This document discusses technology ventures and innovation. It notes that successful future companies will "think big, start small, and move fast." Promoting the right economic environment, developing skills, identifying business models, and forging new partnerships across institutions can help ensure a successful transition. The UK has potential to generate additional economic value through information technology. Innovation requires strong intellectual property frameworks, access to capital, demand for products/services, and network infrastructure. New partnerships beyond technology transfer toward venturing are needed, with multi-disciplinary teams promoting adoption.

1. Technology Ventures
Dr. Angel Salazar
Digital Business and Management Systems Division
Manchester Metropolitan University Business School

2. The successful companies of the next
10 years may be start ups or
established players but they will ‘think
big, start small and move fast’ in their
innovation and growth.
Julie Meyer
CEO of Ariadne Capital

3. There’s never been a better worse
time to start a business.
Phil Jones
Executive Director, Brother UK

4. Manchester: Past, Present and Future

5. How do we ensure a
successful transition?
• Promoting the right economic environment to
attract and encourage investment.
• Developing the supporting human, social and
technological capabilities.
• Identifying sustainable business models and
innovation strategies promoting inter-
connected business ecosystems.
• Forging new partnerships that cross current
institutional boundaries.

6. Creating the IT Nation
• “Information Technology is
the driving force of a global
competitive workforce and
economy, underpinning
innovation, competitiveness
and long-term prosperity.
• The UK has the potential to
generate an additional £35
billion of Gross Value Added
to the economy within the
next decade.”

7. Some Facts
• 77% of UK’s 27 million workforce
use IT in their everyday jobs.
8.5%
• US multinational firms are on average
more productive than UK firms, and 80% of
this advantage is explained by the better use
of IT.

8. Overall Impact of IT on Workforce

9. Innovation Nation
• The Innovation Nation
report marked a shift
towards Demand-driven
innovation policies, as
opposite to Supply-push
innovation.
• Evidence of this is the
recent initiatives and
competitions steered by the
Technology Strategy Board.

10. So, what drives innovation?
• Clear and robust IP legal frameworks.
• Access to venture capital.
• The demand for innovative products and
services.
• Affordable access to next-generation network
infrastructures supporting the creation of new
digital businesses.

11. The Need for New Partnerships
• Gradual shift from technology-push linear
models towards dynamic and interactive
innovation approaches.
• Idea generation, experimentation,
commercialization and diffusion need to be
orchestrated in order to maximise the value
creation potential of the different actors
within the innovation ecosystem.

12. From Technology Transfer Towards
Technology Venturing
• Shifts from university technology transfer
managers, and incubator managers, towards
eclectic teams of university scientists, graduate
entrepreneurs, business deal makers, investors
and social actors promoting the adopting of new
products, practices and services.
• The above requires new roles such as multi-
disciplinary translators and social activists, not
just technologists and investors.

13. Thanks for listening!
If you have any questions about this presentation, please feel
free to email me at a.salazar@mmu.ac.uk