OpTIC Technium and OpTIC Technium and

beyond: a model for beyond: a model for

developing sector specific developing sector specific

skills and research capacityskills and research capacity

Dr Hastings McKenzieDr Hastings McKenzie

Head of SchoolHead of School

Science & TechnologyScience & Technology

NEWI, WrexhamNEWI, Wrexham

99thth July 2008July 2008

Technium ConceptTechnium Concept

• Optimum environment for knowledge-based start-up and spin-out

• Served by the latest IT and bandwidth capabilitiescapabilities

• Support from business and technical staff

• Access to specialist laboratory facilities

• Partnerships with local Centres of Research Excellence with specialist academic support

Technium ConceptTechnium Concept

• Optimum environment for knowledge-based start-up and spin-out

• Served by the latest IT and bandwidth capabilitiesSupporting capabilities

• Support from business and technical staff

• Access to specialist laboratory facilities

• Partnerships with local Centres of Research Excellence with specialist academic support

Business

Technium ConceptTechnium Concept

• Optimum environment for knowledge-based start-up and spin-out

• Served by the latest IT and bandwidth capabilitiesSupporting capabilities

• Support from business and technical staff

• Access to specialist laboratory facilities

• Partnerships with local Centres of Research Excellence with specialist academic support

Sector?

Sector Specific Technium ConceptSector Specific Technium Concept

• Technium OpTIC:

– Technium OpTIC enables business growth in

opto-electronics and related technologies

• On-site facilities for tenants including:• On-site facilities for tenants including:

– Technology Centre including near-market

Centres of Expertise

– Business Centre

– Meeting space

Sector Specific Technium ConceptSector Specific Technium Concept

• Supporting a sector in Wales?

– Identifiable sector

– Business incubation and growth

– Technology Centre– Technology Centre

– Near market centres of expertise and applied

research capacity

– Skills and training

– Community engagement

Technium OpTICTechnium OpTIC

• Opto-electronic technology development:

�Identifiable sector

– Business incubation and growth

– Technology Centre– Technology Centre

– Near market centres of expertise and applied

research capacity

– Skills and training

– Community engagement

Technium OpTICTechnium OpTIC

• Opto-electronic technology development:

�Identifiable sector

�Business incubation and growth

– Technology Centre– Technology Centre

– Near market centres of expertise and applied

research capacity

– Skills and training

– Community engagement

Technium OpTICTechnium OpTIC

• Opto-electronic technology development:

�Identifiable sector

�Business incubation and growth

�Technology Centre�Technology Centre

– Near market centres of expertise and applied

research capacity

– Skills and training

– Community engagement

Technium OpTICTechnium OpTIC

• Opto-electronic technology development:

�Identifiable sector

�Business incubation and growth

�Technology Centre�Technology Centre

�Near market centres of expertise and applied

research capacity

– Skills and training

– Community engagement

Technium OpTICTechnium OpTIC

• Opto-electronic technology development:

�Identifiable sector

�Business incubation and growth

�Technology Centre�Technology Centre

�Near market centres of expertise and applied

research capacity

�Skills and training

– Community engagement

Technium OpTICTechnium OpTIC

• Opto-electronic technology development:

�Identifiable sector

�Business incubation and growth

�Technology Centre�Technology Centre

�Near market centres of expertise and applied

research capacity

�Skills and training

�Community engagement

NEWI OpTIC partnershipNEWI OpTIC partnership

• OpTIC Technium:

– Not associated with a commercial company

– Not associated with an educational institution

– Technology Centre facilities– Technology Centre facilities

NEWI OpTIC partnershipNEWI OpTIC partnership

• NEWI academic staff activities in partnership with Optopreneurs Ltd:– Maximise use of institutions' and OpTIC’s

technology resources

– Maximise research and consultancy opportunity

– Two way benefits

• Skills, education and training

• Community engagement

Example Example -- researchresearch

• Centre for Solar Energy Research (CSER)

– A world class research centre formed through

partnership between NEWI and OpTIC

– 100 m2 clean room in OpTIC operated as a – 100 m2 clean room in OpTIC operated as a

NEWI research laboratory

– Led by Stuart Irvine with 6 post doctoral

researchers and 2 research students

– Opportunity to take applied research in solar

energy through to application

Solar EnergySolar Energy

• Flagship location for

Solar Energy R&D

• OpTIC PV 1000m2

façade of novel thin film

CIS technologyCIS technology

• Largest outside US

• In first 12 months

generated 65,000kWh of

clean electricity saving

28t of carbon emissions

Example Example -- skillsskills

MScCranfield

BachelorDegree

progression

Launched October 2007

Foundation DegreeNEWI

Technician ApprenticeshipCity & Guilds

School Visits & projects

Continuous Professional Development

To be launchedSeptember 2009

LaunchSeptember 2008

Started 2006

Started 2005

NEWI’s development of

Airbus UK

Institute of Mechanical Engineers

SEMTA

development of HEA Foundation

Degree

Foundation Degree Forward

Deeside College of FE

BEng(Hons)

Level 6PT year 1

NEWI

BEng(Hons)

Level 6PT year 2

NEWI

Airbus recruits 5 GCSE’s

Grade C+

Year 1 AC craft fitters at Deeside

College

Year 2 AC craft fitters

C&G certificate Aerospace

Engineering 2661

Additional maths units

National Certificate Year

1

National

Airbus Recruit NC/ND & A

Level

Foundation Degree Year 0

National Certificate

Deeside College

Foundation Degree

bridging

Airbus Foundation Degree scheme with bridges and

ladders for progression

FE

HE

NEWIcraft fitters at Deeside

College

National Certificate Year

2

Deeside College

Foundation Degree Year 1

Deeside College

Foundation Degree Year 2

NEWI

bridging study at

NEWI

Further Learning or Experience

Incorporated Engineer

Masters Level Study

Chartered Engineer

Further Learning

Example Example –– community engagementcommunity engagement

• OpTIC Summer School

– Optoelectronic projects

– A2 level school pupils

– Offering HE level credit within a NEWI – Offering HE level credit within a NEWI

Certificate of Continuing Education

The FutureThe Future

• Could the Technium concept become ‘something more’

• A holistic approach to sector development?development?

– Incubation and growth

– Technical support and consultancy to sector

– Applied research for near market technology

– Accredited skills training with progression

The FutureThe Future

• Research and consultancy partnerships

• Educational partnerships

• Reinvestment

• Growth through collaboration• Growth through collaboration

• All partners benefit

• Minimise risk

The FutureThe Future

• Focus on the growth of industrial sectors within Wales:

– Business incubation and / or support

– Consultancy and technical services– Consultancy and technical services

– Develop niche expertise within Wales

– Offer higher level education, skills and training

– Generate applied research and grant funding

Opportunities?Opportunities?

• Collaboration!

Opportunities?Opportunities?

• Composites:

– Manufacturing technology

– Composite structures

– Innovative use of technology– Innovative use of technology

– Testing and through life support

– Education and training