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Vice-Provost's View: A new team to drive forward innovation and enterprise at UCL

19 October 2016

UCL is a university with a well-known tradition of radical thought and action - qualities that we are keen to harness in our vision for developing innovation and enterprise.

Dr Anne Mortimer

Our aim is for innovation and enterprise to increase the impact of UCL's research and teaching, contributing to the delivery of UCL 2034 as well as enhancing our reputation as a centre of excellence. 

I have been impressed by the richness and breadth of innovation at UCL and believe that there is a wealth of new opportunities to be developed, which will benefit the university and our wider community.

To deliver this vision, I have established a new senior management team in UCL Innovation and Enterprise, who bring a breadth of experience from the public and private sector. 

Their skills will be invaluable in helping expand innovation and enterprise here and establishing UCL as the partner of choice for business, governments and policymakers in an increasingly competitive environment. 

These type of collaborations will lead to ever-more excellent research and impact, as well as raising the profile of the university and providing valuable additional income.

I would like to mention a couple of projects that illustrate our great wealth of ideas and expertise at UCL and how these can be promoted given the right conditions.

Academics from the Bartlett, UCL's global faculty for the built environment, have been advising government officials from Guangdong Province in China on the latest urban planning research. 

China wants to promote more sustainable development and UCL expertise will help them achieve this.

Earlier this month, Achilles Therapeutics - which will develop cancer immunotherapies based on work by scientists at UCL and its associated hospitals - launched with an investment of £13.2 million. 

This company is the latest in a steady stream from UCL aiming to commercialise medical research to produce new patient treatments.

Encouraging student entrepreneurship continues to be an important part of our strategy. We are looking to provide a more focused offer for students and early career researchers that includes a dedicated entrepreneurship centre at our BaseKX facility, near Kings Cross.  

Entrepreneurship experience not only leads to the creation of new companies, but it gives wider confidence in idea development and execution.

These skills are valued by business and other organisations, helping to make UCL graduates sought after by employers from all sectors.

To help make all of this happen, the UCL Innovation and Enterprise team will work closely with colleagues across UCL in all the different Faculties and professional services, as well as our subsidiary companies UCL Business, which focuses on commercialising research, and UCL Consultants, which handles consultancy services for the university.  

We will provide leadership and support in business development, technology transfer, consultancy and life learning, project and programme management. 

My new team brings together expertise and leadership in all these areas and, thus, is ideally placed to enable and facilitate the innovation and enterprise agenda with colleagues across UCL.

Dr Anne Mortimer, Director of Innovation Policy and Planning

I have worked at UCL for more than 10 years; firstly as an organic chemistry researcher and latterly for the Vice-Provost (Enterprise). I have managed knowledge exchange funding schemes for many years and acted as the Impact Coordinator for REF 2014. 

My role is Director of Innovation Policy and Planning, making sure that UCL's internal policies and resources for innovation help to achieve the maximum societal and economic benefit. 

Dr Martin Davies, Director of Business and Enterprise Partnerships

Dr Martin Davies

I'm joining UCL from the University of Greenwich, where I was Director of Research and Enterprise, a role that I have held since 2008. 


The Director of Business and Enterprise Partnerships is a new position in UCL Innovation and Enterprise, with objectives to increase the reach and impact of UCL's relationships with business - both SMEs and larger firms - within the university and in industry sectors where UCL's academic expertise can have a transformative effect. 

Charlotte Croffie, Director for Entrepreneurship

Charlotte Croffie

I'll be starting my new role at the beginning of December, moving from my current position of Director of Organisational Development at UCL Human Resources.  

I'll lead the entrepreneurship unit that supports and develops UCL's important student entrepreneurship practice programme, which strongly contributes to the student experience, developing their skills for the future, as well as building a significant body of UCL start-ups.  

Terry Dailey, Senior Projects Manager

Terry Dailey

I have recently joined Celia's team and I'm focusing on the management and progress of the numerous projects that UCL Innovation and Enterprise is delivering. This includes the development of the UCL 2034 London Strategy. 

After starting my work life as a chemical engineer, I worked both in the private and public sector. Latterly, I have worked in most areas of the public sector - primarily in programme, project and change management roles. 

Professor Andrew Eder, Director of UCL Life Learning

Professor Andrew Eder

I am Pro-Vice-Provost and Director of UCL Life Learning. My role has a mandate to facilitate the growth of short courses, professional development and executive education across UCL. It follows my 10-year term as Director of Education and CPD at the UCL Eastman Dental Institute.   

In August 2016, the UCL Life Learning team moved to UCL Innovation and Enterprise where it continues to provide academic departments with practical help and guidance on best planning, developing, marketing and evaluating short courses. 

Dr Celia Caulcott
Vice-Provost (Enterprise & London)

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