IfM News March 2016No 219

Science festival 2016 at the IfMMore than 1000 visitors of all ages visited the IfM on Saturday 19 March for the annual Cambridge Science Festival. Crowds of children and adults enjoyed displays, exhibitions and talks, as well as more hands-on activities such as creating a laser-etched metal ID cards and rocket racing.

Visitors were taken for tours of the laser lab and enjoyed a talk by Tim Minshall on how engineers make life better. More detailed information can be found here http://bit.ly/1pHPaQ5 while the videos that were used in this year’s Science Festival talks are here: http://bit.ly/1Rp4qfo

‘What Would You Use THAT For?’ competition winners

The yearly ‘What Would You Use THAT For?’ competition run by i-Teams as part of the Cambridge Science Festival features technology-based products from local companies and organisations, which children can

try out and then suggest new ways to use them. This year’s demonstrations from Audio Analytic and the British Antarctic Survey allowed visitors to draw an image and listen to its sound, experiment with guitar strings, and investigate a number of systems used in the Arctic and Antarctic to monitor penguins, sea ice and climate change.

This year’s winners, who will receive science-based prizes and a special certificate of their award-winning idea, are:

• Eleanor Endersby, age 10 from Sandye Place Academy, who wanted to detect the sound of taps dripping;

• Joel Jackson, age 7 from Haslingfield Endowed Primary School, who planned to detect a cat’s miaow;

• Jenna Riches, age 9 from Sandye Place Academy, who would detect the sound of distressed animals;

• Meri Green, who thought that the wave buoy could be modified to warn of earthquakes and seismic activity;

• Ben Hull, age 6 from William Westley Church of England Primary School, who wanted to turn the ADIOS system into a jet pack.

Former Mexico President visits IfM

Former President of Mexico, Vicente Fox and his wife Marta Sahagún de Fox visited the IfM in February. They were in Cambridge to understand more about the future trends in manufacturing and their implications for Mexico’s economy.

Andy Neely provided an overview of the IfM’s research activities before the couple heard in more detail from other IfM researchers about key manufacturing topics.

Multiple awards granted to ideaSpace entrepreneurs

Cambridge start-up hub ideaSpace, which is managed by ECS, has hosted many successful entrepreneurs, several of whom go on to win awards during or after their time there.

CIP student wins EPSRC photo competitionJon Parkins, third year PhD student at CIP, has been announced as the EPSRC Science Photo Competition winner for the Innovation category, which covers images of research that have inspired innovation or are related to commercial breakthroughs.

His image, entitled ‘Where there is light, there is shadow’, shows PhD student Karen Yu working on the ultra-precise ultrafast laser system developed by the EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Ultra Precision. In this image, a piece of glass is being processed with a high power ultrafast laser, which causes very bright plasma to form. The glass block channels the light through its sides, resulting in a bright white glow emanating from the processing area, which casts shadows around the room.

At the Cambridge Business Weekly Awards held this month, ideaSpace alumni Tim Guilliams of HealX won Graduate Business of the Year; Billy Boyle, Founder of Owlstone and ideaSpace steering committee member won Life Science Innovator of the Year; and ideaSpace City member and CEO of GeneAdviser, Dr Jelena Aleksic, won Woman Entrepreneur of the Year.

Jelena, a geneticist turned entrepreneur, also won the ‘Start-up founder of the year’ prize in the 2016 FDM Everywoman In Technology Awards. The company she co-founded is an online marketplace that aims to give patients with rare genetic diseases access to appropriate testing from labs around the world.

The Cambridge News Business Excellence Awards also recognised the work of two ideaSpace alumni: Geospock won the Lewiston award for Business Innovation while Simprints won the Allia Award for Social Entrepreneurship.

Alena Puchkova presents paper at IFAC ConferenceAlena Puchkova (DIAL) presented a paper called ‘Balancing push and pull strategies within the production system’ at the Seventh IFAC Conference on Management and Control of Production and Logistics (MCPL 2016) held in Bremen, Germany, on 22-24 February.

The paper presents an approach for achieving a trade-off between pull and push production control principles, with a suggested mathematical model of the operation of a production system which incorporates different options for inventory control strategies.

The work is based on the research carried out by Julien Le Romancer, who was supervised by Alena during

his final ISMM project in 2015. This is part of the Distal project funded by Boeing.

For further information contact Alena at ap823@cam.ac.uk

50 years of tribology‘Tribology’, the science and technology of friction, wear and lubrication, was a term coined by a UK government committee 50 years ago – on 9 March 1966. To commemorate this anniversary, Ian Hutchings (Head of IRC and GKN Professor of Manufacturing) has written an article for the March issue of Ingenia, which can be found here http://bit.ly/1SjBdiw

Ian founded the ‘Cambridge Tribology Course’ in 1993 with John Williams, Professor of Engineering Tribology (Emeritus). The course runs every year and regularly attracts 30 to 40 delegates from all over the world - more than 700 people have attended since its inception. The 2016 Tribology Course will take place on 12-14 September.

CSTI and Policy Links host ‘smart specialisation’ workshop CSTI and its knowledge exchange unit, Policy Links, held a ‘smart specialisation’ workshop bringing together the agri-tech community in the East of England to identify the

region’s strengths as one of Europe’s leading agri-tech clusters.

The workshop was held as part of a pilot project commissioned by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) intended to inform their thinking on ‘smart specialisation’. The team from the IfM worked in partnership with cluster management organisation Agri-tech East.

The outputs from the workshop will inform the development of strategies and important activities of local and national government agencies.

For more information contact Carlos Lopez cel44@cam.ac.uk

Manufacturing Metrics Review launchedThe Manufacturing Metrics Review report was prepared for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) by the Manufacturing Metrics Expert Group lead by former IfM head Mike Gregory, and which included Andy Neely as an Expert Group member.

The review was commissioned by BIS in autumn 2014 to 1. identify opportunities to better explain the performance and contribution of UK manufacturing activity, 2. identify gaps in current metrics and the implications of not addressing them and 3. develop proposals that could lead to the trialing and introduction

of new or additional metrics.

The report has developed a number of proposals which BIS would welcome views.

To download the report visit http://bit.ly/manumetrics

New book on Circular Business releasedA new book titled ‘Circular Business: Collaborate and Circulate’ co-authored by Nancy Bocken (CIS) has been published.

The book explains how to establish a successful circular business, with the aim to close the gap between theory and practice in the circular economy.

To learn more visit: www.circularcollaboration.com

People, Projects and Activities 2016 report

The IfM People, Projects and Activities 2016 report provides an insight into the range of work we do in all areas of manufacturing, from carbon nanotubes to global supply chains, from supporting national R&D strategies to understanding the impact of the ‘digital revolution’.It describes our current research projects, undergraduate and postgraduate education and the work ECS does in transferring insights developed at the IfM to industry and government through consultancy and executive and professional development.

Download a copy here http://bit.ly/22KVkRx

95th Varsity Match

The 95th Varsity match between Oxford and Cambridge was hosted at Horspath Sports Ground on 5 March. Charles Featherston (CSTI) was on the CUARFC team, which unfortunately this time went down by a single kick. Final Scores: 9.4. 58 to 7.10. 52, Oxford the victors.

Maggie’s Half MarathonOn 13 March, Maggie Harriss completed the Silverstone Half Marathon on behalf of CamTrust – a local charity which started in 1995 to provide meaningful education and vocational training for adults with disabilities. If you can spare a few pennies or a few pounds please visit her on-line fundraising page at: http://bit.ly/1SAm1jq

New peopleAnna Maria Ledwoch joined DIAL as a visitor for six months. Anna is currently pursuing her PhD degree in the School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing at Cranfield University.

She completed her double MSc degree in Computer Science at

Cranfield University and Silesian University of Technology, Poland. She received BEng degree in Robotics, Electronics and Computer Science at Silesian University of Technology, Poland.

Her research interests include complex adaptive systems, complex networks, multiagent systems and systemic risk.

Dr Niamh Fox carried out her PhD research at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, under the supervision of Dr Rachel Evans. Her research involved characterising the structural and optical properties of conjugated polymer materials for sensors and solid-state lighting. Niamh is currently working as a Research Associate in the FIAM group of Dr Ronan Daly where she is investigating mechano-chemical processes produced by inkjet printing.

Torsten Steinbach is a visitor in the CSA. Torsten is pursuing a doctoral degree in management with a particular focus on services management at WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management in Germany. He is conducting a research visit to the Cambridge Service Alliance under the supervision of Dr Veronica Martinez and Dr Florian Urmetzer. Torsten’s PhD research focuses on logistics outsourcing relationships and the application of performance-based contracts for effective service provider management.

Call for papers for a special issue in R&D Management Journal launchedThe call for papers aims to unveil the potential of open innovation for the achievement of societal goals, such as the eradication of diseases or the realization of more sustainable products and services. However, research in this respect is still anecdotal. Papers are invited to cover three aspects:

• the development of an appropriate measurement system for societal impact in the context of OI;

• the understanding of the mechanisms by which OI contributes to societal goals, and

• the gathering of evidence with respect to which OI approaches are more effective in fostering societal impact.

The guest editors include Letizia Mortara (CTM), Joon Mo Ahn (Sogang University), Riccardo Fini (University of Bologna) and Nadine Roijakkers (Hasselt University).

http://bit.ly/1V8PALk

OpportunitiesInterested in alleviating global poverty using Cambridge ideas? APPLY for Development i-Teams by 25 April

Have you ever wondered how new ideas can help people in the developing world? Are you interested in what Cambridge can do to help? If so, then the new Development i-Teams programme is for you!

The Centre for Global Equality and i-Teams are running the “Development i-Teams” programme for the third time this Easter term. Taking real Cambridge innovations, the i-Teams will look into the practicalities of taking these to the developing world in a sustainable way that will improve people’s lives. Projects include testing for anaemia, investigating the impact of blood transfusions, and safer storage of biogas.

Development i-Teams is open to all students (undergraduates and post-graduates), post-docs and staff - anyone with an interest in how

technology can make the world a better place for the world’s poorest.

The course runs on Tuesday evenings from 3 May through to 7 June, and there will be approximately four hours of individual work needed each week, mostly involving gathering real-world feedback from experts in international development.

For more details and to apply for a place on a team visit: http://bit.ly/1RHSilm

Apply online no later than Monday 25 April including a CV and a covering letter explaining which projects you want to do and why.

EventsEnterpriseWISE – Making WISE women more enterprisingFREE places available for Cambridge students

7-8 May and 11-12 June at Lucy Cavendish College

Are you a WISE woman at Cambridge? Do you want to advance your career? Are you looking to develop your business skills and increase the impact of your research or innovation?

EnterpriseWISE is a course designed by women for women and delivered entirely by women. The aim is to unlock the entrepreneurial potential of participants for long-term career enhancement. Entrepreneurial skills can be applied to business venture creation, research projects and the commercialisation of innovations.

Who is it for?

• Women in science, engineering and technology including:

• Graduates, including Masters, PhDs and Postdocs

• Academics and researchersEarly stage career managers working in SMEs or large companies

Aussie wedding for Charles FeatherstonCongratulations to Charles Featherston (CSTI) who will marry his fiancée Aleena in Canberra, Australia on April 1. Hopefully Charles’ research work on foresight and strategy will have helped him prepare for the wedding and a long and happy marriage. We look forward to the UK celebrations sometime after their return.

N.B: There are a limited number of FREE places for University of Cambridge students. Please apply early to secure your place!

What are the benefits?

The programme will enable you to:

• Develop entrepreneurial confidence and a can-do spirit

• Learn from entrepreneurial role models

• Build social capital and networks with peers, experienced entrepreneurs and experts

• Understand business models, strategies and planning

• Learn about finance and pitching for investment

• Consider starting a new business• Increase the impact of research

by learning new ways to implement ideas

• Understand how to work more effectively with a variety of external organisations whether public, business or not-for-profit

• Cross-fertilise ideas and develop collaborations with peers and contributors

How to apply

If you’d like the chance to be inspired through this programme, please complete the online application form here http://bit.ly/1UzzN9R

EnterpriseWISE is managed and delivered by the CJBS Entrepreneurship Centre.

If you have any questions, please contact Frances Bycroft enterprisewise@jbs.cam.ac.uk

2016 Ultra Precision Engineering ConferenceMonday 9 May, IfM

This conference and exhibition is organised by the MRes cohort of the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Ultra Precision at the IfM.

The event will showcase advances in ultra precision engineering in fields such as aerospace, medical

devices, metrology, non-conventional manufacturing processes, and photonics.

It is designed to provide an opportunity for industrialists and academic researchers to share their latest ideas and to explore future collaborative opportunities in the field of ultra-precision engineering.

Download conference programme and registration details here: http://bit.ly/22XTIk5

Ignite 2016 - Fast-tracking innovation to commercial reality10-15 July, Judge Business School

Ignite is an intensive, one-week training programme for aspiring entrepreneurs and corporate innovators from the hi-tech and life sciences sectors. Comprised of a blend of practical teaching sessions, expert clinics, mentor sessions and advice from experienced entrepreneurs and innovators, it provides delegates with the tools, contacts and confidence to transform their ideas into successful business projects or ventures.

The programme structure enables support to be tailored to fit the individual business idea and to focus on specific issues such as investment readiness, technical and market due diligence.

Visit http://bit.ly/1V0SHF5 to find out more and complete the online application form by 1 June.

There is a 15% early bird discount available to those who apply by 20 April.

Contact: ignite@jbs.cam.ac.uk

PublicationsPublications in the section have been drawn from:

www.openaccess.cam.ac.uk

Macchi, M., Farruku, K., Holgado, M., Negri, E. and Panarese, D. (2016) ‘Economic and environmental impact assessment through system dynamics of technology-enhanced maintenance services’, Int. J. Industrial and Systems Engineering, Vol. 23, No. 1, pp.36–56.

Mortara, L. and Parisot, N. (2016). How Do Fab-Spaces Enable Entrepreneurship? Case Studies of ‘Makers’ - entrepreneurs. International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management

Holgado, M., Morgan, D., Evans, S. (2016). Exploring the scope of Industrial Symbiosis: implications for practitioners. 3rd International Conference on Sustainable Design and Manufacturing.

Sharma, P., Kulkarni, M., Parlikad, A. K. (2016). Capability Assessment of Army Spare Parts Replenishment System: Suitability for a Dynamic Time Separated Lean-Agile Supply. Benchmarking.

Kumar, M. (2016). Risk management in plant investment decisions: risk typology, dimensions and process. Production Planning and Control.

Rezk, R., Srai, J. S., Williamson, P. J. (2016). The impact of product attributes and emerging technologies on firms’ international configuration. Journal of International Business Studies.