Cranfield Helps External Organization, Whether Blue-Chip, Startups Or Individuals: Tom Stephenson, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Research And Innovation, Cranfield University
At the CleanEquity Monaco 2018 conference, there were various breakout sessions and addresses by stalwarts in the sustainability realm. Tom Stephenson, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Research and Innovation, Cranfield University held a special address, where he spoke about the developments at Cranfield University.
Stephenson spoke about the Johnson Matthey Agritech Partnership Programme, which is a pilot programme offering businesses the opportunity to receive a package of intensive support, both technical and commercial to accelerate the market translation of high impact innovations for the Agritech sector. He spoke about the program which any entrepreneur or business with an innovation in chemical pesticides, seed treatments, soil enhancements, biological pesticides and crop enhancements can apply, from any geography.
“Cranfield University is an exclusively post-graduate university, and we specialise in technology and management. We have distinctive strengths in aerospace, defence and security, energy and power, environment and agrifood, school of management, manufacturing, transport systems and water. It’s the top university in the UK for aerospace, engineering and technology postgraduates and number 4 university in the UK for commercial research, consultancy and professional development, and a core partner in the Schmidt-MacArthur Postgraduate Fellowship," said Stephenson. He also added, “We have a lot of facilities at scale, and one of our new developments for 2018 is the Water for Food and International Soil Resources facilities, which houses the World Soil Survey Archive (WOSSAC).”
With respect to knowledge exploitation, Stephenson said, “Cranfield helps external organization, whether blue chip, SME, and individuals. There is a Research and Innovation Office (RIO) to leverage government and other funds. There is a pre-seed fund available from alumni, and we have Cranfield 50 Advisers who give their advice pro-bono”.
“We have Business incubation at Cranfield called the Cranfield University Business Incubation Centre (CUBIC) for start-ups, Innovation Centre for early-stage companies and a technology park for growth, and there is networking and financial support from Cranfield," said Stephenson, adding that, ”We have a Cranfield Aviation and Aerospace Technology Accelerator (AvTech Accelerator). Aerospace in USA generally means Space and Elon Musk, but in Europe means aeroplanes and aero-buses. There is a Barclays Eagle Labs at Cranfield University as well.”
The special address was followed by the Covington CleanEquity Conversations, where the Partners of Covington spoke on three different topics related to sustainability, followed by company presentations and an update from the Hydrogen Council.
