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Making the announcement, Professor Steve Currall, Founding Director of Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø Advances and Head of Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø Management Science & Innovation (MS&I), said: "The creation of the new Executive Director post is central to Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø Advances' strategic expansion of activities to support commercialisation of research innovations at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø."

During 2007-08, Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø Advances (formerly the Centre for Enterprise and the Management of Innovation) is initiating an ambitious programme of educational and business outreach activities that will promote innovation and entrepreneurship to all members of the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø community. In addition to Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø's financial support, Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø Advances is receiving funding from the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) and the Centre for Scientific Enterprise Ltd (CSEL).

As Executive Director, Mr Barnes is responsible for strategic and operational leadership of Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø Advances. He will report to Professor Currall, who will maintain an oversight role in Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø Advances and continue as a member of the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø Enterprise Board and Head of the Department of MS&I. Dave Chapman, who was acting Deputy Director of Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø Advances, will now concentrate on his role as Deputy Head of Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø MS&I.

Professor Currall added: "Tim Barnes is absolutely perfect for the role of Executive Director of Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø Advances. We had dozens of excellent applications for the job and Tim emerged as the best suited to expand Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø Advances. His background as an Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø alumnus, entrepreneur in leading his own technology commercialisation company, and his extensive familiarity with the entrepreneurship and early stage investor communities in London and Europe, made him the ideal person to take on strategic and operational leadership of Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø Advances."

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Barnes remarked: "Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø Advances is an exciting new initiative on the part of Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø. It has enormous potential for developing the links between researchers, business and investors."

Mr Barnes joins Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø Advances after spending the last six years running his own business, Lodestone IP Ltd, helping universities and large corporations to spin-out high technology companies. His clients have included the London Development Agency, CSEL, the BBC and Reuters. Previously, Tim worked as an investment manager at Gorilla Park, a pan-European investment firm that specialised in early-stage technology ventures. Projects he was involved in included a web service development tools company in Paris and a pan-European business services company. He also initiated Gorilla Park's University liaison programme, which included members from the UK, France, Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands. A graduate of Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø, Tim began his professional life as a business consultant with Arthur Andersen in London.

"So many great advancements have been made at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø, and I believe Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø Advances will play a critical role in helping to shape its future."

To find out more, follow the links below:

• Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø Advances

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