Sarah Franklin | ProspectIP | Bletchley Park | List of Supporters
Sarah is a racing driver who competes in arguably one of the most competitive race series in the UK, the Texaco Havoline Ginetta Championship. Sarah, a Solicitor who has her own practice by day, has supported the Design Challenge since its inception in 2007.
Sarah said: ‘I think the Design Challenge is a fantastic idea. It brings together youngsters and makes them work as a team to produce an innovative and well thought-through idea. It’s nice to see how different members of the teams bring different qualities and contributions. The presentations in 2007 were excellent and I’m looking forward to seeing what new ideas will come through in 2008.’
Bletchley Park Post Office is based at historic Bletchley Park, home of the Enigma code breakers and the world’s first programmable electronic computer. At Bletchley Park the best brains in mathematics, electrical and mechanical engineering combined to devise equipment for the high speed processing of enemy codes. When the first “Colossus” was installed in 1943 it heralded the dawn of the modern computer age. Once top secret, Bletchley Park is now a museum.
Bletchley Park Post Office used to be the code breakers’ undercover mailroom . The innovative thinking that went on at Bletchley Park changed world history. So in conjunction with Bletchley Park Trust, it is delighted to be supporting the Design Challenge.
ProspectIP (an innovation initiative of De Montfort University funded by HEFCE) offers a managed process: finding and commercialising innovations within the East Midlands. The project is designed to support innovation in East Midlands businesses by developing and marketing innovative products and processes that will be competitive in the global market. Specifically it is looking to develop latent IP which exists because there may not be the expertise to develop the product “in-house”, the funds or the realisation that the IP has value.
ProspectIP is delighted to support the Design Challenge, organised by the Silverstone Innovation Centre. The ability to invent, design and produce innovative goods and services that meet customer needs is vitally important to the future prosperity of the UK. This exciting competition not only raises the profile of innovation across the East Midlands but importantly, offers encouragement and support amongst the next generation of innovators, who are key to the long term prosperity of the region. ProspectIP is looking forward to working with the winners of the Design Challenge, exploring the commercialisation of their innovation.
Silverstone Innovation Centre
Silverstone Circuit
Silverstone
Northamptonshire
NN12 8GX
tel: 01327 856000
fax: 01327 856001
email: silverstone@oxin.co.uk