Innovate 2017 Conference

Jane Lambert

Innovate UK, the UK's innovation agency,  will hold its Innovate 2017 conference at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham on the 7 and 8 Nov 2017. This is billed as "an event creators, investors and entrepreneurs from all over the world", a "place to be inspired and network with future-focussed thought leaders" and a "chance to hear captivating speakers and see game-changing innovations for the first time."

The themes of the conference will be:

• Creating new worlds;
• Automating the wold;
• Securing the cyber world;
• Building the cities in a future world;
• Feeding the world;
• Creating an equal world;
• Curing the world; and
• Powering the world.

These themes will be explored according to this agenda.  

There will also be an innovation showcase - no details are provided but there is always an exhibition and competition by that name at the regional Venturefests, a support zone at which Digital Birmingham, Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership and the University of Birmingham and other agencies will be present and an exhibition.

Surprisingly, the IPO is not yet listed in the support zone and the IPO has not yet included Innovate 2017 in the IPO Events Calendar. Specialist advice will be required on the optimal legal protection of any intellectual assets that may result from any collaboration between creators, investors and entrepreneurs, inspiration by thought-leaders and game-changing innovation and any agreements that they may negotiate among themselves.

Should anyone wish to discuss this article, intellectual asset protection, joint ventures and licensing or any other legal topic relating to innovation, he or she should call me on 020 7404 5252 during office hours or send me a message through my contact form.

BCRS to manage Midlands Engine Small Business Loans in the West Midlands

Jane Lambert

On 29 Aug 2017, I reported the launch of the Midlands Engine Investment Fund and the publication of Spotlight: The Midlands Engine Investment Fund. On Wednesday, fund managers for small business lending were appointed in the East and West Midlands. First Enterprise Business Agency was appointed for the East Midlands and BCRS Business Loans for the West.

A small business loan is one between £25,000 and £150,000.  Loans of between £100,000 and £1.5 million are available through the Midlands Engine Debt Finance Scheme which is managed by Maven Debt Finance.  Initial enquiries as to eligibility for a small business loan can be made through the enquiries form on the BCRS website.

As I said in my report on the launch of the fund:

"Anyone seeking any kind of funding under the MEIF or any other scheme will be expected to have planned, protected and leveraged its investment in branding, design, technology and creative output and that's where I come in. If you don't already have an IP strategy give me a call on 020 7404 5252 during office hours or send me a message through my contact form.

I can help you identify your intellectual assets and suggest the best ways of protecting them having regard to your business objectives and available resources. If you already have a patent or trade mark attorney, solicitor or other professional advisers I can work with them. If not, I can put you in touch with some of my contacts and help you choose and instruct the ones you like best. I can incidentally also put you in touch with many other professionals such as product design consultants and IP insurers and introduce you to your nearest Business and IP Centre or Patent Information Unit where you can get more advice and assistance either free of charge or at a very modest cost."

Further information on IP strategy can be obtained on my What is Intellectual Property Strategy? resource page and further information on the Midlands Engine on my Midlands Engine resource page.