• Annual conference
• Forthcoming conference
  • Programme
  • Register here
  • Conference speakers
  • Poster session
• Past conferences
• Conference presentations
• Sponsorship

PraxisUnico Annual Conference 2013: Inspiring Futures

Registration is now open for this year’s PraxisUnico conference which is being held from 13-14 June at the East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham. Click here to see which organisations are attending.

Programme

In an economic climate that continues to be depressed and uncertain, universities are seen as key drivers of innovation and growth.  At the same time the higher education sector is living through a time of unprecedentedly rapid and far-reaching change.  Amid this turbulence lies opportunity which knowledge transfer professionals are well placed to grasp, and it is these inspiring futures which are the theme of this year’s conference.

The programme will include a choice of eight parallel sessions which have been structured to appeal to all levels of a research commercialisation workforce – from new employees to senior directors.   For the third year running we will be holding our conference back-to-back with the annual conference of ARMA, the UK’s professional association for research managers and administrators, which will take place in the same venue on 11-12 June. Why not take the opportunity to cover the whole of the research and knowledge transfer space by attending both events and networking with both communities?

Once again there will be opportunities for delegates to showcase their work by entering a poster competition, or to have their say by asking a question of our panel or raising a Topical Issue for debate.

Confirmed speakers

We are delighted to confirm our plenary speakers – Professor Chas Bountra, Chief Scientist, Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Oxford, Will Hutton, Principal of Hertford College, Oxford and Chair of the Big Innovation Centre, Dr Richard Jennings, Deputy Director of Cambridge Enterprise and Charles Leadbeater, Independent and Strategic Adviser on Innovation.  See the programme for further details.

The Impact Awards will be held at the conference gala dinner on Thursday, 13 June at the EMCC.  The Impact Awards, organised by PraxisUnico, recognise and celebrate the success of knowledge transfer. Please see the Impact Awards for further information.

Conference, gala dinner and The Impact Awards venue

The conference is being held at the East Midlands Conference Centre (EMCC), Nottingham.

Situated on the University of Nottingham campus, whether you are travelling by road, rail or plane, the EMCC is easy to find.  If you are travelling by train, the EMCC is approximately 15 minutes by taxi from Nottingham train station.  East Midlands Airport is 14 miles away.  If you are driving, the venue is just a few miles from junction 26 of the M1 (from the north) or junction 25 (from the south); ample secure on-site car parking is available.  Please click on this link for further information . 

Address: East Midlands Conference Centre & Orchard Hotel, University Park, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RJ.  Telephone: 0844 346 1216

Accommodation

A limited number of rooms will be held at the Orchard Hotel at the discounted rate of £96 per person, per night. Delegates should book accommodation direct with the hotel (0844 346 1216, select option 2, then option 2 again) and quote ‘PraxisUnico Conference’ in order to claim the discounted rate. 

Accommodation sells very quickly, book early to avoid disappointment.

Please note: 50% of unsold bedrooms will be released on 12 March.  50% of the remaining allocation of rooms will be released on 12 April.  All remaining unsold rooms will be released on 29 May. Rooms may still be available after the block booking has sold, however these may be at a non-preferential rate.

Ideally situated adjacent to the East Midlands Conference Centre, the Orchard Hotel has been built to the highest environmental standards and features state-of-the-art technology to reduce carbon emissions.   Featuring rooftop terraces, open spaces provide superb views of The University of Nottingham's extensively landscaped campus, spanning 330 acres.

For alternative accommodation in Nottingham, please see this list of other hotels in the area.

Internet access

If you need to stay in touch with the office while you are away, complimentary access to Wi-Fi is available throughout the EMCC and at the Orchard Hotel.

If you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact the PraxisUnico office.

conference@praxisunico.org.uk

Tel +44 (0)1223 659954

Follow us on Twitter @praxisunico #PraxisUnico13

Principal conference sponsor

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) invests in world-class bioscience infrastructure, research and training in UK universities and institutes. Our aim is to further scientific knowledge, to promote economic growth, and to improve quality of life in the UK and beyond.

BBSRC mission aligns closely with the ethos of PraxisUnico, which is set up to support innovation and commercialisation of public sector and charity research for social and economic impact.  BBSRC is supporting the 2013 PraxisUnico Conference for the opportunity this provides to work with PraxisUnico and its member organisations to deliver innovation, and social and economic impact from research. 

Forthcoming events