HM Queen Visit Marks Start Of ‘Summer Of Innovation’

Her Majesty The Queen will mark the start of a summer celebration of innovation at Cardiff University. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Queen’s visit to officially open the Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre on 7 June will herald a Summer of Innovation, showcasing the best of Cardiff University’s work to turn ground-breaking research into products, businesses, services and spin-outs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Running from June to October 2016, Summer of Innovation will shine light on ideas for projects, collaborations, and new relationships. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It will help build the University’s connections with the outside world, from research partners to new businesses. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Professor Colin Riordan, Vice-Chancellor, said: “Summer of Innovation is a celebration of the work we are doing to unlock the power of research. We are building a new £300m innovation campus, which will forge new ideas for spin-outs and start-ups. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Innovation is based on hard-earned trust. Our goal is to create long-lasting partnerships, connecting business, industry, government and NGOs with our talented academic experts, and to champion student entrepreneurship that can bring prosperity to Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Innovation can create wealth and drive change in Cardiff, Wales, the UK and internationally. We aim to play a key role in developing the £1.2bn City Deal for Cardiff Capital Region, improving productivity and supporting job growth across the region.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The opening of Cardiff University’s new Brain Research Imaging Centre on Maindy Road, Cardiff, is a major innovation milestone for Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The new £44m facility provides scientists with the most powerful neuroimaging equipment in Europe to help unravel the mysteries of the human brain. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Professor Derek Jones, Director of the Centre, said: “Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre is unique in Europe and the equal of any facility of its kind in the world. Summer of Innovation marks our fantastic team’s success in the global endeavour to better understand the causes of neurological and psychiatric conditions and develop better treatments.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Professor Hywel Thomas, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Engagement, added: Summer of Innovation is about putting ideas to work, taking novation from the workbench to the boardroom, and pairing future partners with great opportunities. It’s about allowing researchers, students and staff to develop world-beating ideas and share their insights.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Events across the summer include Cardiff’s Innovation and Impact Awards on 22 June. This year, a social media competition to decide the People’s Choice Award offers participants the chance to win a Pebble smart watch or a Raspberry Pi. Follow #summerofinnovation ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​