Date Announced: 18 Nov 2009 Swindon –– The Technology Strategy Board has appointed Dr Steve Welch as Chief Executive Officer of the new Electronics, Sensors and Photonics (ESP) Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN).Welch took up the new post in November 2009, and one of his first jobs will be to oversee the merger of five previously separate KTNs into the new ESP KTN. This process will be completed by the beginning of July 2010, when the ESP KTN is officially inaugurated.“I am thrilled to have this opportunity at what is a very exciting time for the people and organisations, both industrial and academic that make up the ESP and KTN communities,” Welch commented. “As well as the practical aspects of bringing together the wide range of technologies we are working with, there are some fantastic emerging opportunities, even in the current economic climate.”Welch is currently director of the Centre for Advanced Instrumentation Systems at University College London, and has substantial experience in knowledge-sharing activities and working with industry, both with the KTNs and the Faraday Partnerships that preceded them.Dr Trevor Cross, Chairman of the ESP KTN added: ”We are delighted that Dr Welch will be leading the ESP KTN. As well as his experience in working across the industry/academic interface, he has a significant track record at delivering successful collaborative projects.”The ESP management team held a “One Vision” workshop in July 2009, which demonstrated how the delivery teams from the five KTNs that will form the ESP KTN can cooperate to solve large-scale problems that face the UK today. In the early part of 2010, the team will be piloting a programme of activity for one of these themes called “Electricity for the Future.”[photo caption] Dr Steve Welch, the newly appointed CEO of the Electronics, Sensors and Photonics Knowledge Transfer Network.ESP Knowledge Transfer NetworkThe ESP Knowledge Transfer Network is one of the family of KTNs being sponsored by the Technology Strategy Board. (tinyurl.com/ygslbz9). KTNs are overarching “super networks” in their respective disciplines, set up to bring together businesses, designers, research and technology organisations, trade associations, the financial market, academia and others in the value chain. The KTNs and their network groups provide a range of activities and initiatives to enable the exchange of knowledge and the stimulation of business innovation. The KTNs work closely with government, and are the route for advice to the Technology Strategy Board on the support needed by their industries.The ESP KTN is integrating the communities of five KTNs (Sensors and Instrumentation; Photonics; Displays and Lighting; Integrated Product Manufacturing; Electronics) and the current transition phase will be complete by the 1st July 2010 when the ESP KTN will become the single point of entry for all of these technical domains. “One Vision” conference report and details are available at www.espktn.org/workshops.
Contact
For further information, please contact: Dr Steve Welch Tel. +44 (0)7515 774014 email: [email protected]
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