Press coverage

New council leader? The current favourite, Cllr. John Clancy?

It is twelve days to decision day in Birmingham, when a new leader will be elected by 78 Labour councillors to govern Europe’s newly crowned top city for inward investment. Read more in The Brummie

Birmingham has always been a place with buckets of potential, especially now.

So what’s holding it back? Read more.

Call for Business Mentors as West Midlands entrepreneurs snap up seed finance

Startup Direct is calling on West Midlands business people to join its family of mentors, following strong demand from entrepreneurs since its launch in the region this summer. The founding partner of the Government’s Start Up Loans scheme is on track to lend half a million pounds to West Midlands based start up businesses by Christmas. Read more

UK still a global leader in research

Relative to its size, the UK’s research and development spend and the frequent production of highly-cited articles proves that the nation remains at the forefront of research, says a government report. Currently, the UK is excelling in social science and business, but has produced fewer articles in the fields of biological, environmental and physical sciences. Read more at The Information Daily

Pharmaceuticals 'not doing enough' to develop new antibiotics

Pharmaceutical companies are not doing enough to develop new antibiotics following an increase in antibiotic-resistant infections worldwide, said Dr Jason Clark, Chief Technology Officer of Novolytics. Read moreat The Information Daily

Minimising the use of antibiotics vital to reduce risk of resistant bacteria

In advance to European Antibiotic Awareness Day, Professor Laura Piddock speaks to The Information Daily about why it is so important that we minimise the use of antibiotics. Read moreat The Information Daily

Membrane of gram negative bacteria vital clue to stopping infection

The future is dark if we do not do anything to stop the spread of untreatable organisms, says Ian Henderson, Professor of Microbial Biology at the University of Birmingham. Read moreat The Information Daily

Global action needed to tackle threat of antibiotic resistance

The entire structure of health-care delivery needs to be re-engineered to address the looming global threat of antibiotic resistance, experts warn. Read moreat The Information Daily

Antibiotics over the counter must be stopped to tackle resistance

Nigel Brown, the President of the Society for General Microbiology has called for a global approach to minimise the widespread practice of selling antibiotics over the counter. Read moreat The Information Daily

The dangers of increasing antibiotic resistance are a global emergency

Fighting the spread of drug resistant infections will require co-operation by researchers, the industry and governments worldwide, says Professor Nigel Brown. Read moreat The Information Daily

Did Richard Nixon change the way people describe cancer?

Are we designing "warheads" to target cancer cells with minimum "collateral damage"? More at the BBC News Magazine

The funding environment for academic science is 'challenging'

Jo Morris, Senior Lecturer at the University of Birmingham School of Cancer Sciences, discusses the funding environment in the UK for academic science. Read moreat The Information Daily

Driving the boundaries of science through open innovation

Providing tools and information for academics in the public domain can lead to faster publication and drug creation, benefiting the whole scientific community, says the Director of Academic Liaison for GlaxoSmithKline. Read more at The Information Daily.

Global Health 2013 Conference tackles antibiotic resistance

Stemming the tide of multi-drug resistant infections will require the development of groundbreaking new antibiotics. Read moreat the Information Daily.

Using precious metals to fight cancer

Exploration in the field of metal coordination chemistry may make a significant contribution to finding cures for cancer and other diseases, writes Peter Sadler, Professor in Chemistry at the University of Warwick. Read moreat the Information Daily.

Healthcare Information Daily to sponsor Cancer Research and Drug Resistance events

In September and November of this year HealthCare Innovation Daily will sponsor two major health events. Cancer – From Cause to Cure and Global Health: Rise of the Resistance. Both events are organised by Science Capital the Birmingham based organisation that provides a wide range of assistance to individuals and companies looking to develop ideas commercially. Read moreat the Information Daily.

Collaboration between academia & industry will accelerate cancer cure

Intelligent therapeutics that are specifically able to eliminate cancer cells without residual damage to surrounding tissues may hold the key to curing cancer, researchers believe. Read moreat the Information Daily.

Lunar Lunch with Albert Bore

Lunar Society luncheon with Sir Albert Bore, Leader of Birmingham City Council on on his vision for Birmingham and how he sees Birmingham coping in an age of austerity. See slides and pictures at the Birmingham Post.

Open data can promote better business & customer relations

Radu Sora believes open data can help businesses understand what their customers want, improving relationships and tailoring products. Read moreat the Information Daily.

Open data could improve healthcare standards worldwide

Vice President of Telefonica Europe Dr Mike Short discussed the potential for open data in healthcare at Science Capital in Birmingham. Read moreat the Information Daily.

How can social media benefit businesses?

Business Strategy Consultant Peter Roper believes that open data, particularly social media, is the way forward for businesses and SMEs alike. Read moreat the Information Daily.

How Big Data can help the SME market

'I thought twice about venturing into it really,' she admitted at the Science Capital digital world event at Birmingham Science Park. Read moreat the Information Daily.

Big Data, the Library of Babel or the butter on our daily bread?

As Birmingham gears up for Big Data Week and Science Capital offers illumination with food and a drink the Leader asks "Big Data? Why give a damn?" Read moreat the Information Daily.

Birmingham driving innovation in science and medicine

As London's political and financial leadership looks increasingly shaky, Birmingham is quietly driving medical & scientific innovation and inward investment. Read moreat the Information Daily.

Science Capital and Information Daily to collaborate in 2013/14

Information Daily signs two year agreement to partner the UK's leading facilitator of science entrepreneurs. The Information Daily and InformationDaily.TV will be the principal Media Partners for Science Capital for 2013 and 2014. Read moreat the Information Daily.

Science Capital focuses on Digital World: Data Revolution

Dr Mike Short CBE, Vice President, Telefonica Europe and Amish Patel, "big data guru" for IBM will be speaking. Read moreat the Information Daily.

Empowering through technology in Birmingham

Head of Digital Birmingham, Raj Mack wants cities to become smarter to stimulate innovation led growth, deliver better services and achieve greater transparency and efficiencies. Read more at the Information Daily.

Getting the ingredients for growth right in Birmingham

GrowthAccelerator helps companies with growth potential to achieve their ambitions. The intention is to help businesses double within three years, by providing access to mentoring and connections to finance and development experts. Read more at the Information Daily.

Smart cities are built on leadership and communication

Lean Doody from Arup argues that smart cities depend on more than hard infrastructure, they need to use technology and data to become more sustainable, and improve the quality of life. Read more at the Information Daily.

Drug redeployment may help beat cancer

Drug redeployment strategies will lead to the discovery of novel therapies which can beat haematological cancers according to Dr Farhat Khanim at the University of Birmingham. Read more at the eGov Monitor.

We can make real progress in curing cancer

A Professor of Structural Biology at the University of Birmingham has spoken about the challenges in the next decade for finding therapeutic agents for curing cancer. Speaking at Science Capital's Innovative Healthcare Meeting in Birmingham, Professor Michael Overduin spoke exclusively to The Information Daily about the challenges facing cancer research. Read more at the Information Daily.

Minister David Willetts meets leading researchers

Government Minister David Willetts MP took time out from the Conservative Party Conference to meet some of Birmingham’s leading cancer researchers. The Minister for Universities and Science visited the Cancer Research UK Centre where he was given a tour of cutting-edge Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facilities. Read more in the Birmingham Mail

Award for the Institute for Translational Medicine

A new £24 million clinical research centre will be built in Birmingham, which brings together businesses and academics. As part of the government’s ‘City Deal’, which aims to bring thousands of jobs to the West Midlands region, the Institute for Translational Medicine will bring together clinical academics, trialists, stratified medicine teams, SMEs and the pharmaceutical sector. read more in The Information Daily

Growth of the Business of Healthcare in the Midlands

Science Capital connects Midlands SMEs in the healthcare, energy, transport and digital technology sectors to the wider business and investment community to help new products and ideas get to market. read more in The Business Desk PDF report.

Brief History of Science Capital

Michael Overduin founded Science Capital in 2010 with the help of a few friends in order to provide a red carpet for innovation. Our aim was to provide an independent forum where great minds could meet, discuss a global challenge, and come up with new solutions and ways to work together. read more at The Information Daily

When great minds meet

and freely exchange world-changing ideas, an even greater intelligence can emerge. Science Capital brings together the people with invaluable ideas with those who know how to turn them into reality. Our goal is to create the confidence and connectivity to make a global difference through science, technology and design... read more at The Information Daily

End of our future

Talking prior to the Earth Summit in Rio, the UN secretary general Ban ki-Moon warned today that "if we really do not take firm actions [on climate change], we may be heading towards the end – the end of our future". The biggest issue is access to energy and resources, both of which are becoming limiting while demand is rising. Real solutions are being developed here...

Science Capital winds up sustainable energy sector

THE latest developments in low carbon sustainable energy will be the subject of the latest Science Capital event in Birmingham... read more in The Business Desk

Buy local: the case for Distributed Energy

“The thinking behind Distributed Energy is to complement centrally generated energy, not to replace it” according to Graham Hygate,

Founder of Fine Energy... read more

Turning the corner on climate change

Britain’s future leadership in the automotive industry was revealed at Birmingham’s Science Capital meeting, as Lord Paul Drayson proclaimed that motorsport was the ticket to global adoption of zero emission vehicles... read more

Science Capital in its element after securing award

Giving individuals the right advice on growing their business is critical to getting our economy rolling again, according to Science Capital team which won the 2012 Local Business Accelerators competition... read more

Testimonials from Business Plan Presenters in 2011

Presenters from Loftzone, Aceon Solar, Pengower and Ergohome talk about how presenting at Science Capital helped their businesses grow. (press release)

Science Capital lands a Local Business Accelerator Award

A panel of industry experts and BPM media select the top teams for support to accelerate their growth, as reported in the Birmingham Post. (press release).

Science Capital accelerates into the Dragon's Den

Seven local businesses including Science Capital were selected to compete for a share of £15 million in free adverstising and advice from Deborah Meadon and BPM Media... read more in the Birmingham Post

Trevor Phillips OBE on helping high-achieving students reach potential

at the Social Mobility Foundation’s Employer Reception in Birmingham on Friday 2 December 2011... more in the press release

UK patent system brought into line with Europe

The Supreme Court has this morning over-turned the Court of Appeal’s earlier decision to revoke a patent held by Human Genome Sciences... more in the press release

Cloud computing and blue sky thinking in Birmingham

Our future in a digital world was considered by eighty experts who gathered at the Digital World Meeting on 19 October. Three drivers will dominate our lives and businesses: the democratisation of knowledge, restructuring of the energy landscape, and the need for increased security... more in the press release

Smart grids and cloud computing set stage for growth

From a ‘PC on a stick’ to making the National Grid smarter, Science Capital is bringing together innovators and investors to look at starting new businesses in the fast-growing digital sector... see the press release and the Birmingham Press

Stage set for Birmingham’s ambition to transform healthcare globally

...Binding Site CEO Charles de Rohan said early detection of disease is vital for cutting overall healthcare costs. His argument is straightforward. Generating accurate information about a patient’s condition costs only a tiny fraction of the cost of treatment, particularly for cancer. As governments squeeze their healthcare spends, earlier diagnosis and treatment of disease will be increasingly essential for controlling costs and minimizing the complications associated with late intervention. The Midlands-based company is already exporting diagnostic tests to 79 countries to help doctors make the right clinical decisions. Growth is pinned on expanding its international distribution of antibody-based assays for more types of cancer and immune system disorders... more in the Birmingham Press on 30 Sep 2011

Science Capital helps to boost Birmingham

The Greater Birmingham Local Enterprise Partnership is to inject multi-millions into major projects to bridge the north-south gap in the UK economy and create jobs in high growth sectors. The benefits of generating more cost-effective treatments would be significant, with the West Midlands seeking to trim the £7 billion it spends on healthcare. read more from the Med-Tech Innovation News article on 26/09/2011

Binding Site sets the stage for Birmingham’s ambition to transform healthcare globally

How can the region get the best return on a major investment in healthcare? See press release from 26 Sep 2011

Science & the city

... Science Capital is where scientists, business people and investors meet. Two brill scientists, both New Optimists, Charlie Craddock and Paul Moss led the first half of the evening. In the second half, Charles de Rohan of The Binding Site took over along with Gordon McKenzie who co-founded Michelson Diagnostics in 2006 after completing his PhD at Warwick. by Kate Cooper in the Birmingham Post Blog on 22 Sep 2011

Midlands leading the revolution

A revolution in the drug discovery industry is underway, with universities across the West Midlands leading the effort by working in partnership with industry to focus on improving patient care... read the Birmingham Post article

Medical advances offer major investment opportunities

UNIVERSITIES in the West Midlands are working in partnership with businesses to lead a revolution in the development of the drug discovery industry.The strategy is leading to groundbreaking opportunities for new investment, science entrepreneurs have said.The advances in the field will be discussed at a major conference in Birmingham today, attended by 90 academic and business leaders from across the region.The Science Capital’s Innovative Healthcare event will showcase investment propositions and build on successes... read more in The Business Desk (21st September 2011).

Revolution in drug discovery underway in West Midlands, UK

A revolution in the drug discovery industry is underway, with universities across the West Midlands leading the effort by working in partnership with industry to focus on improving patient care.

Ninety academic and business leaders converge at Science Capital’s Innovative Healthcare event on September 21 to showcase investment propositions and build on successes of translating medical research into clinical practice... read more in News Medical (21 Sept 2011)

Nanometer Sized Chips Help Detect Tuberculosis and Other Diseases

...The plans being presented range from smart robots for the inner ear of the profoundly deaf being designed at University Hospitals Birmingham to therapeutic boots for healing foot ulcers from The Diabetic Boot Company... read more in AZoNano (20 Sept 2011)

Building the West Midlands’ low carbon economy

“Houses that sweat, chimneys that soak up heat, and solar power systems for cloudy climates - as the housing industry gets back on its feet, there are terrific opportunities in green technology,” says Michael Overduin, the CEO of Science Capital.

Keith Budden from E.ON chaired the event which brought together industry leaders, SMEs, academics and investors in a bid to strengthen links and drive growth in the housing sector. Their focus on working together to build a green deal contrasts sharply with the UN climate change talks in Bonn that end today with little agreement on extending the Kyoto Protocol.

Speakers at last Wednesday’s meeting included representatives of local firms who highlighted the opportunities for the region in supplying the UK’s £15 billion housing retrofit needs. There are 26 million homes that must be improved if we are to hit our national energy efficiency targets... more in the Birmingham Mail article by Kat Baldwyn on 15 June 2011 and our press release

Universities pioneer new automotive green tech projects

Kerry Kirwan of WMG on green racing cars Bruno Pollet, of University of Birmingham, discusses fuel cell technology TWO West Midlands universities are bidding to transform the motor industry by championing low carbon and green technologies that could revolutionise the manufacture and propulsion of cars for decades to come.

Warwick Manufacturing Group has developed a pioneering racing testbed to show off the way sustainable technology can be utilised in an arena seemingly abhorrent to the green lobby.

Meanwhile, the University of Birmingham is working with manufacturers and investors to try and develop a commercially viable means of marrying together battery and hydrogen fuel cell technology to power the cars of the future in a clean and efficient way.

Delegates from both universities showed off their respective technologies to an audience of investors, advisers and academics at a Science Capital event in Birmingham... more in The Business Desk article by Duncan Tifton 28 March 2011

Capital Science event looks to the future of car building in the West Midlands

Cars made from recycled cans, lightweight engine technology and practices borrowed from the motor racing and aerospace industries could help cement future success for the region’s automotive sector.

That was the message from West Midland vehicle technology innovators ahead of a Birmingham event looking at research developments in the automotive industry.

The Science Capital event brought together car firms, engineers, academics and investors in a bid to strengthen links between the key drivers in the West Midland sector. Speakers included representatives of firms like Jaguar Land Rover and turbocharger specialists Aeristech, who gave an insight into the world-leading research happening in the region... more in the Birmingham Post article by Anna Blackaby on 17 Mar 2011

Modec rescue deal 'imminent'

A RESCUE deal for Coventry based electric vehicle manufacturer Modec could be imminent after a rival firm confirmed it was in talks to salvage the company.

Barry Shrier, chief executive of Oxford based Liberty Electric Cars, said last night his firm was mounting a rescue bid.

Mr Shrier, chairing a Science Capital debate in Birmingham on the future of the motor industry, said it was vital that innovative firms such as Modec were encouraged... more in The Business Desk article by Duncan Tift on 17 March 2011

JLR unlikely to become UK's biggest manufacturer - Bailey

...Evidence of the company’s growth plans was outlined to an audience at the recent Science Capital automotive event in Birmingham.

Andrew Haggie, senior manager-materials engineering for JLR, said the company had invested £400m in research and development and had upgraded facilities at its Castle Bromwich plant to incorporate the latest advanced manufacturing techniques... more in The Business Desk article by Duncan Tift on 18 March 2011

U.K. Healthcare Experts Question Plans to Ring Fence NHS

Ring fencing the NHS budget makes political, not business sense, argued Dr. Alan Davies, Chief Medical Officer of General Electric Healthcare, Europe, Middle East and Africa. Chronic disease will remain one of the largest global risks for the foreseeable future, and reforming and containing costs are increasingly vital. Davies spoke at a meeting entitled “ Drugs, Diagnostics and Delivery: from Personalised Medicine to Global Health ” organized by Science Capital... more on Medical Device Summit news on 30 Sept 2010

Plans to ring fence the NHS budget are questioned by experts

Ring fencing the NHS budget makes political, not business sense, argued Dr Alan Davies, Chief Medical Officer of General Electric Healthcare, Europe, Middle East and Africa, at the inaugural Innovative Healthcare Meeting held recently at the Birmingham Conservatoire which brought together NHS executives, business leaders, scientists, policy makers and financial advisors looking to build new partnerships to support innovation and improve the economics of healthcare.

The theme of the meeting, which was sponsored by Life Science industry association, MedilinkWM, was entitled ‘Drugs, Diagnostics and Delivery: from Personalised Medicine to Global Health’. The event was hosted by Science Capital, an organization that was established in Birmingham, UK, to support commercialisation of new healthcare, low carbon and information technologies being developed in the West Midlands region.

During his presentation entitled ‘Future Directions in Healthcare’ Dr Davies discussed the plans to ring fence NHS and pointed out that chronic disease will remain one of the largest global risks for the foreseeable future, and reforming and containing costs are increasingly vital.

Dr Davies maintained that a way to lower healthcare costs is to be innovative when implementing care pathways. He suggested the NHS could push towards more healthcare delivery nearer the patient's home which could achieve cost reductions of 15 percent while improving access globally and providing better care locally... more in ProHealth Service Zone article on 24 September 2010.

IP Brief: Automotive

Martineau were proud sponsors of a low carbon event held in Birmingham in June entitled “Food, Fuel and Future Strategies for a Changing World”. The event was the inaugural meeting of Science Capital. This new organisation is an independent not-for-profit outfit which brings together scientists, business experts, policy makers and financial advisors to build new partnerships and develop shared strategies.

The event was focussed on assisting those in the region developing or supporting low carbon technology, and schemes for reducing fossil fuel dependency. In discussions moderated by Martineau’s energy expert Catherine Burke, the vast wealth of expertise in sustainable technology within the West Midlands was highlighted. It is clear that the region will play a key part in Government plans to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050... more in Martineau's Summer 2010 IP Brief.

Science in the city

...The speakers each gave us a richly informed and highly informative perspective about the scientific and technological breakthroughs needed for us to meet the global challenges of climate change, and of some of the world-beating technologies being made here.

Aston's VC, author of HM Treasury King Review and member of the Committee on Climate Change, Professor Julia King spoke of the whys and wherefores of the huge, radical industrial and behavioural shift which has to be made if we are to meet the Government target of 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050.

Professor Malcolm McIntosh, Director of the Asia Pacific Centre for Sustainable Enterprise at Griffith University in Queensland, Australia gave us a perspective from the Asia Pacific, talking of Australia's high carbon footprint, their huge and easily accessible coal reserves -- and of the significant green manufacturing in China; they look set to lead the world in sustainable transport. As Julia King said in the discussion, while we're talking about electric vehicles, the Chinese are manufacturing them in their millions.

Professor Jonathan Seville, Dean of Engineering at Warwick spoke of several technologies being developed regionally. One that caught my attention was sorption energy, a super-efficient use of energy using well-known technologies and, owing to new miniaturised systems developed at Warwick, with far more wide-ranging applications.

Finally, Professor Kevin Kendall, FRS Director of the Fuel Cell Centre showed us the hydrogen vehicles already in regular use on the University of Birmingham campus. He gave, too, an insight into their future, and the necessity for development of such vehicles... more in the Birmingham Post blog by Kate Cooper on 18 June 2010.

Birmingham: Science Capital

Recognizing that innovation happens best when great minds connect directly, Overduin is launching Science Capital in 2010 to bring scientists, entrepreneurs and investors together in Birmingham. Leading scientists are given a stage to present their ideas and technologies to those who have the resources to build companies locally and scale them globally. This grassroots initiative is led by scientists who have built successful businesses, with prospective stakeholders include leading financial and legal firms and Birmingham City Council. Events will focus on innovative healthcare, digital and low carbon technologies. This is also the year Birmingham will host the British Science Festival, the largest such event in Europe for the general public. Everyone’s invited to join in and see how Birmingham is asserting itself as the UK’s leader in science and innovation... more on Parliament Magazine in winter 2010

Birmingham: Innovation, Innovation, Innovation

Professor Michael Overduin, Executive Director of the Henry Wellcome Building, is helping to transform our largest Science City into a hub of scientific enterprise from the ground up... Informing the private sector, political leaders and public about exciting scientific opportunities is equally important to Overduin. He is launching Science Capital in 2010 to provide leading scientists with a stage to present their breakthroughs. This grassroots initiative is led by scientists who have set up successful businesses, with prospective stakeholders include leading financial and legal firms and Birmingham City Council. The organization is partnered with the Lunar Society, which originates from 1775 and is continuing to run inspiring events for audiences of hundreds of participants... more at Public Service Health Issue 21