Abstract

Gillian Davis and Julian Peck from Cambridge Enterprise are going to share their experiences and observations with us about different ways for academics to work with industry for commercialisation of their research work. They will explore ways of working with industry, from finding an industrial partner through to spin-outs and products on the shelves, including a story from the archives – “The lows and highs of Tech Transfer”. The Cambridge Enterprise Ltd. is the commercialisation organisation in the University, helping the university to achieve its greater impacts to the society.

Dr. Gillian Davis joined Cambridge Enterprise in February 2009 to work as part of the Physical Sciences team. She holds a BA in Natural Sciences from Oxford University and a doctorate in laser applications. Having spent 10 years as an R&D engineer, she moved into Hi-Tech business development in 1997, obtaining an MBA with the Open University in 1998. After running the subsidiary of the US company Noise Cancellation Technologies for 10 years, she took up the post of Commercial Director at Dolomite Microfluidics in 2007.

Mr. Julian Peck spent 17 years commercialising innovations in Newcastle before joining Cambridge Enterprise. A graduate of the IfM (Institute for Manufacturing) and a Chartered Mechanical Engineer, he has considerable industrial and commercial experience, mostly in the automotive and consumer products sectors. He has also worked in the City in corporate finance.