. investment opportunities

- Those that are generally interested in – disruptive? – water technologies?

Join our www.watervent.com on October 17th and 18th in Leeuwarden/The
Netherlands!

Reply-To: services@cleancapital.co.uk

As of 1st August the Innovation Accelerator will be listing job vacancies for SMEs on the Innovation Accelerator website free of charge (Click the Jobs for SMEs header at the top of this page).

If you are an SME within the Science, Technology and Life Science sectors and would like your vacancy on the Innovation Accelerator’s careers page then please email:

enquiries@innovation-accelerator.co.uk

There was a very successful meeting of Innovation Accelerator clients with larger water-treatment companies on Tuesday 14th June.

A selected range of clients was invited with the aim of setting up collaborations and networks to enable bids for grants and competitions. Companies involved in water treatment using chemicals, UV-light and filtration as well as companies doing water testing gave brief overviews of their businesses and future plans.

This identified opportunities for networking, and it was especially good to see the innovation being done at regional companies. Breakout sessions established possible joint projects or opportunities to collaborate.

All the feedback was very positive and a committment to continue with this networking activity was given by all attendees.

Northumbrian Water kindly sponsored the event. Support from Teesside University and Kemira Chemicals was extremely beneficial.

Follow-up events with different themes are now planned. If you are interested in attending a Synergy event please contact your Market Sector Specialist. Next Event Process Design, Measurement and Control

Today marks the official opening of the Innovation Accelerator, a unique facility dedicated to nurturing innovative businesses within the science, technology, engineering and life sciences sectors.

The £2.3M Innovation Accelerator project at The Wilton Centre, Teesside is the UK’s first specialist facility designed to support new and emerging businesses in the process industry.

Managed by a team of market sector specialists from The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI), the 10,000 sq ft fully integrated facility incorporates ten laboratories and pilot plant units alongside a range of flexible work, office and meeting space.

CPI has recently been confirmed as an integral part of the Government’s first elite technology innovation centre in the area of high value manufacturing, and can utilise its wealth of expertise to deliver this project. CPI is a driver of key technologies which continues to achieve tough goals and expand the UK’s innovation capability.

Dr Mike Anderson, who manages the Innovation Accelerator, said that the facility is an exciting, cutting edge development that will benefit not only the process industry sector but also the region.

“There is nothing else like our Innovation Accelerator in the UK,” he explained. It has been carefully designed to enable the nurturing and support of high growth for science, technology, engineering and life science based SMEs which could result in significant economic benefits for the area.

“Our philosophy is based around enabling ‘plug and play’ and avoiding excessive start-up costs coupled with the provision of sector specialist business support services which will enhance the ability of SMEs to gain investment and customers.”

The creation of the Innovation Accelerator stems from the Innovation
Connector programme, which was initiated and supported by One North East and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Mike added: “A key aspect in its development is that it was created by a partnership between the CPI, RDA, ERDF and The Wilton Centre landlord – a true public private partnership which leaves a long term legacy for process industry SMEs in the North East of England.”

Chris Mitchell, Associate Director at LaSalle Investment Management, Managing Agent for The Wilton Centre said that the new development was a perfect addition to the range of facilities on offer at the centre.

“The Wilton Centre has long been associated with excellence in research and development and the Innovation Accelerator will help us to further develop our reputation as a centre for innovation and success.

“This project shows how successful private and public sector partnerships can be and we are very proud to be involved with it.”
www.innovation-accelerator.co.uk

The Innovation Accelerator is a project managed by The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI)

The Innovation Accelerator was invited to discuss careers in chemistry at Yarm School, Stockton, on Thursday 24th April, at their biannual careers convention, which is also invites other local schools to participate.
A large amount of interest was shown in possible careers in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, with a follow up meeting to discuss chemistry at the school’s 6th form.
Most IA staff are STEM Ambassadors with regular visits to schools undertaken at request.