UCL opens its hub for innovation

Lord Sainsbury of Turville is a former UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science and Innovation.

The Engineering Front Building provides an innovative new space to better enable commercialisation of the university's research. The building houses UCL's new Department of Management Science & Innovation, which focuses on technology management, innovation and the creation and growth of technology-intensive organisations, as well as UCL Advances, the university's entrepreneurship centre. It also provides space for students, academics, and venture capitalists to come together and exchange ideas with a view to commercialising new discoveries.

Other features of the building include the first floor teaching space, which is configured towards executive adult education, and provides training for businesses in innovation and technology management. The building's new exhibition space is currently being used to show case a solar car designed and built in UCL Mechanical Engineering.

"The opening of UCL's Engineering Front Building highlights UCL's commitment to knowledge transfer, and investment and innovation, which are essential to maintaining and enhancing its role as a leading global university," says Professor Steve Currall, Vice Dean of Enterprise and Professor and Head of Department of Management Science and Innovation.

"We have a vision of UCL as a hub for enterprise and innovation activities, and that is why we have made this significant investment. The new space will provide a meeting ground for academics, entrepreneurs, investors and students to come together and share ideas. Our aim in the long term is that this will lead to new discoveries that have a positive impact on society."

Notes for Editors

1. Media wishing to attend the opening should contact Dominique Fourniol in the UCL Media Relations Office, on 0207 679 9728, d.fourniol@ucl.ac.uk, or Dave Weston on 0207 679 7678, d.weston@ucl.ac.uk.