Businesses will get the chance to join forces with researchers and academics from the University of Bristol at an event in the city next month.
The Festival of Enterprise will bring together the city’s industry and academia to discuss how they can collaborate to meet business challenges and achieve aspirations.
Taking place on Friday, July 7, in the university’s Great Hall of the Wills Memorial Building on Queens Road, it will feature interactive panel discussions, insightful talks and an exhibition featuring the university’s Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, along with other business initiatives.
Networking will also be a key feature and to make it simpler, attendees from businesses are invited to submit short statements describing a challenge or opportunity they are facing.
The university’s academics and researchers will also submit short statements on their expertise and research interests, which will then be shared with delegates. 
In addition, the event will feature panel discussions on the benefits and challenges of industry-academic collaboration with a particular focus on SMEs, spin-outs and investment readiness.
Keynote speakers will include Oracle for Research vice president Alison Derbenwick Miller and Anna-Lisa Wesley, director of start-up advisory Sapphire & Steel and entrepreneur in residence at leading tech incubator SETsquared Bristol.
University of Bristol vice-chancellor Prof Evelyn Welch said the Festival of Enterprise would celebrate the great things that happen when academia meets industry.
“Spin-outs, start-ups, industry-academia partnerships and collaborative research all play a part in addressing the greatest challenges of our time and contribute to economic growth and competitiveness in our region and beyond,” she said.
University of Bristol associate pro vice-chancellor of enterprise and innovation at the Michele Barbour, pictured chairing a panel discussion at last year’s Festival of Enterprise, added: “The University of Bristol is a large organisation and works with companies in many different ways.
“This event is intended to make it easier for businesses to meet academics with interests that match their business needs.”
The event is being supported by Innovate UK EDGE, which empowers innovation-driven businesses to grow.
Its South West regional manager Paul O’Collins said the Festival had an important mission to foster new partnerships between academia and industry.
“We’ll also be looking forward to showcasing our game-changing growth support at the event, demonstrating how we help the South West’s most innovative businesses to overcome challenges and achieve scale.”
To find out more or register to attend the Festival of Enterprise, click here
