Jun 14 2007
The international market for building and equipping large-scale research facilities is worth a staggering £25 billion annually, and presents lucrative opportunities for suppliers of a wide range of products and services, from architecture and construction expertise, to advanced engineering, optics and support services.
UK Trade & Investment and the Sensors Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) are staging an event at London's Science Museum on Wednesday, 27 June, to raise awareness of this market and how British companies can win contracts in the three main areas of:
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Infrastructure - civil engineering, architectural services, building services, telecommunications
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Technology/IT/Advanced Instrumentation - sensors, electronics, IT, engineering, high-tech instrumentation, vacuum systems, cryogenics, superconducting magnets, test and measurement instrumentation, analytical instrumentation
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Services - IT services, utilities, maintenance
UK business has been reasonably effective in taking advantage of opportunities in infrastructure and services. However, in the area of technology provision, for whatever reason - lack of awareness; a "fear factor" associated with the phrase "research facilities"; or misconceptions about the kinds of companies suited to the demands of the market - British companies risk being under-represented.
The UKTI/Sensors KTN workshop aims to demystify the research facilities sector, dispel the myths that surround it, and help companies understand the process of bidding for government projects. Speakers from government, industry and the scientific community
will provide the background to this market and give details of the help available to companies keen to break into it.
John DeFries, managing director of Essex X-Ray, will describe his experiences of winning and working on research facility contracts and the impact this has had on his business. Essex X-Ray is a specialist provider of high-reliability cable assemblies and has worked with many fundamental research groups.
"We first got into this area some 15 years ago," said Mr DeFries, "and things have grown since then. In the current year, about 20 per cent of our business is involved with research projects, in the UK and overseas, particularly in Germany.
"High-reliability cabling is a niche area, which is an advantage. The research infrastructure community, though international, is also relatively small, and projects involve a number of interacting companies - so, if you do a good job, your reputation tends to precede you, resulting in more work. The most important asset is your expertise, not the size of your company."
Delegates will have the chance to network over lunch with other companies that have been active in this field, and an optional guided tour of the Science Museum's Modern World exhibition is being laid on at the end of the workshop.