The official launch of this year’s East Midlands innovation Festival (iFestival), which runs from 12th March to 23rd April, is only 30 days away as over 150 events involving businesses, universities and public sector organisations from across the East Midlands are expected to take place.

The programme of events will kick off with an innovation EXPO (iEXPO) on 12 March at Athena in Leicester, which will provide businesses with useful information, contacts and access to the region’s innovation support services.

The free-to-attend event will feature regional innovation success stories and the opportunity for one company to win a bespoke innovation support prize in the Last Business Standing competition, which was won by Nottingham-based children’s tableware company, Piccy Products, last year.

Richard Noble, world land speed record holder 1983-1997 and Project Director of ThrustSSC will be presenting the keynote address at the event and will highlight how his innovative approach has led to him succeeding against the odds and taking the world land speed record. For further information and to register for the iFestival iEXPO visit www.iexpo.org.uk.

Organised by East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and East Midlands Innovation (the Regional Innovation Council), but involving numerous partners and stakeholders, the iFestival promotes and celebrates the importance of innovation in the public and private sectors.

Further programme highlights over the six week period will include a number of events linked to the iNets in Food & Drink; Healthcare & Bioscience; Sustainable Construction and Transport, a series of innovation finance roadshows and low carbon themed events as well as a celebratory dinner, which will bring the iFestival to a close.

“It’s great to see more and more schools, universities and businesses getting involved in the iFestival every year”, said David Wallace, Innovation Director at East Midlands Development Agency (emda). “This year’s events programme is bigger than ever, and I am sure that it will be a fantastic platform for new ideas and will lead to lots of new partnerships between businesses and universities. We want to see as many people as possible participating in this year’s iFestival, to find out how they can introduce innovation to their business with help from existing entrepreneurs and businesses.”

Launched in 2007 the annual East Midlands iFestival includes an inspiring, comprehensive events programme, aimed at promoting a regional culture of innovation. The iFestival aims to engage a wide range of people young and old, business and public sector workers, along with communities and organisations supporting or involved within an innovation environment.

Innovation is regarded as a key driver in creating a dynamic, knowledge focused East Midlands economy and it is identified as a strategic priority in the Regional Economic Strategy. The second innovation strategy, known as RIS2, will be launched during the iEXPO.

For further information about the iFestival and East Midlands Innovation please visit www.eminnovation.org.uk

ENDS

Issued on behalf of the iFestival by Lava. For further information contact Louise or Steph at Lava on 01522 842 800 / louise@lavapr.co.uk / steph@lavapr.co.uk

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Notes to Editors:

About the iFestival

• The iFestival is region-wide and takes place between 12th March and 23rd April 2010. Building on the success of 2009, the fourth annual iFestival will encompass an inspiring, inclusive programme of events, designed to help foster a culture of innovation in the region with activity targeted at young people, businesses, communities and organisations supporting or involved within an innovation environment. Innovation is regarded as a key driver in creating a dynamic, knowledge focused East Midlands’ economy and it is identified as a strategic priority in the Regional Economic Strategy.
• Improved productivity in an increasingly competitive global market means that businesses and organisations in the East Midlands must put innovation at the heart of their core activities, if they are to flourish and stay ahead of the game.  The iFestival is being co-ordinated by East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and East Midlands Innovation – The Regional Science and Industry Council. For further information including the latest programme of events and innovation updates please visit: www.eminnovation.org.uk

About East Midlands Development Agency

• East Midlands Development Agency (emda) is one of nine Regional Development Agencies in England, set up in 1999 to bring a regional focus to economic development.
  • Ten years on, independent evaluation shows emda has:
  • Had a significant impact on the region’s economy
  • Generated economic benefits that substantially outweigh its overall costs
  • Put back over £9 of economic output (or GVA) into the regional economy for every £1 it spends
  • Produced more than £1 billion in economic benefits per year
  • A wider impact on people, places and businesses in the East Midlands that cannot be captured by figures alone.

• emda is committed to supporting the region through the current downturn and has put in place a range of measures to provide real help during these challenging times.

• Over the long term, emda’s aim is to deliver the 2006 Regional Economic Strategy (RES) by working in partnership with public, private and voluntary organisations. The RES highlights the themes of productivity, sustainability and equality and sets out key priorities until 2020 to ensure the vision for ‘a flourishing region’ can be achieved.
• For more details visit www.emda.org.uk

About East Midlands Innovation

• East Midlands Innovation is the region’s innovation council, which was established in 2005 by emda. East Midlands Innovation’s principle responsibility is to guide emda’s investment in innovation support to help achieve the objectives of the RES. Its members are drawn from and represent business, research and the public sector.

• For more details visit www.eminnovaton.org.uk