InfoLab21 firm to advise UK and Indian Governments
A team of international business consultants based at Lancaster University are to advise the UK and Indian Governments on how to develop collaboration between the two countries.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has awarded the prestigious project to Kinetic Cubed, a start-up firm located in the university’s £15m InfoLab21.
The UK-India Innovation and Wealth Creation project will focus on creating partnerships in science and technology which could open up a global market and create thousands of jobs.
The company’s findings will be presented in April next year before senior government figures at the UK-India Round Table, which was set up by the Foreign Secretary Robin Cook and the Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh in 2000.
Kinetic Cubed’s leader on the project is Tony Aggarwal, who has already made several visits to India where the company is to open a branch office in New Delhi.
“This means a great deal because our clients are the UK and Indian governments and what we say could influence national policy.
“India is an emerging market and the potential benefits are huge. I’m going out to meet various players like universities, entrepreneurs and venture capitalists to build up contacts.”
One of the founders of the company, Mark Beresford, said the prestige of being located at InfoLab21 helped the firm secure the project.
“I took my MBA at Lancaster and that’s why I wanted to come back. Lancaster University is a well respected institution in both the UK and India. The kudos of being here helps to contribute to our overall capability and appeal, as well as boosting our credentials on these sorts of projects.”
The project aims to encourage the commercialisation of India’s scientific research, bringing together British and Indian expertise, business and finance, and translating research collaboration into commercial outcomes.
Mr Aggarwal said: “It’s all about blending and getting the best of both worlds. Through an Anglo-Indian collaboration, India can access markets in Europe, the US and UK.
“For example, if we were producing a new vaccine, the UK could offer testing to international standards and the feel of a properly researched product. But through working with India, we could develop that vaccine much quicker because they have many more scientists than us. And we can meet their requirements in terms of adaptability to their market, and cost.”
Mark Beresford said winning the project was a vote of confidence in the firm, which is only just over a year old.
"It’s a key strategic project for us and we’ve done pretty well to be working at such a high level with UK and Indian policy makers.”
http://www.kinetic3.co.uk/