Events in May, 2008

May 08 1 Start: 09:00 End: 17:00

Morning Seminar

The Alba Innovation Centre has now been in operation for more than a year. This seminar will focus on the many successes of Alba in its' short existence e.g. the buy-out of Oligon by Wolfson, Catalyse partnering with SMG in the Smartycars deal etc and look at the future plans to develop the Centre further. Following in the success of its' sister site in Hillington, the Alba Innovation Centre has been successful in attracting highly innovative companies with potential for high growth and this seminar will look at what it is that attracts these companies to the Alba Innovation Centre.

Speakers include Tom Ogilvie, CEO of Innovation Centres Scotland Ltd, Mike Southon, founder of 'the Beermat Entrepreneur' and Imran Khand co-founder of Picsel Technologies.

Bio of Tom Ogilvie

Bio of Mike Southon

Bio of Imran Khand

To reserve your place at this seminar email albaseminar@innovationcentre.org or telephone 0141 229 1800

Afternoon Workshops

To reserve your place at any of these workshops email albaworkshops@innovationcentre.org or telephone 0141 229 1800.  Please advise which workshop you wish to attend and the appropriate time.  

Legal and IP issues facing innovative technology businesses
Caroline Rollestone-Brown and Gillian Cameron of Maclay Murray & Spens’ from Maclay, Murray and Spens will deliver 2 workshops looking at a brass tacks run down on some of the key legal issues which affect technology entrepreneurs from “doing the deal” and consolidating IPR through to getting the best from your advisers …and even selling out from 2-3pm and 4-5pm. (Please indicate which workshop you wish to attend when registering. Maximum number of people this workshop can accommodate is 15).

Effective selling techniques for innovative technology businesses
Mike Southon, co-author of best-selling book "The Beermat Entrepreneur" is running a sales workshop from 3pm – 4pm based on the best-selling book "Sales on a Beermat"

Based on the best-selling book "Sales on a Beermat", this workshop is suitable for everyone. If you don’t consider yourself a salesperson and hate to sell, but you have to sell to make a living, then this workshop will give you the essential techniques you need to sell! If you love to sell, this workshop will still offer you some good tips.

This workshop will:
- show you how to double your revenue immediately
- show how anyone can be involved in the sales process, without feeling sleazy or dishonest
- teach you how to generate more leads and close them more effectively

Funding the Deal
The Royal Bank of Scotland and a Scottish based Archangel are running 2 workshops focusing on the essential facts needed to properly fund a high growth business from 2-3pm and 4-5pm (Please indicate which workshop you wish to attend when registering. Maximum number of people this workshop can accommodate is 15).

The Royal Bank of Scotland will look at the key aspects of funding such as
• the types of funding available
• the way in which funding works
• what should companies expectations be when raising funding
• timescales
• how to get the best out of the banks
• what will the banks require to see in the business plan

The Archangel will look at their role in funding a business including
• what are they looking for?
• what do they bring to the deal?
• how they will expect to work with the company
• managing your expectations
• what the ‘get-out’ plan is going to be
• when to use an Archangel

May 08 7 Start: 09:30 End: 13:00

Recent research by Gartner has stated that by 2012 over 5 billion wireless devices will be web enabled including cell phones, notebooks, cars, media players, electronics and toys. Web 2.0 users and applications such as communities and virtual worlds will “go mobile”. Companies must become experts in mobile web development for a wide range of applications.

Wireless Innovation, Scotland’s national initiative for mobile and wireless technologies have invited one of our key partners, Nick Jones VP and Distinguished Analyst, from Gartner to the Hillington Park Innovation Centre on Wednesday 7th May from 9.30am – 1pm to explore the key issues surrounding mobile web development such as: - How will mobile web 2.0 evolve through 2012? - How should companies decide which mobile web devices and technologies to support? - Which development tools and technologies will enable companies to deliver superb mobile web applications?

 All Scottish companies that feel wireless and mobile will play an important part in future business development should attend this event.

 Nick Jones – VP and Distinguished Analyst – Bio

Nick Jones is a vice president in Gartner Research. His research focuses primarily on mobile and wireless business and technology. His research coverage includes business-to-employee (B2E) and business-to-consumer (B2C) applications of mobility; mobile application development and delivery technologies including J2ME, and compact .NET; mobile payments; and emerging trends and technologies in the wireless and mobile industry. His secondary research interests include the social impact of technology, and European IT issues. Prior to joining Gartner, Nick gained wide experience in IT from both the user and vendor perspectives. He has worked for consulting organizations and software tools vendors in a variety of roles including technical consulting, product management, product selection and evaluation, globalization and product architecture.

 If you would like to register for this Free event please email forums@innovationcentre.org