Manchester Institute of Innovation Research
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The Manchester Institute of Innovation Research held a PhD poster day in November 2009. 13 posters were displayed by the participants, and they discussed them with staff and students throughout the day. |
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Dr Yanuar Nugroho on lecture tour to Indonesia In November 2009 Dr Yanuar Nugroho delivered public lectures and keynote address at universities, government bodies and non-governmental organisations (NGO) in Indonesia, including Universitas Indonesia (UI), the oldest and biggest state university, Atmajaya Catholic University, one of the biggest private universities, and the well-established Driyarkara School of Philosophy. He also gave keynote addresses to the Indonesian National Research Council, the Indonesia office of Oneworld UK (Satudunia), and the human rights NGO Kontras. His lectures and keynote addresses focused on the role of innovations and systems of innovation in development policies and practices in the Indonesian context and more generally the importance of innovations in the third sector. At UI, he delivered a lecture on the sociology of innovation to the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, whilst at Atmajaya his seminar on the Triple-Helix collaboration of University-Government-Industry to boost innovations was a key event in the University's efforts to move towards a big plan for research collaboration with government and business. His lecture at Driyarkara reflected upon the advancement of innovation technologies (as opposed to technological innovations) and its implications. The Indonesian government has just set up the National Innovation Team, reporting directly to the President, so at the National Research Council Yanuar was specifically invited to share his views on the National Systems of Innovation. Meanwhile his talks and discussions in the two major NGOs, Satudunia and Kontras, were focused on the role of innovations in the third sector. On the back of these successful lectures, Yanuar will return in 2010 to deliver lectures at the biggest science and technology university, Institut Teknologi Bandung, from which he graduated in 1994, and at the major state university in Central Java, Universitas Gajah Mada. Whilst delivering the lectures and discussions, Yanuar promoted the world-leading work of MBS, MIOIR and CDI programme in science, technology and innovation policy. Read about more of Yanuar's work at http://audentis.wordpress.com |
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Masters student of the year 2008-9 Ugo Rizzo, MSc MOSTI 2008-2009, salutes being awarded the MBS prize for overall best student on the MOSTI programme, after achieving a distinction in his Masters (now MSc Innovation Management
and Entrepreneurship). "I found the MOSTI programme very rewarding. The courses that were offered were very interesting and the research environment was extremely stimulating which contributed greatly to the successful completion of my dissertation research. "The MIoIR environment offers students many possibilities to interact and discuss with staff at the Institute, and I believe that these elements have contributed greatly to my success. I really enjoyed my time and work and hope to remain in the field of research. Moreover, the exciting city of Manchester is a perfect place to spend at least a year." |
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Nanotechnology: the debate continues Russia's push into nanotech is part of its larger effort to strengthen basic science and education. The Kurchatov Institute, Russia's premier centre for nuclear physics, last year received more than 5.9 billion roubles from the government to set up a new centrefor nano-, bio-, info- and cognitive sciences, including a state-of-the-art genome-sequencing facility, an upgraded synchotron radiation machine, and a new data-processing centre. Concrete plans already exist for a national research centre for nanotechnology that includes the Kurchatov Institute and several research centres run by the Russian Academy of Sciences. But experts warn of exaggerated hopes. "Russia is throwing a lot of money and brain power at nanotechnology," says Ian Miles, an expert on technological innovation at the University of Manchester, UK. "But favourable conditions, from more favourable starting points, are being created everywhere. It's not going to be easy." Ian Miles, Rafael Popper and Ozcan Saritas contributed to the Foresight, Roadmaps and Indicators for Nanoindustry (The Future of Nanoindustry) held at the International Workshop 7-8 October 2009, Central Exhibition Complex EXPOCENTER, Moscow. |
MIoIR contributes to article on finance and innovation Ian Miles and Yanuar Nugroho contributed to an article, "Calibrating Innovations and Challenges in Microfinance", in Microfinance Insights vol 15, Nov/Dec 2009, published in Mumbai, India. For further information go to http://www.microfinanceinsights.com. |
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MIoIR provides high level policy advice to Cyprus His findings were the basis of a background report used to inform the Peer Review team, comprising senior policymakers from Austria, Greece, Ireland, Malta and the UK, of the key issues and to guide their questioning of the key stakeholders in the Cyprus RDTI system during the main visit in November. This visit was also led by Dr Cunningham acting as facilitator. In the light of the Peer Review team's findings, an outcomes report is being prepared which will contain an extensive set of policy recommendations for the Cyprus Government, and will be presented to Cyprus ministers and government officials in 2010. Dr Cunningham, who also acted as facilitator to an OMC Peer Review of the UK in 2007, said: "The contrast between Member States’ policies is not as strong as one would initially think – the problems and issues tend to be much the same, although the scale may vary. Also, small countries can have distinct advantages over larger ones in the area of RDTI policy and policy governance. It’s very rewarding to be able to apply the lessons learned from a more academic approach to policy studies in a practical way that has a very real impact." The project is part of the European Commission’s efforts to disseminate best practice and advice in research and innovation policy-making, a process known as the Open Method of Coordination (OMC). It organises reviews of Member States policies under the auspices of the CREST committee. This process of mutual learning aims to help Member States to better understand the policy mixes needed to raise R&D intensity. |
| Knowledge in the economy and in economics: Prof Nic de Liso, University of Salento, Italy Nic de Liso, Professor of Economics at the University of Salento, will be presenting at MIoIR on Monday 7 December 2009
The seminar will start at 4pm in room 10.05 Harold Hankins building. Coffee will be available from 3.30pm. |
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MIoIR welcomes European delegation Kate Barker coordinated a delegation from the University of Sarajevo and the World University Service (Austria) for a project on Strategic and Structural Development of Quality Assurance in Bosnian-Herzegovinian Higher Education. Nina Kovac from the WUS accompanied Professor Hazim Basic, vice-rector, and secretary-general Zoran Seleckovic of the University of Sarajevo. They held discussions with academics from MIoIR, and with administrative officers from Manchester Business School and the Faculty of Humanities. |
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'Young Researcher' grant for MBS doctoral student The paper considers the factors that are influencing the rate and character of the adoption of the low cost carrier business model in the Chinese airline industry. Talking about her time at MBS: "I started the PhD programme with limited research experience. Under the excellent supervision of my primary supervisor Andrew James, I was able to identify the adoption of business model innovation in the aviation industry as a unique research gap in the literature and then explore the field further. "I have also benefited tremendously from discussions with my second supervisor Professor Ian Miles and other academics within the faculty as well as very bright fellow PhD students. I dream of being an outstanding researcher in the future. The MBS PhD programme has certainly provided me with a solid platform from which to make my dream come." |
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Bulgarian doctoral visit Training workshops on presentation skills, project management and IPR with MIOIR staff were organised, and the vsitors spent a day at the Manchester Enterprise Centre exploring commercialisation and new business development. Consultant Alison Hawdale gave an introduction to the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator, and they had sessions with the MBS library and careers services. Coming from diverse disciplines, they visited the Biosciences Incubator and the Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus, and met relevant academics at The University of Manchester. The visit was coordinated by the Centre for Science Studies and History of Science at the BAS, and the course director was Kate Barker. |
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MIoIR academics lead Balkan academics in strategy-planning exercise In July 2009 Kate Barker (left) and Dr Maria Nedeva gave a three-day course at the University of Montenegro on 'Evaluation of University Research Activities and Strategic Planning of Research'. This was part of a Seventh Framework Programme Capacities-research Potential project called EVOLUNIMONT, developing a framework for evaluation and strategy setting for the University of Montenegro. The course attracted 31 participants, mainly senior academics, from the Balkan region (Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania and Macedonia), with MIoIR's Kate Barker a member of the project's advisory board. EVOLUNIMONT project details (Acrobat PDF) |
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Dr Ozcan Saritas has been appointed editor of Foresight journal. A Research Fellow at the Manchester Institute of Innovation Research, Dr Saritas is engaged in various research and teaching activities. His research has mainly focused on long-term policy and strategy-making with particular emphasis upon Foresight methodologies and their implementation in socio-economic and technological fields at the supra-national, national, regional and sectoral levels. During his doctoral research, he developed unique Foresight approaches based on systems thinking. He also delivers courses including "Sustainable Technology Management", "Foresight Concepts and Methods", "Strategic Foresight for Organisations", and supervises PhD and MSc students. On the executive education side, he acts as the co-director of the PREST Annual Foresight course. Paper submissions for the journal can be made through manuscript central. |
| New working paper: Barbara Jones and Bob Miller argue for a radical new understanding of the topic generally referred to as Tacit Knowledge. |
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INNO-GRIPS newsletter Click here to download the latest newsletter - Visit the INNO-GRIPS blog |
Kate Barker and Dr John Rigby have joined a team led by the Dalton Nuclear Institute of the University of Manchester to provide a review for the Technology Strategy Board and regional development agencies of UK capability in nuclear R&D. Working with the National Nuclear Laboratory and the Battelle Institute they aim to provide an evidence base for defining public support and interventions in nuclear R&D and technology. June 2009 |
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The Evaluation of the Human Frontier Science Programme launched in Strasbourg The HFSPO delegation included Prof Torsten Wiesel, Nobel Laureate and current Head of the HFSPO Secretariat, Prof Ernst-Ludwig Winnacker, current Secretary General of the European Research Council and successor of Prof Wiesel as of July 1 2009, and Dr Martin Reddington, responsible for the evaluation. The HFSP supports novel, innovative and interdisciplinary basic research focused on the complex mechanisms of living organism. Topics range from molecular and cellular approaches to systems and cognitive neuroscience. A clear emphasis is placed on novel collaborations that bring biologists together with scientists from fields such as physics, mathematics, chemistry, computer science and engineering, to focus on problems at the frontier of the life sciences. The scheme is also unique as it funds inter-continental cooperation. The evaluation will be completed February 2010, with a first report to be presented to the Board of the HFSP in December 2010. The MIoIR team comprises Dr John Rigby, Dr Barbara Jones, Shu-Li Chen, Kate Barker and Prof Jakob Edler. External partners are Dr Johnathan Adams and Dr Karen Gurney from Evidence Ltd. This evaluation fits into the portfolio of leading edge evaluation led by MIoIR, which also includes the current development of an evaluation concept for the European Research Council (EURECIA), conducted by an international team of leading academics, led by Dr Maria Nedeva (MIoIR). June 2009 |
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Colloquium on Nanotechnology Innovation and Commercialisation in China held at MIoIR Developments and issues related to the burgeoning of nanotechnology innovation and commercialisation in China were considered at a Colloquium on Nanotechnology Innovation and Commercialisation in China at the Manchester Institute for Innovation Research, held on May 22, 2009. China is now the world's second largest producer of scientific publications in the nanotechnology domain, and also has the second largest number of firms who have entered into this emerging technology. Three presentations were made at the colloquium. Prof Donghua Zhu of the School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, presented on the topic of Tracking nanotechnology innovation in China. Prof Philip Shapira (left), MIoIR, presented From Lab to Market: Pathways of research commercialisation in nanotechnology firms in China (co-authored with Jue Wang). Prof Wang Weiguang, Liaoning University, Shenyang (Visiting Researcher at MBS, 2008-2009) presented on Small nanotechnology firms in China. For further details and copies of presentations, please contact Prof Philip Shapira at pshapira@mbs.ac.uk. |
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"Innovation policy is the last area where you should be making cuts." Read the full interview (Acrobat PDF) June 2009 |
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Knowledge Exchange June 2009 |
Evaluation Course June 2009 |
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Visitors to MIoIR Dr Tim Sturgeon (left) of MIT gave a seminar on 'Global Value Chains' explaining how these had emerged – especially in electronics, their implications for the global economy and both the opportunities and risks associated with their use. Dr Gary Lynn of the Wesley J. Howe School of Technology Management at Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey spoke on 'New product teams and multiple respondents'. He reported on innovation audits that surveyed managers in different roles within a company about the same innovation. June 2009 |
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Short courses at MIoIR The next short course at the Institute is on Foresight in ten weeks time, from 29 June to 3 July. May 2009 |
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MIoIR selected for review of major international programme MIoIR, led by Jakob Edler (pictured), has been asked to carry out a major review of The Human Frontier Science Programme, an international and world class science funding organisation. |
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European consortium to measure impact of research on society |
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Peeling off the Layers on Knowledge Networks in terms of Collaboration and Communication Relations in the Systems of Innovation: Dr Han Woo Park, Visiting Research Fellow, Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford, and Assistant Professor, Dept of Media & Communication, YeungNam University, South Korea Wednesday, 18 February 2009 |
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The INNO-GRIPS newsletter, October issue, is now available, with Dr John Rigby providing the lead article, 'Public procurement: the new locus of innovation and economic policy?'
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New science and technology collaboration with Daresbury SIC launches October 2008 |
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Annual Research Report 2007 now available for download.
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New report finds hidden innovation in the creative industries July 2008 |
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Manchester Business School secures €600,000 European defence policy funding Manchester Business School has secured €600,000 of European Commission funding to investigate the impact of defence and security initiatives on the future shape of European science policy. July 2008 |
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The Handbook of Technology Foresight now available |
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Manchester experts support sustainable growth in China |
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Leading economist Prof Dick Nelson joins MIoIR |
