Abstract

Since the launch of the national Agri‐Tech Strategy in June 2013, there has been renewed energy and vigour in developing new products and services for the industry. Agri‐Tech East is an independent cluster organisation bringing together farmers and growers with technology developers and researchers to inform and accelerate the journey of new innovations from concept to commercial reality. This talk will explore the journey from inception of Agri‐Tech East and how we are bringing together different disciplines to make agriculture and horticulture more productive, profitable and sustainable.

Biography

Belinda Clarke MA (Cantab) PhD FRSB C Biol. NSc

Belinda is Director of Agri‐Tech East, a regional cluster organisation connecting farmers and growers with researchers, technologists, entrepreneurs and investors to support the economic growth, agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability of the agri‐tech value chain.

Prior to her current role, Belinda was Lead technologist for Biosciences at Innovate UK (formerly the Technology Strategy Board). In a previous role she was Director of Innovation Ecosystems at ideaSpace at the University of Cambridge, a pre‐incubator supporting early stage ventures, and prior to that was Life Sciences Manager for the East of England Development Agency, based at One Nucleus. She has worked as an International Trade Advisor for biotechnology and pharmaceuticals with UK Trade and Investment, and was Science Liaison Manager at the Norwich Research Park, focussed on brokering relationships between academia and industry, and promoting the science of the Park.

Belinda is a member of BBSRC Council and a Trustee of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, we well as a member of the Plant Sector Advisory Board of the UK Knowledge Transfer Network. She has a first degree in Natural Sciences (Part II Plant Sciences) from the University of Cambridge and a PhD in plant biochemistry from the John Innes Centre, UK. She is a Nuffield Scholar, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, a Chartered Biologist, and a qualified business coach.