UCL Advances appoints Executive Director

Making the announcement, Professor Steve Currall, Founding Director of UCL Advances and Head of UCL Management Science & Innovation (MS&I), said: "The creation of the new Executive Director post is central to UCL Advances' strategic expansion of activities to support commercialisation of research innovations at UCL."

During 2007-08, UCL Advances (formerly the Centre for Enterprise and the Management of Innovation) is initiating an ambitious programme of educational and business outreach activities that will promote innovation and entrepreneurship to all members of the UCL community. In addition to UCL's financial support, UCL Advances is receiving funding from the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) and the Centre for Scientific Enterprise Ltd (CSEL).

As Executive Director, Mr Barnes is responsible for strategic and operational leadership of UCL Advances. He will report to Professor Currall, who will maintain an oversight role in UCL Advances and continue as a member of the UCL Enterprise Board and Head of the Department of MS&I. Dave Chapman, who was acting Deputy Director of UCL Advances, will now concentrate on his role as Deputy Head of UCL MS&I.

Professor Currall added: "Tim Barnes is absolutely perfect for the role of Executive Director of UCL Advances. We had dozens of excellent applications for the job and Tim emerged as the best suited to expand UCL Advances. His background as an UCL alumnus, entrepreneur in leading his own technology commercialisation company, and his extensive familiarity with the entrepreneurship and early stage investor communities in London and Europe, made him the ideal person to take on strategic and operational leadership of UCL Advances."

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Barnes remarked: "UCL Advances is an exciting new initiative on the part of UCL. It has enormous potential for developing the links between researchers, business and investors."

Mr Barnes joins UCL Advances after spending the last six years running his own business, Lodestone IP Ltd, helping universities and large corporations to spin-out high technology companies. His clients have included the London Development Agency, CSEL, the BBC and Reuters. Previously, Tim worked as an investment manager at Gorilla Park, a pan-European investment firm that specialised in early-stage technology ventures. Projects he was involved in included a web service development tools company in Paris and a pan-European business services company. He also initiated Gorilla Park's University liaison programme, which included members from the UK, France, Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands. A graduate of UCL, Tim began his professional life as a business consultant with Arthur Andersen in London.

"So many great advancements have been made at UCL, and I believe UCL Advances will play a critical role in helping to shape its future."

To find out more, follow the links below:

• UCL Advances
• UCL Management Science & Innovation