News
Monday 8 October 2007
New research centre to boost region's businesses
A new centre, aimed at boosting the business capabilities of companies across the East Midlands by exploiting cutting-edge intelligent systems and pervasive computing research, has been launched at Nottingham Trent University. The Centre for Innovation and Technology Exploitation (CITE) will showcase a range of university prototypes which can be developed and utilised by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the region.
CITE, supported by Nottingham Science City, and made possible with more than £340,000 funding from East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and Nottingham Trent University, is housed at the University’s Clifton campus within its School of Science and Technology. The aim is for academics and companies to work together to see how research can be tailored and developed for organisations’ individual needs.
Researchers are working on a variety of projects, including voice recognition systems capable of identifying and understanding a person’s speech pattern over a wireless computer network or mobile phone link, and eye gaze technology which allows for computers to automatically sense where on a PC screen a person is looking. They are also looking at developing robust biometric recognition systems as well as incorporating location-aware GPS technology into personal digital assistants.
Dr Tony Allen, CITE Manager, within the School of Science and Technology, said the research going on within the centre could be put to a multitude of uses which could hugely benefit SMEs across the East Midlands.
He said: "By creating this centre, Nottingham Trent University and emda are making a statement about the importance of ICT-led innovation to the 21st Century economy of the region. We aim to facilitate the commercial exploitation of the university’s intelligent systems research by providing an innovation forum within which regional businesses and university researchers can meet to collaborate on the development of leading-edge ICT solutions."
Supported by the university’s Business, Innovation and Creation Unit, Dr Allen identified the need for the new centre as part of his Medici Fellowship – an innovative Midlands-based two year programme designed to foster a climate of entrepreneurship in universities. The Medici Fellowship aims to help deliver a cultural change that will boost commercial awareness, create a more enterprising culture, and support technology transfer within institutions.
Michael Carr, Executive Director of Business Services at emda and Nottingham Science City Board Member, added: "This is a great project since the Centre brings together many different areas that are vital to a dynamic, knowledge-focused economy. ICT is changing the way we live, work and do business. It is vital that these opportunities are maximised within the region and this new centre can play an important role in achieving this. emda and Science City are pleased to support the development of CITE as part of our commitment to creating a flourishing region by 2020."
The CITE team will be holding a programme of events until July 2008 giving the University and businesses the opportunity to link-up and see how they can benefit each other.
ENDS
Notes to Editors: emda contributed £213,000 towards the Centre for Innovation and Technology Exploitation, Nottingham Trent University contributed £129,000.
- East Midlands Development Agency (emda) is one of nine Regional Development Agencies in England, set up in 1999 to bring a regional focus to economic development.
- Working in partnership with public, private and voluntary organisations the aim is to deliver the 2006 Regional Economic Strategy (RES) A Flourishing Region, which sets out regional priorities until 2020.
- The RES, coordinated by emda, highlights the themes of productivity, sustainability and equality and builds on the previous two strategies; Prosperity Through People and Destination 2010.
- In early 2007 the National Audit Office announced emda had received the highest possible grade of 'performing strongly' in an independent assessment of our work - scoring 22 out of 24.
- Click here for more details about emda.
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