Dr. Uwe Birk
ZENIT GmbH

Environment and energy in the Enterprise Europe Network and NRW

Biography

Uwe Birk was born in 1957 and joined ZENIT as a Consultant in 1992. He is an expert in mechanical, production and minerals engineering, and quality management. His qualifications include a degree in Minerals Engineering from Clausthal Technical University and a certificate in Quality Management. He began his professional career as a Scientific Assistant and then Lecturer at Clausthal Technical University. At ZENIT, his work focuses on consulting for SMEs within technology support programmes for innovation projects, innovation management and technology transfer, introduction of integrated quality, environmental and safety management systems, and business planning/business re-engineering projects, as well as turnaround management.

ZENIT is NRW's Centre for Innovation and Technology and one of the largest nodes in the Enterprise Europe Network. As such, and as Chair of the Network's Sector Group Environment and member of the Sector Group Intelligent Energies, ZENIT plays a key role in these fields at regional and European level.

Carol Keery
Director of Innovation, Research and Technology
Invest Northern Ireland

Making R&D Work
 
Carol will outline the range of support available from Invest NI to stimulate enhanced levels of R&D activity in Northern Ireland both within businesses and the science base. She will outline the challenges faced in addressing the R&D deficit in N.Ireland as well as highlighting the early successes of the new approach as delivered through the Grant for R&D.
 
Biography
 
Carol has been working in the economic developement arena for over 20 years, across the key areas of enterprise and innovation. She was appointed to the post of Director of Innovation, Research and Technology in April 2008 at a time when Invest NI was reviewing the ways in which it supported businesses to carry out  R&D. SInce that time she has overseen a programme of comprehensive change to how Invest NI works with businesses to support their R&D activities. Prior to taking up this post Carol was involved in Trade and Policy Development and has a strong background in EU funded programmes. 

Dr Patrick Davis
Head of R&D
Kingspan Renewables Ltd 

Maintaining a Competitive Advantage in the Renewables Market through R&D Investment.

Biography

Patrick has 20 years R&D experience gained in Software & Electronics Engineering, Semiconductor Manufacturing and Renewables Technologies. He is currently R&D Manager at Kingspan Renewables Limited with responsibility for overseeing research into new materials integration and new product development for systems and applications in renewable heating and cooling.

He is a member of the European Solar Thermal Technology Platform, The European Solar Thermal Industry Federation and as a Chartered Physicist and Chartered Scientist authored numerous scientific papers and patent applications. 

Previously he has held senior management and engineering roles with Thermomax Ltd., BOC Group Plc. and Seiko Instruments Inc. (Japan).

Patrick will discuss how Kingspan Renewables investment in R&D activities have resulted in the development and expansion of their product range and the introduction of new and innovative products.

Stuart Deed
Head of Business Partnering
Scottish and Southern Energy plc.

Strategic Investment in Cleantech

Biography

Stuart is currently Head of Business Partnering for Scottish and Southern Energy Venture Capital (SSEVC). SSEVC is the venturing arm of SSE plc formed in February 2007. The business focuses on strategic investment and has to date made investment in 3 funds, has 12 direct investments and has provided contracts and project finance to investee companies. Stuart’s role is to implement investments and develop the relationships between SSE investment partners and investee companies. Stuart sits on the Board of a number of early stage investee partners including Smarter Grid solutions, Onzo Limited, Logan Energy and IE CHP Limited.

Stuart has relationships in place with Invest NI, Enterprise Ireland, Scottish Enterprise, the Welsh Development Agency and a number of the regional development bodies in England. Stuart also manages the relationships with fund managers including investment partners at Vantage Point in the US and Sigma Sustainable Energy Fund in Edinburgh.

Dr. Paul Brewster
Founder and Chief Technical Officer
Pure Marine

Development of Marine energy technologies

Biography

Dr Paul Brewster is founder and CTO of Belfast based Pure Marine, where he is leading the development of the DUO wave energy converter and their marine energy project portfolio.
Paul is one of the most experienced technology leaders of offshore wave energy systems and is one of the pioneers in the ocean energy scene.

After completing his PhD at Queens University, on modeling wake effects of underwater turbines, Dr. Brewster designed advanced subsea systems on offshore Oil & Gas projects.  This Research and Engineering experience has been key to the emergence of Pure Marine in this exciting sector.

Richard Hogg
Managing Director
LGC (Limavady Gear Company)

How an SME can use R&D to grow their business

Biography

Richard Hogg is the MD of Limavady Gear Company. The company is involved in the wind sector of which its core competencies are in the refurbishment of large scale wind turbine gearboxes and the manufacture of Micro turbines up to 5kw.

Richard acquired the company in 2005 and has grown it by 60% over that time. He intends to build on this success over the next number of years and become the market leader in the sector.

Richard will discuss how it is essential that R&D is carried out to insure growth and to keep a competitive edge.