7th MEETING OF EDF
INNOVATION SUB-GROUP ON 23 MAY 2006
Attendees: David Dobbin, CBI
Bernie Hannigan, UU
Bob Barbour, C for C
Chris Conway, Nortel
Wilfie Hamilton, DETI
David McAuley,
Anne Conaty, DETI
Tracy Meharg, Invest NI
Victor Jordan, Invest NI
Olive Hill, Invest NI
Gary Burnett, ANIC
Helen McConkey, DETI
WELCOME / APOLOGIES /
MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
1.
The
Chair welcomed members, Victor Jordan and Olive Hill to the 7th
meeting of the Innovation Sub-group. He
noted that Gary Burnett, ANIC would join members at 9.45am and also noted
apologies from Stephen Kingon, John Mann and Graeme Hutchinson.
2.
The
draft minutes, as circulated with papers, were agreed without further
amendment.
MATTERS ARISING
NI
Science Industry Panel / Foresight
3.
Members
were advised that work continued to develop the Terms of Reference for the NI
Science Industry Panel (NISIP) and these would be circulated to the
Sub-group. A list of possible Panel
members had been shortened following a consultation process and a further update
on progress would be provided at the June plenary meeting.
ACTION: DETI to
circulate Terms of Reference for NISIP to Sub-group members when ready.
Foresight
4.
Members
were advised that a key function of NISIP would be to develop and oversee a
technology horizon scanning programme which would replace the NI Foresight
Programme.
5.
The
Chair reminded members of the Group’s interest in the Food Foresight programme
and as this work was coming to an end it was agreed that John Gilliland should
be invited to the next meeting of the Sub-group to update members on this work.
ACTION: Secretariat
to invite John Gilliland to the next Sub-group meeting to update members on the
Food Foresight Programme.
Centres
of Excellence
6.
Members
were advised that the evaluation of the economic value of the Centres of
Excellence was due to complete in the Autumn and that this was an area
identified for possible north/south co-operation. Members were advised that an interim update
paper would be circulated to Sub-group members in advance of the next meeting.
ACTION: Invest NI
to circulate an interim update papers on the evaluation of the Centres of
Excellence to Sub-group members in advance of the next meeting.
NANOTECHNOLOGY
7.
The
university representatives’ paper highlighted the need for funding of more PhD
students over 5 key technology areas: Agri-food, Aerospace, ICT, Life Sciences
and Nanotechnology. During discussion it
was contended that such an investment in PhDs was needed to expand the
capability and capacity of NI in key technology areas. However, although members agreed that this
merited further consideration, it was felt that both universities lacked an
overall strategy in relation to the universities role in economic
development. The University
representatives were asked to prepare a paper for the next meeting summarising
the Universities’ vision and approach in relation to the economy, the
initiatives they wanted to pursue, targeted outcomes and budget priorities.
Members suggested that such a paper would provide the context for discussion on
the case for additional research posts and contribute to overall economic
development plans.
ACTION: University
representatives to provide a paper for the next meeting which sets out the
Universities’ vision and approach to the economy, the initiatives they want to
pursue, targeted outcomes and budget priorities.
HE / FE COLLABORATION FUND
8.
The
Chair welcomed Gary Burnett, ANIC to the meeting. Mr Burnett advised that ANIC
welcomed the initiative and in working with the universities over the last few
months and both the HE and FE sectors were agreed on a joint proposal. Work was underway to ensure that the joint
proposal would delver value for money.
Members were advised that members would receive a copy of the proposal
once finalised. It was intended that a
call for proposals would be made in the Summer with projects being approved
before the end of 2006 and funded activities starting in April 2007. Members advised that they would like to see
spend being directed towards providing business facing resource in FE colleges
which would also act as a conduit for knowledge transfer from the FE colleges
and both Universities as appropriate.
ACTION:
TRADEABLE SERVICES
Economic and Innovation
Potential of Tradeable Services Sector
9.
Invest NI representatives
presented progress on its development of a new tradeable services strategy
which would then be translated into specific sub-sector strategies.
10. During the ensuing
discussion members raised concerns about the structure of support and the
appraisal model for the tradeable services sector. It was suggested that these be reconsidered
and targets set on a sector basis.
Tradeable Services and
Innovation Research – Terms of Reference
11. The Chair reminded members
that a copy of the Terms of Reference for the tradeable services research
project had issued to members on 15 May for comment. Members agreed that a better understanding of
innovation in the services sector was required and emphasised the need for a
joined-up approach to this research.
CLUSTERING
12. Members were advised that
the Centre for Competitiveness had been working with Invest NI to develop a
proposal on the way forward for clustering activity in NI. Bob Barbour presented on this work to date. Members recognised the potential of clusters
in terms of the end to end solutions which might be provided through clusters
and also recognised the need to foster innovation networks.
13. During discussion members
were advised that the next steps were to decide if future arrangements remained
within Invest NI or a more external approach was to be taken and determining
the resources required.
14. Members asked that Bob
Barbour continued to work with Invest NI and provide a paper on the proposal
going forward and the outcomes for resource input.
ACTION: Invest NI to bring a paper to
the Sub-group on the proposal on the way forward for clustering activity in NI
and the outcomes for resources input.
INNOVATION
METRICS
15. Members noted the paper
outlining the NI results of the UK Innovation Survey 2005. It was agreed that Bob Barbour should
continue to work with Graeme Hutchinson on the development of a questionnaire
to measure innovation in NI.
ACTION: Bob Barbour and Graeme Hutchinson to
continue work to develop questionnaire to measure innovation in NI.
GLOBAL TRACKING OF
INNOVATION
16. David Dobbin reminded
members that the Group had been asked to consider the issue of global tracking
of innovation. At the last Sub-group
meeting members considered a paper from Bob Barbour which set out the European
Innovation Scoreboard and also the “hot spots” for innovation around the world.
17. During discussion about how
this issue should be progressed members recognised that there were areas of
innovation around the world in which NI had no involvement. Members agreed that there was a need to raise
awareness of opportunities for NI businesses and asked DETI to provide a paper
for the next meeting on where opportunities are arising and where NI might be
best placed to take advantage of these.
The Sub-group also suggested that global tracking of innovation be
included in the Terms of Reference for NISIP.
ACTION: DETI to provide a paper for the next Sub-group
meeting on where innovation opportunities are arising around the world and
where NI might be best placed to take advantage of these.
ACTION: DETI to consider including the issue of global
tracking of innovation in the Terms of Reference for NISIP.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Plenary
EDF Meetings – Agenda Items
18.
Members
had no items to add for discussion / debate at future meetings.
Sub-group
Report for June Plenary Meeting
ACTION: Secretariat
to prepare a short progress report for the June 2006 plenary meeting for
clearance by the Chair.
19.
It
was agreed that a meeting be arranged in advance of the September plenary.
ACTION: The Chair
to contact the Secretariat with possible dates for a meeting of the Sub-group
in mid-August 2006.