Memorandum submitted by Dr Simon Bennett,
QinetiQ
I am writing to you in my capacity as Managing
Director of Applied Technology at QinetiQ in Malvern, Worcestershire.
I understand you are gathering evidence for your inquiry into
the role of Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) and I would particularly
like to offer some thoughts and views on the impact Advantage
West Midlands(AWM) has had on the regional economy.
As you may be aware, QinetiQ is FTSE 250 technology
company and has a considerable footprint in Malvern Worcestershire
employing 2,500 staff on an 80 acre site. I do not particularly
wish to promote QinetiQ in this letter, but I think it is worth
placing the ensuing comments about AWM in the context —so
the next few paragraphs explain what we are and what we do.
QinetiQ (www.qinetiq.com)
provide technological advice, research, technical consulting and
technology services into the defence, security, energy and environmental
market sectors. We pride ourselves on the fact that we bridge
the "innovation gap" between universities and manufacturers
& service providers. The diagram below is how we normally
illustrate this.
We have a very strong pedigree in science. For
example, out of our 7500 UK employees we have 650 who hold PhDs,
over 30 hold Visiting Chairs in universities and we have as many
members of the EPSRC Peer Review College as BAe and Rolls Royce
together and three times as many as GSK.
We have an extremely successful track record
in working with and transferring technology to industry. For example
we did more than £200M of work for industry last year including
some of the most prestigious global technology companies such
as Intel, Boeing, and some of the Formula 1 racing teams.
In summary, we know more than most about how
to successfully bridge the difficult innovation gap and recognise
that technology transfer is difficult and takes a thorough understanding
of the tried and tested processes and techniques we apply.
Returning to the purpose of this letter—
AWM. Our first involvement with AWM was associated with the Malvern
Hills Science Park (MHSP— www.mhsp.co.uk).This
was set up by QinetiQ and the local authorities (Worcestershire
CC, Malvern Hills DC and the local Chamber of Commerce) in 1998
and is an excellent vehicle for technology transfer. There are
now 27 companies on the six acres (of the10 acre site) which have
been developed. Five of the MHSP tenant companies are spin-offs
from QinetiQ, 20 are technology start-ups and five have moved
into the region. Most of the companies have grown by more than
50% over the past five years. From a standing start, 27 technology
companies are now (10 years later) based in Malvern alongside
QinetiQ. This has created a vibrant technology community with
a new blend of entrepreneurial skills being added to the mix.
The contribution to this process by AWM has been essential. Though
not there at the inception, AWM recognised the importance and
potential of MHSP and has been extremely supportive in the subsequent
development phases, culminating in significant and innovative
support over the most recent development, Phase 3.
A further significant and fruitful interaction
between QinetiQ and AWM has been in connection with the Technology
Corridor to the SW of central Birmingham. This incorporates the
former BBC Pebble Mill site, Birmingham University, the former
Rover site at Longbridge and ends at MHSP/QinetiQ. QinetiQ were
strongly coupled into the Working Groups and activities that ultimately
led to the Central Technology Belt (www.centraltechnologybelt.co.uk)
and contributed to the debate that has resulted in the science
and technology park development that has been undertaken along
the Corridor. This regeneration is not yet complete but the strategy
builds on the MHSP experience and is expected to do much for a
part of the WM that was frankly "on its knees" after
the demise of Rover. AWM are to be commended for what they are
doing here and they have taken the trouble to consult thoroughly
with companies such as ourselves in the process.
In 2007, AWM jointly created a joint venture
project which is designed to transfer sensor technology to industry.
The business model for this project is very innovative and both
parties worked very constructively together to develop it. It
is called the Advanced Sensor Innovation Projects (ASIP—www.qinetiq.com/home/capabilities/sensors.html).
So far there are seven projects running in which sensors are being
developed for innovative applications which will be transferred
to companies in the healthcare, transport and environmental market
sectors. This project builds on QinetiQ's strength, mentioned
above, in understanding how transfer technology to industry. It
is to AWM's credit that they have recognised this strength and
have endeavoured to harness it for the benefit of both regional
and UK industry.
We are now in the early stages of working together
on the Quantum Technology Partnership which is a partnership of
QinetiQ and a number of national and regional universities who
have come together to create a national Centre of Excellence in
quantum technology based at Malvern. If this project succeeds
it will create an important national asset that could be the springboard
for a successful UK presence in an important emerging technology.
Finally, as testament to the strong relationship
between AWM and QinetiQ, QinetiQ have provided representatives
to sit on the MHSP Board, the AWM Innovation and Technology Council,
the Science City Board and there is bi-monthly dinner meeting
between AWM the relevant local authorities and myself and other
senior managers from the QinetiQ, Malvern site.
To summarise, you will see from the above that
it is the QinetiQ perception that AWM:
— have been extremely important in
bringing business (such as ourselves), higher education and local
authorities together, thus enabling strategic dialogue and action
in key areas such as knowledge transfer, transport, site development
and investment, and generally to build positive and constructive
relationships. The CTB has been a key factor in this role.
— have seized the opportunity presented
by Birmingham being designated a Science City to bring companies
such as ourselves together with other key technology stakeholders
to provide significant investments in regionally and nationally
significant technology areas.
— have recognised and strongly supported
knowledge transfer as a corner stone in building a stronger regional
economy as evidenced by it support of science and technology parks
and the ASIP project. This, of course, strongly underpins the
aims of the TSB, research councils, DIUS, etc, linking with industry
nationally and in the region.
— acts as the strategic lead, and the
"glue" in building and cementing relationships between
industry, the research base, central government departments and
the rest of the public sector, including local authorities.
19 September 2008
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