Innovation UK > Events > ProTon Conference (Wales)

Speaking at the Proton Europe Conference recently, The Rt. Hon Rhodri Morgan AM, First Minister for Wales has called for universities and business to work together to provide innovative solutions to the current global economic crisis.

The First Minister also officially welcomed delegates to the flagship event, which was hosted by the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (UWIC) and was attended by Europe?s leading Knowledge Transfer practitioners and key players working at the interface between public research and industry.

?The timing of this conference could not have been better,? said the First Minister.

?In this challenging economic climate, co-operation between universities and business has become vital.

?Over the years, there has been enormous progress in universities in Wales in terms of the amount of world-leading research being conducted which can be easily transferred into the working world.

?Through focusing on innovation, research and development and getting the right marriage between education and business we can generate jobs and pull ourselves out of this recession,? he added.

The prestigious two-day event, entitled ?Innovation through Cooperation?, focused on how to improve cooperation and partnership working between research organisations or universities and industry and business.

Supported by the Welsh Assembly Government and the Institute of Knowledge Transfer, the conference also explored ways to further develop successful knowledge transfer and to promote innovation and thus provide benefits for research teams, universities, industry and society at large.

The international speaking panel included representatives from industry, public administrations legislating in the sector and knowledge transfer practitioners from universities and research centres across Europe.

ProTon Europe is Europe?s leading association representing knowledge transfer practitioners in universities and research centres across Europe.

www.protoneurope.org