Email News January 2012
Welcome to the January 2012 email newsletter from Marine South East
If you would like to submit an article for consideration please email the text and a suitable image or logo to sarah@marinesoutheast.co.uk
Posted 2011-12-05 14:24:16
£75 million boost for high tech small and medium sized businesses
The government announced a £75 million boost for high tech small and medium sized businesses as part of a package of measures launched for the Government’s new Innovation and Research Strategy for Growth.
The key actions announced include:
* £75 million of new government investment for the Technology Strategy Board to give high tech innovative businesses better access to the facilities and finance they need to develop and commercialise products.
* £25 million to help companies develop large scale prototypes that will showcase their ideas to potential investors.
* Piloting a new innovation vouchers scheme delivered by the Technology Strategy Board that will give SMEs the opportunity to get free academic support from colleges and universities.
* Supporting SMEs by doubling the size of the Designing Demand Programme by £650,000 to £1.3 million a year. This is a mentoring programme run by the Design Council to help SMEs deliver improved products, services and brands to enhance their growth potential.
* Working with the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA), to establish a Centre of Expertise for running innovation inducement prizes, and a new Innovation Prize Fund, in which the government will invest £250,000 a year.
The Innovation and Research Strategy for Growth can be found on the BIS website, http://www.bis.gov.uk
For additional information please visit http://www.innovateuk.org
Posted 2011-12-14 14:31:24
SMARTA project evaluation
SMARTA was a project jointly funded by the Regional Development Agency and European Union Regional Development fund, which helped marine companies to achieve substantial improvements in their profitability.
Through the project, clients were able to benefit from free consultancy provided by experts in environmental management and resource efficiency; manufacturing process and quality optimization and designing for sustainability.
Some clients worked closely with the Manufacturing Advisory Service and made substantial savings through improving production processes whilst others saved valuable time and effort through working with the Designing Demand team to ensure the process of identifying, appointing and working with design, public relations or marketing agencies was stress-free and achieved the required outcomes.
See Kittiwake Developments and Discovery Yachts case studies at http://www.marinesoutheast.co.uk/smarta/downloads/ )
From the perspective of the company beneficiaries, the SMARTA project was extremely successful. The project achieved a high level of awareness and take-up by marine companies, and in fact the scale of intervention was limited only by the budget available, rather than by the availability of willing beneficiaries.
The impact of these interventions has been substantial, although in some cases not in the ways originally intended in the project plan. This shift of emphasis among some beneficiary companies has been driven mainly by the new economic climate and market developments which emerged after the project plan was developed. This led, for example, to considerable interest in developing capabilities in the emerging offshore wind energy supply chain – an area of assist which was not anticipated when the project was originally conceived in early 2008.
One implication of this shift in emphasis has been that the impact of many interventions is expected to be realised in 2013 and beyond. As a result, the quantifiable outcomes achieved by 30 June 2012 have fallen well short of the level originally anticipated at the project definition stage.
Notwithstanding this under-achievement of immediately reportable outcomes, the longer-term strategic value of the project has been extremely positive. The impact audit activity has identified many companies who view the SMARTA intervention as game-changing for their business, and some examples of these are presented in the main body of this report.
In addition, MSE has created two independently-funded spin-off activities which will ensure the continued sustainability of the SMARTA legacy. These comprise a supply chain development activity for assisting companies in the procurement process for future offshore and marine renewable energy developments; and a European regional cluster activity which will stimulate innovation and business engagement in the marine resource efficiency market.
Posted 2011-12-15 15:52:40
Sensor equipment to be fitted to French ferry to progress WaveSentry sea-state forecasting project
Novel sensors, provided by the Chelsea Technologies Group are to be fitted to a cross-channel ferry to collect vessel motion data as part of the WaveSentry project which is being managed by Marine South East. This motion data will be processed to derive certain indirect sea-state measurements which will be merged with a range of other data feeds within the WaveSentry sea-state measurement and forecasting system.
Chelsea Technologies Group are specialists in the production of a range of innovative sensors & systems for use in the oceanographic environment.
As part of the WaveSentry project the sensor box, provided by Chelsea Technologies, will be fitted to a Transmanche ferry, the Seven Sisters, which crosses the channel daily. The data collected from the ship will be relayed to the shore and analysed using software from WaveSentry collaborators, QinetiQ to infer the sea state from the ships motion throughout the crossing.
The data collected will be logged against the GPS position of the ship and will be merged with additional data streams by HR Wallingford, to enable much more accurate 'nowcasting' and forecasting of sea state including wave height, period, direction and steepness.
This information should greatly assist the many marine operations who are dependent on high quality information on sea-state for both safety and economic reasons. Sea-state information currently available, is based only on atmospheric/ocean models and lacks sufficient temporal and spatial resolution.
The real-time ship data being collected by the Chelsea Technologies sensor on the Transmanche ferry should substantially enhance the data sources available to give more accurate sea-state predictions to multiple end-users.
The sensor box is due to be fitted to the Seven Sisters ferry in the new year and will collect data for a period of around a year.
WaveSentry was conceived and developed through Marine South East's MEREX Knowledge Network and has secured co-funding from the Technology Strategy Board. The aim of the project is to develop a new information and forecasting tool for managing the risks of marine operations in adverse sea states.
Businesses and organisations can participate in the project through the WaveSentry Knowledge Network which aims to identify and exploit new technological solutions and market opportunities.
For more information please go to http://www.groupspaces.com/wavesentrykn/join
To speak to the WaveSentry Project Manager please contact Simon Powell on 02380 111 592 or simon@marinesoutheast.co.uk
For more information on Chelsea Technologies sensors and equipment please go to http://www.chelsea.co.uk
or contact Ellen Keegan 0208 481 9019
Posted 2011-12-06 12:16:15
Fully-funded Physics students available for work experience
The South-East Physics Network(SEPnet)is a collaboration of seven University Physics departments in the South East, including Southampton who have a history of collaborating with the Marine industry. They are currently looking for host companies for their SEPnet Physics undergraduates, for eight weeks work experience, normally in the Summer. SEPnet fully funds these students so there is no salary cost to the company.
SEPnet generates applications from students, so all the company needs to do is select their preferred student and have a project that will develop the student's skills in any of these areas: Engineering, Physics, R&D, software/hardware, business/commercial awareness, and leadership.
The aim is to increase the employability of our students, and show local industry how wonderful our students are! However there are many benefits for businesses, not least that the student's salary is paid for by SEPnet, and it's a risk-free way to identify new talent.
SEPnet have received feedback that students bring a fresh approach to problem solving, enthusiasm, and that often companies use the scheme for non-managers to build management skills. They have been running for three years and can provide recommendations and references to potential hosts.
SEPnet are accepting registrations from companies between now and the 27th January, preferably via our online form http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/55J6B3D
Posted 2011-12-05 14:30:37
Opportunity to Meet Marine Market Experts at London International Boat Show 10th/11th January 2012, ExCel, London
If you are considering exporting your goods or services around the globe, you could benefit from a free 40 minute one-to-one meeting with UKTI's specialist marine Market Experts.
With sound knowledge and experience of their local markets, our Market Experts have access to up-to-date business opportunities and can provide tailored advice for you and your marine business. Market Experts who will be attending the 2012 London Boat Show include:
* Croatia - Diana Manenica, Senior Trade Development Adviser
* France - Alastair Roberts, Consul
* Italy - Ines Montella, Trade & Investment Officer
* Netherlands - Fran Edmunds, Senior Trade Adviser
* Poland - Darek Czarnocki, Trade & Investment Adviser
* Sweden - Louise Schild, Trade Adviser
* Taiwan - Julia Chang, Commercial Officer
* Thailand - Attakorn Sarapalo, Trade & Investment Manager
This is an excellent opportunity to come and find out about the prospects for your business in one or more of these countries.
Meetings are available during the day on Tuesday 10 January and Wednesday 11 January 2012.
If you would like to book a meeting please contact the UKTI Events Team on: Call: +44 (0) 8452 717 400
Email: events@uktisoutheast.com
Posted 2011-12-05 14:40:17
Articulating the UK's Maritime Research Priorities, 18th January 2012, London
Wednesday 18 January 2012
America Square Conference Centre, Crosswall, London EC3N 2LB
Industry and academia are invited to an event to hear from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl – part of the UK Ministry of Defence) and the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) about their science & technology (S&T) research priorities and plans in the maritime field. The event is being organised jointly by the Defence Special Interest Group in conjunction with the Transport Knowledge Transfer Network, and the Dstl Programme Office Maritime and Strategic Systems Domain.
On the day, the agenda will include workshop sessions to allow attendees to contribute to the debate on how to stimulate further innovation in the maritime sector and collaboration between the defence and non-defence sectors.
The event aims to provide insight into the MOD and TSB marine innovation, science and technology strategies to engage the broadest possible range of contributors across all sectors, it is not an exclusively Marine event. MOD will provide visibility of its Maritime research goals and explain how to engage in future research calls.
Pre-Event Dinner at Thai Square
On the 17th January, the Defence SIG will coordinate a dinner at Thai Square Restaurant at London Minories. Places for dinner are limited to 50 and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Dinner costs £50.00 + VAT per person, which will include a five course Thai meal, half a bottle of wine and a drink (glass of wine or beer) upon arrival.
For more information please contact Steve Gale 0207 091 1138 steve.gale@aadktn.co.uk or Kelly Botham kelly.botham@aadktn.co.uk
Posted 2011-12-05 13:36:27
Channel Networking Session on Eco-Innovation, 9th February 2012, Calais
Ports and shipping businesses and suppliers are invited to meet on board the latest P&O ferry "Spirit of France" as she sails between Calais and Dover on Thursday 9 February 2012.
The European Interreg IV 2 Seas programme project PATCH (Ports Adapting To CHange) brings together a number of ports in the UK, France, Belgium and The Netherlands to share innovative environmental practices in port related matters.
With assistance from P&O Ferries, the Port of Calais is organising a one day business to business event on the theme of "Eco-innovation in infrastructures and logistics for the future". This event will take place during a return crossing of the ferry 'Spirit of France' between Calais and Dover.
The day commences at 0930 at the Port of Calais ferry terminal prior to embarkation on to the ship. There will be a presentation and discussion on eco-innovation in ports, followed by an opportunity for businesses to showcase their products and services.
Relevant port and shipping related businesses based in the South East are particularly welcome to take part in this event in order to meet possible partners and customers in northwest Europe. A light lunch will be served during the crossing with time for networking. An optional one hour visit of the Port of Calais will follow at 1530 for those who are interested.
Further information can be obtained by contacting Howard Holt at howard@marinesoutheast.co.uk
There is no cost for business representatives to register, which can be achieved via the 'news' section of the website of the port of Calais: http://www.calais-port.fr
