The Digital Pathways event (twitter - #dpath2011) will take place on Wednesday 9th March 2011 at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester. It will highlight new and exciting ways that businesses can develop their products and services in collaboration with higher education.

The event will focus on broadcasting, telecoms, digital networks, infrastructure and ICT and is aimed at a broad range of ICT / technology companies and SMEs.

Digital Pathways 2011 will bring together North West universities, the Enterprise Europe Network, Technology Strategy Board (TSB), Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP), RCUK Digital Economy Programme and North West Fund to provide businesses with key information about current funding and partnership opportunities in the region and beyond.

Programme:

17:30 – 18:00 Registration, drinks and canapés  

17.30 – 18:30 Access to HE Exhibition / Access to Funders Exhibition

18:30 – 19:15 Keynote Presentation Session

19:15 – 20:00 Access to HE Exhibition / Access to Funders Exhibition

 20:00  Close

Keynote presentations from the BBC, O2 and Microsoft:

BBC - Adrian Woolard

Adrian is currently Project Director BBC Research & Development North Lab, where in addition to line managing projects based in the North Lab he plays an integral part in the delivery of a new kind of world class R&D facility - one half of what BBC R&D will be in the 21st century.

O2 - Dr Mike Short

Mike’s career spans 36 years in Electronics and Telecommunications, with the last 23 years in Mobile Communications and he was appointed VP Technology for O2 Group in 2000, prior to demerger from BT.  Mike’s focus has been on Advanced mobile networks, Mobile data applications, Innovation for customers, and steering Telefónica Europe’s Group Research and Development in mobile. Today he is more focussed on the boundaries of innovation and public policy including for the last 4 years ICT based applications in Health care, Assisted living, Intelligent Transport systems, smart cities and smart metering/grid, and engineering skills.

Microsoft - Lars Lindstedt

Lars heads up the UK Academic, Emerging Business, Technology Centre and Software Economy programmes at Microsoft, focusing on how software delivers responsible economic growth and the factors that accelerate that growth, such as skills, innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment.

Exhibitors:

University of Bolton

University of Chester

University of Cumbria

Edge Hill University

InfoLab21 at Lancaster University

University of Liverpool

Liverpool John Moores University

The University of Manchester

Manchester Metropolitan University

University of Central Lancashire

University of Salford Digital Cluster

For more information about this event and to register your place click here.