UCL in the News: Double-whammy of innovation at UCL

"It's about building a network of people more than about science parks or business incubators," says the man behind the drive, Professor Steve Currall, an American academic who hails from Rice University in Texas. …

Within five years of founding the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship in 2000, he could justly claim stewardship of 160 new technology company launches and £170 million in raised start-up funding. Through the initiatives at UCL, he aims to repeat this success here in London. …

The new UCL department of Management Science & Innovation is based within the engineering faculty and aims to fill that gap. It offers a Master's in Technology Entrepreneurship and an undergraduate degree in Information Management for business, with some course options taught jointly with UCL's partner institution at the London Business School. …

The social glue, so prized by Currall, will be stewed at UCL Advances, through flagship forums that will aim to facilitate interaction between researchers, entrepreneurs and larger companies interested in building partnerships. The launch event, scheduled for the 16 October at UCL, will cover 'The Future of Imaging', and will bring under one roof, academics, venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, and companies ranging from multinationals developing medical imaging equipment to firms designing video games. Anyone with bright ideas is welcome. …

Tristan Farrow, network.nature.com