Gordon Ollivere Managing director, RTC North Ltd., UK

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1 Technology Foresight Summit 2003, Budapest Gordon Ollivere Managing director, RTC North Ltd., UK Contribution: Foresight Project as a Tool to Enhance Regional Development Time and venue: TF Panel 1 (Foresight at National and Sub-national Level), 28 March, 2003, 8:30-10:00, Béla Room RESUME Academic profile: University of Newcastle Upon Tyne (1) BA Geography (first degree) (2) M.Litt Urban Studies (p/time) (3) ICL Computing Diploma Specialisation: Regional Studies and Town Planning Engineering & Production Control Software Relevant key qualifications: Foresight Advisor to ASEAN employed under contract by UNESCO Author of UNESCO publication on Technology Advisory Centres for Developing Countries

2 Regional Innovation and Technology Strategy UK RITTS Consultant Innovation management in small and medium firms - Over 100 advisory projects Venture Capital (NITR) - Eight years management of a regional fund for IT start-ups Sector Specialist - Information Technology - nine manufacturing installations Sector Specialist - Medical Technology - six new product licenses signed Open University joint development - 13 week TT course From ideas to success : DTI Accredited consultant for the Enterprise Initiative in three areas a. Financial & Information Systems - focus on IT for business planning b. Manufacturing Systems - focus on production control systems c. Marketing and Business Strategy - focus on industrial market research : Chairman of UK national network of regional technology Centres : Chairman of European RTAC network of TT centres : President of TII association of 300 technology based organisations Present positions: Managing director of RTC North, one of the most successful, independent technology transfer companies in UK employing 40 professional staff. Primary Responsibility for strategy and operations over a period of twelve years during which RTC North developed - by stages - into its present position as one of the most successful independent technology transfer companies in UK:- Stage one ( ) In this period RTC North employed 4-6 people providing a mixture of computer consultancy, personnel exchange and promotion of government programmes. Stage two ( ) was characterised by substantial expansion following a shift in emphasis towards commercial market research and technical assistance contracts. Professional staff of 12. Stage three ( ) witnessed a period of consolidation involving strategic alliances with regional universities, industrial companies and the EU s innovation programme. Professional staff of 15.

3 Stage four ( ) was another period of rapid growth involving a split into three operating divisions based on technology marketing, collaborative R&D, and product acquisition. Staffing increased to 22. Stage five ( ) during which the RTC became more directly involved in regional strategy and consultancy for public bodies. Major new contracts acquired for Foresight North East, National Health Service and Manufacturing Centre (RCME). Total current staff of 48. Previous positions: Newcastle Technology Centre NTC Ltd, Information Technology Consultant Employed by technology transfer company operating out of Newcastle University. Achievements in three main areas: Commercial IT Consultancy:- Introduced computerised management and production control systems into a dozen small manufacturing companies, some of whom subsequently helped to create a regular client base for RTC North. Inward Licensing:- Provided IT and marketing support for a subscription service called 'Techsearch', which distributed data about new products and processes. A major task was to develop software that matched client needs with opportunities. Regional Technology Centre (RTC):- Prepared successful tender to set up an RTC in the North of England. Appointed as RTC project manager. Developed business plan and first year programme of activities. Elected chairman of national sub-group for IT development in RTCs British Shipbuilders (TES) Ltd, Computer Training Manager Senior manager in charge of computer services, reporting directly to the General Manager. Set up and managed a new Information Technology Centre (ITEC) at Hebburn, with a full time staff of 13 and a throughput of 80 trainees per annum. Duties included the administration of apprentice and adult training and the marketing of external courses. Developed new course modules for City and Guilds in computer subjects and robotics. Won a national competition for best YTS training product (Hypothermia Alarm Device, 1985). Installed a company-wide computer network, assisting all departments to implement new systems. Wrote computer programmes for

4 two major BS TES applications (Stock Control and COSHH - Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) Turista Travel Ltd, Computer Systems Analysis Senior analyst/programmer initially employed on a short term contract to investigate computer options whilst helping to manage the business travel department. Spent sixnine months writing a travel package, installing and monitoring a network of Tandy II computers and viewdata terminals linked by modem between branch offices. Subsequently employed by Mr Ray Bernstone (Chairman) to carry out similar work for three other companies; John W Grahams, James Wrights and Sellburn Estates (involving financial and estate management applications). Early Career - Various Posts Period between 1971 and 1980 spent as a Teacher and Education Officer in West Africa. Other relevant facts: MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL BOARDS: UNE Executive (Universities for the North East) T-Squared (Technology Transfer Society of USA) NETPark (High Tech Science Park) North East Centre for Scientific Enterprise (University R&D Foundation) President of TII (Luxembourg) Co-Chair (European) of the USA-EU Transatlantic Technology Forum (TTF) OTHER SKILLS: Senior consultant in Technology Transfer national and regional strategy International consultancy - Projects in USA, Indonesia, Iceland, Hungary Information Technology Systems Analysis Manufacturing Companies Future Technologies - leader of pilot activities for UK Foresight Programme Operating Efficiency - chairman of EU working group set up between 1991 and 1995 to benchmark effectiveness of technology transfer programmes in all EU countries FORMER POSITIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY: Long serving member of the HESIN Executive (Association of Regional Universities)

5 Board member of two Business Links. Chairman of the UK national RTC network ( ). Former Chairman of the European RTAC network and operating efficiency projects ( ). Publications: European Directory of Regional Technology Advisory Centres: SPRINT (1996) Approaches to Technology Scan: Asean Secretariat (1998) UNESCO-UNISPAR Toolkit on Technology Advistory Centres (1999) Contact: