Celebrating a decade of innovation incubation
We opened our doors on the 21st of June to celebrate our tenth anniversary. The all day showcase included a series of interactive events, designed to encourage and inform entrepreneurs, investors and established companies.
The day offered an insight into how our award-winning centre operates and provided the opportunity to meet more than 60 entrepreneurs who are developing new technology and knowledge based products in a broad range of sectors.
Coming up to our tenth anniversary, the Sussex Innovation Centre has helped some 150 companies who have been based at the centre, alongside many more outside us who have benefited from our business and commercialisation advice. We have helped to create more than 400 jobs in Sussex and have built a community of support and success that drives each of our tenant companies forward.
The innovation showcase commenced with presentations from the centre's executive director, Mike Herd and was followed by talks from some of the exciting companies based at SInC including h3o Media, Geek Ltd, Phlorum, MetaLab, Trivista and White Hat Media. Mike Herd then chaired the first of two expert panels to discuss small businesses and innovation. Entrepreneur Sam Type from Geek Ltd, banker Simon Waugh from Clydesdale bank, investor Charles Irving from Pond Ventures and IP specialist Peter Gray from Thompson Gray were on the panel to field questions from the audience. The debate was a unique opportunity for those present to observe the informative discussion and to access the specialist advice on offer from these leading industry experts.
A Marquee housed a green technology showcase, featuring a number of interesting companies, including EDF Energy. While, between twelve and one live product demonstrations from some of SInC's tenant companies took place which were attended by Brighton and Hove's Mayor and dignitaries from the University of Sussex.
Tours of the centre went on throughout the day as did a free 'drop-in' IP clinic conducted by Sussex IP. The centre's boardroom played host to a museum for the day, charting the centre's history and development over the last ten years. The day culminated in a sunset barbeque and licensed bar between five and seven o'clock.
The atmosphere of compulsive innovation at the centre provided inspiration for businesses, while providing investors with an opportunity to meet with a range of early-stage businesses many of which were looking for investment funding.
To view pictures of the open day, innovation showcase and alumni dinner, please click here. .
Details of the presentations given, can be viewed below:
