My Career ‘Path’…
Dr Richard M France
Centre Development Manager
Centre for Assistive Technology and Digital Healthcare
Industrial Career Expo
10th October 2012
17/07/2016 © The University of Sheffield
Career to date
• BScTech, Science and Technology of Polymers, The University of
Sheffield, 1992
• PhD, Engineering Materials, TUOS, 1996
• PDRA, Eng. Mat.& Medicine, TUOS, 1996-1997
• PDRA, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, 1997 - 1998
• Lecturer in Biomedical Materials, Eng. Mat., TUOS, 1998 - 2001
• Research Fellow, Cell Tran Ltd, 2000 - 2001
• Project Manager, RegenTec Ltd, 2001 - 2007
• METRC Manager, TUOS, 2007 - 2010
• EPSRC KTA Manager, TUOS, 2009 - 2012
• Centre Development Manager, TUOS, 2012 -
17/07/2016 © The University of Sheffield
Project Manager
• Managed a number of key projects covering:
• in-house research, pre-clinical product
development, contract research, quality
assurance, regulatory compliance, health and
safety, and human resources.
• Developed new injectable scaffold systems for
bone repair.
• Development of novel cell and growth factor
delivery systems for regenerative medicine.
• Led the development of a novel assay for a drug
through from initial technology transfer through
to scale-up and validation.
17/07/2016 © The University of Sheffield
Industry vs. Academic
• Not as driven by curiosity
• Market driven - direction based on value to the company
• Rigorous project management & appropriate stage gating
• IP protection critical
• Capturing data to patent not publish
• Controls on laboratory notebooks
• Quality management systems
• Good laboratory practice (GLP)
• ISO9001 & related e.g. ISO13485 for medical devices
• Good manufacturing practice (GMP) for pharma
17/07/2016 © The University of Sheffield
17/07/2016 © The University of Sheffield
Industry vs. Academic
• Not as driven by curiosity
• Market driven - direction based on value to the company
• Rigorous project management & appropriate stage gating
• IP protection critical
• Capturing data to patent not publish
• Controls on laboratory notebooks
• Quality management systems
• Good laboratory practice (GLP)
• ISO9001 & related e.g. ISO13485 for medical devices
• Good manufacturing practice (GMP) for pharma
17/07/2016 © The University of Sheffield
17/07/2016 © The University of Sheffield
17/07/2016 © The University of Sheffield
Skills / experience
• Research & pre-clinical product development
• IP & patents
• Project management
• R&D team management
• Business planning
• Grant writing
• Quality management systems
• Health and safety management
• Human resources
17/07/2016 © The University of Sheffield
Career to date
• BScTech, Science and Technology of Polymers, University of
Sheffield, 1992
• PhD, Engineering Materials, TUOS, 1996
• PDRA, Eng. Mat.& Medicine, TUOS, 1996-1997
• PDRA, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, 1997 - 1998
• Lecturer in Biomedical Materials, Eng. Mat., TUOS, 1998 - 2001
• Research Fellow, Cell Tran Ltd, 2000 - 2001
• Project Manager, RegenTec Ltd, 2001 - 2007
• METRC Manager, TUOS, 2007 - 2010
• EPSRC KTA Manager, TUOS, 2009 - 2012
• Centre Development Manager, TUOS, 2012 -
17/07/2016 © The University of Sheffield
Manager, METRC
• N8 Molecular Engineering Translational Research Centre.
• Developed a full business plan for METRC.
• Secured a £2M investment from N8 Research Partnerships and The
Northern Way in a competition.
• Established the operational framework and core team at METRC –
inc. Industrial Advisory Board & Business Development Team.
• Lead business development activities - proactive engagement with
industry and the marketing of METRC to establish and deliver new
collaborative R&D projects.
• By March 2011 - 66 direct ‘business assists’, creation of 14 jobs,
industry income >£700,000, leverage > £10M research funding.
• Analysis by DeLoitte estimated METRC’s POC projects could contribute
approximately £90M to the UK economy over the next 10 years
17/07/2016 © The University of Sheffield
12
17/07/2016 © The University of Sheffield
Manager, EPSRC Knowledge Transfer Account
• Responsible for delivery of £5.7M project.
• Set up and managed the operational framework for the project - KTA
team, Steering Group and Industry Advisory Group.
• Lead on the Business Development and Marketing activities to
secure new collaborative R&D projects with external partners.
• Array of project schemes and new ways of working with industry –
secondments, dedicated industry focused research team, Designer in
Residence.
• 150 projects with 100 external partners.
• New spin-outs, new products and processes, deeper partnerships with
industry and influence on UK Gov. policy.
17/07/2016 © The University of Sheffield
Outgoing IRS - Prof. David Lerner (CIV) to
DEFRA
‘Diffuse Urban Water Pollution’
• Improved understanding of DEFRA’s ways of
working
• Deeper understanding of the topic – regulatory &
governance issues and practical applications
• New contacts across DEFRA
• New research projects
• Articles & coverage in sector focused publications
(ENDS)
• Commitment to strategy development in UK Gov.
White Paper (June 2011)
17/07/2016 © The University of Sheffield
17/07/2016 © The University of Sheffield
17/07/2016 © The University of Sheffield
17/07/2016 © The University of Sheffield
Knowledge exchange vs. research
• The ‘expert generalist’…
• The salesman…
• Relationship & partnership building
• Autonomous role
17/07/2016 © The University of Sheffield
Skills / experience
• Knowledge exchange
• Business development
• Marketing
• Grant review and assessment
• Project management (including PRINCE2)
• Leadership
• Networking
• Influencing & negotiation
17/07/2016 © The University of Sheffield
17/07/2016 © The University of Sheffield
17/07/2016 © The University of Sheffield
Skills / experience
• Knowledge exchange
• Business development
• Marketing
• Grant review and assessment
• Project management (including PRINCE2)
• Leadership
• Networking
• Influencing & negotiation
17/07/2016 © The University of Sheffield
AN ISO
COMPLIANCE PROJECT
17/07/2016 © The University of Sheffield
17/07/2016 © The University of Sheffield
Career to date
• BScTech, Science and Technology of Polymers, University of
Sheffield, 1992
• PhD, Engineering Materials, TUOS, 1996
• PDRA, Eng. Mat.& Medicine, TUOS, 1996-1997
• PDRA, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, 1997 - 1998
• Lecturer in Biomedical Materials, Eng. Mat., TUOS, 1998 - 2001
• Research Fellow, Cell Tran Ltd, 2000 - 2001
• Project Manager, RegenTec Ltd, 2001 - 2007
• METRC Manager, TUOS, 2007 - 2010
• EPSRC KTA Manager, TUOS, 2009 - 2012
• Centre Development Manager, TUOS, 2012 -
17/07/2016 © The University of Sheffield
Centre for Assistive Technology
and Digital Healthcare
Internationally leading interdisciplinary research hub
Enabling independent living with new user friendly technology
For older and disabled people, and people with long term conditions
Identifying user
needs
New and
fundamental
technologies
Design and
development
Evaluation
Adoption and
implementation
30+ researchers – health
scientists, clinicians, engineers,
scientists and social scientists
A ‘Living Lab’ environment
Funding sources & income - ScHARR £6.5M
grant income 2012, COM Speech Tech Prog.
Grant £7.2M
17/07/2016 © The University of Sheffield
Partnerships with NHS and Industry
Thank you
Richard France
r.m.france@sheffield.ac.uk
0114 222 2974
17/07/2016 © The University of Sheffield