1. Welsh Industrial Liaison Officers (WILO) Meeting Virginia Chambers 10 th June 2010

2. Updates -Welsh Assembly Government / UK Government -Reviews -Economic Renewal Programme -A4B -Business Innovation -Enterprise Europe Network

3. Welsh Assembly Government New First Minister Deputy Minister for Science, Innovation & Skills (DM – SIS) - Lesley Griffiths - deputy to Ieuan Wyn Jones New Chief Science Advisor - Professor John Harries - advise Ministers - Links to Whitehall ca £180m budget cuts for Wales announced by UK Government

4. Some Key Ministers in Dept for Business Innovation & Skills –Vince Cable – Secretary of State (BIS) –David Willetts – Universities & Science –John Hayes – FE, Skills & Lifelong Learning –Mark Prisk – Business & Enterprise

5. Reviews underway Ministerial Advisory Group - R&D & Commercialisation - due to publish July 2010 Deputy Minister – Science Innovation & Skills - External Funding of R&D Cabinet debate on R&D and Commercialisation

6. Economic Renewal Programme (ERP) Commissioned by Deputy First Minister Driven by downturn and post recession economy Widespread consultation on business support and economic development Consultation ended 11 th May Report due 28 th June

7. 7 Early indications... Programme is still in analysis phase…. Issues raised in particular around: –planning; –procurement; and –regulation. Investment needed in: –21 st Century infrastructure; –skills. Alignment of wider policies seen as a higher priority than direct business support and a prerequisite for economic development. Access to finance still an issue – mixed response on role of grants. Role of government needs to be properly considered.

8. A4B 7 projects totalling £2.6m approved (subject to contract) at last panel A4B has now supported 204 projects total grant £25m Challenge is to deliver against these projects

9. A4B Observations from A4B Managers WAG budgets cannot be carried over Need better profiling of budgets taking into account –Staff recruitment –Procurement Outputs need to be recorded on IPM especially investment induced CPD currently only for Convergence Area because of budget pressures

10. A4B Reminder 2 New Calls for proposals 1.Large Application Development Projects (L-ADP) - pilot to replace Proof of Concept - for projects with potential to generate significant income - projects up to £150k over 18 months - can support up to 6 projects - closing date 19 th July - contact Terry Stubbs

11. A4B Reminder 2. Thematic Knowledge Exchange Projects - Assisted Living - Low Carbon Economy - Lead institutions in Convergence area (partners in other areas can be included) - up to 9 projects can be supported - closing date 18 th June - contact Gareth Wilson

12. A4B Portal Expertise Wales First stage development completed Promote portal to staff / data input Need institutions agreement to include data on centres of expertise (only 2 responses to date) Expect to launch July 2010 Support available from WAG ** See information sheet

13. KTP Expression of Interest form for classic KTP replaces outline proposal forms New template available through KTP portal Slight increase in classic KTP – need more good applications sKTP – now 36% UK total

14. Business Innovation £35m EU project Design, IP and Manufacturing advisory services Innovation Managers Includes “Innovation Vouchers” - Up to £10k available to businesses - to buy expertise from academia or support bodies Please promote to your clients

15. Enterprise Europe Network Awareness Event planned (tbc) –EcoInnovation –Environment FP7 –TSB Low Impact Buildings Managing FP7 projects training course (Autumn) Travel and consultancy budget for FP7 and TSB still available Consultation on FP8 (July-October) contact – Lisa Wheatley

16. Dates for your Diary 18 th JuneClosing date A4B KEP June/JulyAwareness Day - EcoInnovation tbc - FP7 Environment - TSB Low Impact Buildings 23 rd JuneUKIPO event – Cardiff City Stadium 29 th June UKIPO event – St Asaph 12 th -16 th JulyE-Crime Summit – Celtic Manor 19 th JulyClosing date L-ADP July/OctoberConsultation on FP8 tbc AutumnManaging FP7 tbc projects (EEN)

17. Thanks for your support over the years and best wishes for the future