04 Feb 2014

Cambridge Wireless Prestigious Lecture examines relationship between Industry, Government and Academia

With the pace of social, technological, economic and environmental change accelerating rapidly, Professor Sir John O'Reilly, Director General of Knowledge and Innovation, will be presenting the 3rd Cambridge Wireless (CW) Prestigious Lecture on how industry, government and academia need to build a more seamless relationship to meet new challenges and seize opportunities. Sir John will address the importance of the ‘knowledge triangle’ of research, innovation and higher education, and put the case for a strong engagement between these three key drivers to create a powerful engine for UK economic growth.

With the pace of social, technological, economic and environmental change accelerating rapidly, Professor Sir John O'Reilly, Director General of Knowledge and Innovation, will be presenting the 3rd Cambridge Wireless (CW) Prestigious Lecture on how industry, government and academia need to build a more seamless relationship to meet new challenges and seize opportunities. Sir John will address the importance of the ‘knowledge triangle’ of research, innovation and higher education, and put the case for a strong engagement between these three key drivers to create a powerful engine for UK economic growth.

“What we do is very much about impact,” says Sir John O’Reilly, “With the rise of the global knowledge economy, it is very important to recognise that there is a full spectrum of research and science endeavours. The research base is part of a wider innovation ecosystem and the interactions between different parts of this system are critical, especially when there is continued pressure on public spending.”

In order to match the speed of private sector innovation and changing patterns in communication with 24x7 access to services through smart devices, governments have to be more flexible, adaptable and collaborative. Together with academics and industry representatives, policy-makers have to identify and establish a set of exchange mechanisms to respond quickly and embrace today’s digital world and its empowered citizens.

Delegates at the Prestigious Lecture will be invited to provide their own views on how change can lead to greater interaction, mutual understanding, more coherent relationships and strategic partnerships between government, academia and professional bodies. The event on 13 February at the Moller Centre in Cambridge is organised by CW, the leading industry forum involved in the development and application of wireless technologies.

The evening will be chaired by Professor William Webb, Cambridge Wireless Board Member and CEO at Weightless SIG, followed by a networking drinks reception. The event is exclusive for CW Founder Members only. To join CW as a Founder Member and attend future events for free, please visit: www.cambridgewireless.co.uk/sign-up