Advanced Technology Showcase 2009

One Great George Street, Westminster, London
Wednesday 18 March 2009

Building on the success of last year's Advanced Technology Showcase, this event attracted over 200 delegates and 50 high tech exhibitors from a diverse range of organisations including BAE Systems, EADS Astrium and the Rutherford Appleton Laboratories. This forum provided a unique opportunity for companies to network and access advanced technologies developed by leading European research organisations with applications across many market sectors - including industrial, aerospace and defence.

Key note speakers included David Way, Director of Knowledge Exchange at the UK Technology Strategy Board (TSB) who discussed how the TSB will promote technology innovation in the U.K. over the next three years with an allocated budget of £1Bn. Dr Callum Norrie of the European Space Agency's (ESA) technology transfer office gave an overview of some of the advanced space technologies developed through ESA's annual €5Bn spending on R&D.

The afternoon session comprised technical presentations from leading technologists in industry and academia. Dr Vishal Nangalia, Spacenautics, discussed a blood collection device originally developed for astronauts that could have potential uses in everyday hospital applications. Professor Steve Gabriel, University of Southampton, presented his group's work on micro propulsion systems based on MEMS technologies that have the possibility of providing propulsion systems on a single silicon chip for very small satellites. Brunel University's Professor Tony Anson reviewed the myriad of applications for shape memory alloys; these are specialised metal alloys which on the application of heat (including body heat) can change shape.

This event was an excellent opportunity for delegates to hear about new emerging advanced technologies, learn about knowledge exchange schemes from the U.K. and European agencies as well as to network with leading academic organisations and industrial companies. Overall feedback from both delegates and exhibitors alike was very positive, with many new contacts made and collaboration ideas discussed.

For more information about this event and knowledge exchange support from STFC, please contact Sue Fuller.

Programme