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Event Details
GAMING & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY DAY
Birmingham Science Park Aston and Birmingham City Council are delighted to announce a regional “Technology” focused day as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week.
Global Entrepreneurship Week is a worldwide movement of entrepreneurial people, with millions unleashing their enterprising talents and turning their ideas into reality. Global Entrepreneurship Week is an opportunity to showcase and celebrate all the amazing work that goes on year-round. Over half of all young people in the UK want to start a busi
ness. Yet only 1 in 20 of them actually do.
Digital media includes everything from online tools and content to computer games and mobile products and services. The UK Games industry is the second
largest in the world after the USA, and the West Midlands region has 21% of the UK games workforce.
The region has become the UK’s hub for games, serious games and intera
ctive digital media. With the support of ScreenWM, Game Central and Aston University we are pleased to be able to provide this programme.
KEY POINTS
- What is an entrepreneur?
- What does it take to launch a new technology business?
- What are the gaming trends?
- Launching a new gaming business?
08:00 am ARRIVAL Coffee/Tea & Networking in Exhibition Area
09:15 am Welcome & Chair Dr David Hardman, MBE, Managing Director,
Birmingham Science Park Aston
09:30 am Keynote: ENTREPRENEURSHIP, Stephen Roper, Associate Dean,
Professor of Enterprise, Warwick Business School
- Setting the Scene & What does it take? 
10:00 am Keynote: GAME TECH, Philip Oliver, CEO, Blitz Games Studios
- EXPERIENCES OF GROWING A GAMING BUSINESS
- GAMING TRENDS/ THE FUTURE OF THE GAMING INDUSTRY
10:30 am Q&A
10:50 am BREAK - Networking in Exhibition Area
11:15 am GAMING/ TECH ENTREPRENEUR SHOWCASES
Chaired by Simon Jenner, Entrepreneurs for the Future (e4f)
- Experiences of starting & growing a gaming/tech business
Killer idea..? Look for the opportunity, big risks, High growth, New audiences, Change in behaviour, Disruptive technology, Unclear business models, Execution is critical, People, people, people, 2-4 founders (tech, biz, art, design), social gaming, co-creation with users
David Burden, Managing Director, Daden Ltd
A virtual worlds and AI solution provider with special expertise in web and real world integration, and creating interactive virtual personalities. Come and see your ‘second life!’
Kevin Corti, CEO & Development Director, Soshi Games
We make online social games that are both commercially successful and which deliver meaningful, positive social impact.
Jude Ower, CEO @ Digital 2.0
Serious games consultancy specialising in serious games and serious virtual worlds for training, development, communication and awareness.
Paul Taylor, Managing Director, Mode 7 Games
An independent game development and contract programming studio creating fun and intelligent games.
Drew Wilkins, Client Services Director, fish in a bottle
Creative digital agency, specialising in multi platform productions, websites, interactive applications, viral marketing and social media.
12:15 pm Q&A with Panel of Guest Speakers Chaired by Nicholas Lovell
Nicholas is the Founder of Gamesbrief author of How to Publish a Game, non-exec at nDreams, consultant to the game industry on strategy, finance and games.
12:45 pm Lunch, Exhibition & Tour Faraday Wharf
Including an opportunity to meet early stage & growing businesses through to learn about the “Entrepreneurs for the Future” programme providing 6 months free support and office space for technology businesses with big ambitions!
2:00 pm BIRMINGHAM REGIONAL INNOVATION;
Chaired by Dr. David Hardman, MBE, Managing Director,
Birmingham Science Park Aston
Supporting the next generation of Technology Entrepreneurs 
Mark Barrow, Strategic Director of Development,
Birmingham City Council
2:15 pm 
GAME TECH, A "Rare" insight into Microsoft
Jim Horth, Executive Producer at Rare Ltd, Microsoft Game Studios
- Kinect Sports and the pioneering motion-sensing game experience
- The importance & accessing game talent
Get a sneak preview on YouTube as Rare talk about their work on Microsoft Kinect with BBC Midlands Today Science Correspondent David Gregory
2.40 pm SUPPORT FOR GAMING & TECH BUSINESS 
Simon Jenner, Head of Business Incubation, Birmingham Science Park
Premier location in Birmingham for technology and innovative businesses, a one stop shop for innovators, entrepreneurs and investors looking to develop or fund new business concepts with high growth potential with specialist support for the gaming & digital industry.
2.55 pm Q&A
3.05 pm BREAK
3.20 pm SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR THE GAMING & DIGITAL INDUSTRY
Chaired by Jason Hall, Head of innovation, Screen WMJason Hall, Head of Innovation, New Markets and Skills Screen WM
Agency for innovation both for dedicated digital media & games businesses and for film/TV production companiesseeking to develop their business models for the digital age.
Oliver Wiliams, Associate Director, NTI @ Birmingham City University
Delivering application development/web projects plus running Gamer Camps to be successful employees or successful start up Indie Developers through to providing technology project management consultancy.
Neil Holmes, Producer, Blitz 1UP
Blitz 1UP is an initiative from Blitz Games Studios that assists up and coming independent developers, giving indie developers a boost offering support all the way from concept to submission.
Tim Luft, Operations Director, Serious Games Institute 
The Institute provides a close interface between high-level applied academic research at Coventry University and leading edge technology companies in the field of game-based learning.
Prof. Robert Stone, Director, Human Interface Technologies Team,
University of Birmingham 
Interests include Human-Centred Design and Methodologies (Task Analysis), Virtual/Synthetic Environments, Serious Games, Human Factors Issues in Advanced Training Systems for Defence, Medicine and Surgery.
A range of support organisations will be invited to showcase what support they can offer to new or growing games, digital and technology companies.
ScreenWM, AWM, Business Link, Birmingham Science Park, Entrepreneurs for the Future (e4f) Programme, Marketing Birmingham, Warwick Business School, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs), Birmingham City Council, TECHWEDNESDAY.com, Digital Media Fund & 4iP, Finance organisations, Bridging the Opportunity Gap, Serious Games institute, Game Central, Digital Birmingham and many more...
5:00 pm Q&A & Break - Exhibition & Networking in Faraday Wharf
with PhD Entrepreneurs Insights
6:00 pm Close
SPEAKER PROFILES
Stephen Roper, Professor of Enterprise, Director of the Centre for SMEs at Warwick Business School
Stephen is Professor of Enterprise & Director of the Centre for SMEs at Warwick Business School (WBS). WBS is a leading thought-developer and innovator, in the top one percent of global business schools. Prior to joining WBS, Stephen was Professor of Business Innovation at Aston Business School and before that he was Assistant Director of the Northern Ireland Economic Research Centre, Belfast. Stephen’s major research interests are in enterprise growth and development, diversity and business performance, innovation, regional development, and industrial policy evaluation.
Philip Oliver, Chief Executive Officer, Blitz Games Studios
Philip co-founded Blitz Games Studios in 1990 with his twin brother Andrew Oliver, following nearly ten years of creating many number 1 UK games, including the hugely popular Dizzy series. Responsible for the company's overall management and direction he also ensures, along with his brother, that the company maintains its ongoing reputation for producing high quality games for a global market. Philip is one of the founders of TIGA and has served as an active board member since its inception in 2001; he has also recently been appointed an RSA Fellow and in 2008 received an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) from Coventry University in recognition of his leading contribution to the growth of the electronic games industry both regionally and internationally.
Jim Horth, Executive Producer at Rare Ltd, Microsoft Game Studios
Jim is the Executive Producer at Rare, the Microsoft Game Studio, responsib
le for the Birmingham operation. Jim has a technical and analytical background, with over 9 years experience in managing both people and process in an environment where technological evolution forces frequent re-evaluation and response. Jim is currently responsible for ensuring Rare titles ship to quality, cost and on time through to running the cluster of in-house artists and programmers and anything else that bubbles up in this space!
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Kevin Corti, CEO & Development Director, Soshi Games
Kevin co-founded a big-thinking, highly ambitious gaming company called SOSHI GAMES that seeks to use the medium of social games to affect positive social impact on a global scale based at Birmingham Science Park Aston. Prior to this, Kevin achieved the status of being one of a small group of internationally-recognised ‘serious games’ and immersive learning simulation experts who has the proven ability to lead the sales, design and delivery of innovative learning solutions for the private, public and education sectors.
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Jude Ower, CEO @ Digital 2.0
Jude is founder and owner of Digital 2.0, a Serious Games consultancy. Jude has over 7 years experience within the Serious Games market working at all stages of development. Jude has also recently started her Phd at Smartlab, focusing on developing serious games. My aim is to grow Digital 2.0 to be the leading consultancy focussed on strategy and deployment of serious games. We help companies understand how and where games technology can be applied, and work with the right technology provider to achieve the clients goals and objectives.
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Tim Luft, Operations Director, Serious Games Institute
Tim Luft is the Operations Director for the Serious Games Institute & Programme Director for the Smarter Working Applied Research Centre. During his time at Coventry University Tim has directly supported the development of economic regeneration programmes (incorporating business incubation, international trade, technology transfer and access to finance). Tim has an industrial background incorporating the establishment of large scale public private partnerships which focus upon technology transfer.
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David Burden, Managing Director, Daden Ltd
David is MD of Daden Ltd a rapidly growing SME based at Birmingham Science Park Aston. Daden provides virtual world and artificial intelligence solutions for serious business use. Daden have been at the forefront of pushing the boundaries of virtual worlds and their use as a serious business tool providing cutting-edge integration of real life data within virtual environments. The company won first and second prize at this year's U.S. Military's Federal Virtual World Challenge. David has been involved in virtual worlds and chatbots since the 1990's and is a Chartered and European Engineer and is active in City and Regional business, technology and innovation initiatives.
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Paul Taylor, Director, Mode 7 Games
Paul is Joint Managing Director of three-man indie development studio Mode 7 Games, which was founded in 2005. Their current project is the PC and MAC tactical game Frozen Synapse, due for release in early 2011.
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Neil Holmes, Producer, Blitz 1UP
Neil is a game industry veteran, starting out 20 years ago as an artist workin
g on conversions of early games for the Sam Coupe. From there he progressed to programming, working for companies such as Ocean, Vivid Image and Acclaim and on games such as Lemmings, Street Racer, Shadowman, Super Puzzle Fighter, Dragonball Z and Megaman. Two years ago he brought his wealth of experience to Blitz Games Studios where he heads up the Blitz 1UP initiative, which offers advice and support to help indie developers get their games to market.
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Mark Barrow, Strategic Director of Development, Birmingham City Council
Mark was recently appointed as the new Strategic Director of Birmingham City Council. Previously, Mark was Chief Executive of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council. Mr Barrow is responsible for providing strategic management to enable delivery of the city's regeneration, development, planning, transportation strategy and climate change functions. He will also ensure plans are implemented effectively and liaise with central Government and the private sector to secure new models for partnership working and funding.
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Jason Hall, Head of Innovation, New Markets and Skills Screen WM
As Head of Innovation, Jason is primarily responsible for managing Screen WM’s £5m Digital Media Fund, working alongside Channel 4’s 4iP Fund to identify suitable projects 
for co-investment with a combined budget of £10m. This follows more than fifteen years experience working across digital projects, from developing B2B online booking systems to commissioning mobile content and producing and developing cross-platform projects and documentaries for clients including Channel 4, BBC, NSPCC, Scottish Screen, Scottish Enterprise and NESTA.
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Simon Jenner, Head of Business Incubation, Birmingham Science Park Aston 
Simon is a serial entrepreneur with a passion for business and coffee! Simon is Head of Incubation at Birmingham Science Park Aston with responsibility for developing Birmingham's TECH Incubator. Simon and his team offer businesses access to a support programme to early stage and growing technology businesses with big ambitions through to driving forward TECHwednesday.com, Birmingham Launch48 and launching a programme of support for the games industry.
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Drew Wilkins, Client Services Director, fish in a bottle
Drew's career in the digital world started in 1998 when he began working f
or games company Attention to Detail as a Producer / Game Designer. Drew is now one of the founders and directors of fish in a bottle, one of the UK's leading creative digital agencies. One of his BBC projects, the website build for Children's TV programme 'In The Night Garden', was BAFTA nominated. His involvement in creating a new online character for the cult TV show Heroes showed the character making her way from the web into the show.
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Oliver Williams, Associate Director, NTI @ Birmingham City University
Oliver is Associate Director of at the New Technology Institute (NTI) in Bir
mingham. As well as delivering application development and web projects Oliver runs a series of Gamer Camps. Gamer Camp prepare delegates to be either successful employees in the games industry or successful start up Indie Developers. Over the course of a one, three or nine month programme camp attendees develop games to an industry brief which are published at the end of the camp. Oliver also provides technology project management consultancy and helps place new talent with business.
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Prof. Robert Stone, Director, Human Interface Technologies Team, University of Birmingham
Bob holds a Chair in Interactive Multimedia Systems at the University of Birmingham, where he also directs the Human Interface Technologies Team. Previously the director of a successful VR company, Bob’s pragmatic human-centred project approa
ch of working closely with real-world end users of interactive technologies has resulted in an unrivalled track record spanning some 25 years. Bob is the Research Director for the UK’s Human Factors Integration Defence Technology Centre (now entering its 8th year of operation), and his Team has a unique portfolio of successful projects in a diverse rage of applications, from submarine and helicopter safety training to IED awareness simulators, from digital heritage to future automobile design, and from psychotherapy to space education.
Nicholas Lovell, Founder of Gamesbrief
As well as founding Gamesbrief, Nicholas is a consultant to the games industry on online and corporate strategy and financial matters. Following a decade long financial career in the City of London, Nicholas founded Lodestar Partners, a corporate finance boutique that focused exclusively on the games industry. From 2006 to 2008, Nicholas was CEO of GameShadow, a games website and patching engine. He is a non-executive director of developer nDreams and provides consultancy services to a number of companies including Firefly and Huddle.
SPONSORSHIP FROM AS LITTLE AS £3000
Sponsorship benefits include:
• Positioning your brand with gaming TECH, entrepreneurship, innovation and leading digital technology
• Developing important contacts and links
• Audience reach to influential business leaders and access the TECH community
EXHIBITING @ £825 PER STAND
A limited amount of exhibition space is available for interactive demonstrations to raise your profile.
Book an exhibition stand before 29th October and get a stand for only £500!
FURTHER DETAILS Get your brand noticed!
For a full summary of sponsorship & exhibition opportunities please call Matthew Hidderley on 0121 260 6168 or email matthewh@bsp-a.com
Act now and reserve your exhibition stand to be part of this showcase through to sponsoring the conference or badge, lanyard or networking lounge sponsorship opportunities.Screen WM
Agency for innovation both for dedicated digital media & games businesses and for film/TV production companiesseeking to develop their business models for the digital age. www.screenwm.co.uk Birmingham Science Park
Entrepreneurs for the Future (e4f) providing a programme of support to gaming & technology businesses. e4f are open to new applicants.
Visit: www.bsp-a.com/e4f or call 0121 250 3503
Parrot - With the Flying Video Game
Parrot whose UK headquarters is @ Birmingh
am Science Park will be showcasing its latest iPhone-powered A.R. Drone, a flying quadricopter robot gadget opening up a new world of augmented reality gaming.
Bridging the Opportunity Gap (BtOG) 
An ERDF funded initiative to assist ICT SMEs, based in the West Midlands, benefit from all types of EU funding opportunities. Visit www.ictwm.org or contact Hugo Russell
Integames
InteGames is a new online games business with a difference; freedom! The ability to play at anytime, anywhere on any device.
SOSHI GAMES
We make online social games and are based in the the e4f GAMES & TECH incubator at Birmingham Science Park. Our games are both commercially successful and which deliver meaningful, positive social impact.
Birmingham City Council
The Council is one of the largest Local Authorities in Europe & took over complete ownership of Birmingham Science Park Aston in 2008. The park offers quality business accommodation & soft landing business support with a dedicated business development team through to an Entrepreneurs for the Future Centre.
Birmingham Central Library, Business Insight
Birmingham Central Library provides the UK's most comprehensive public business information service located on our ground floor. We offer help and assistance to those wishing to start, grow or develop a business or learn new skills.
NatWest
We are proud to support Global Entrepreneurship Week and businesses across the Midlands. For further information on how NatWest can help your business please contact us.
Mixed Reality Studio
We are a creative & technical team who are passionate about all things digital based out of Birmingham Science Park Aston. We can handle all aspects of your digital development for you ranging from web through to specialising in strategic augmented reality solutions.
University of BirminghamMembers of the Unviersity’s award-winning Human Interface Technologies Team have nearly 25 years experience – in commercial and academic arenas – of providing independent, human-centred advice, development and evaluation support in real-world Virtual Environments and games-based simulation projects, from defence to medicine and from heritage to future product visualisation.
Business Link
Business Link West Midlands offers impartial advice and up-to-date information on any aspect of starting or running a business.
Netshield Ltd
Established in 1997, we provide a suite of Fully Managed Services including Co Location, Shared or Dedicated Hosting from our own Data Centre facilities in the Midlands.
OOP!
Digital Media Visionaries delivering interactive games, iPhone applications through to social networking.
Maximise your potential with OOP!
Kinect Sports demonstration @ Birmingham Science Park Aston
Come along and test out the “Kinect Sports”demonstration.
Find out how the Microsoft Game Studio has
developed the latest technology to revolutionise the sports games industry.
Aston Entrepreneurs is focused upon harnessing, aiding, developing and showcasing the entrepreneurial talent.
Civico Live
To make this event more dynamic and encompass a wider audience we will be working with CivicoLive to provide their award winning live web streaming event service. This will offer synchronised live audio and video presentations together with complete social media integration, extending the exposure and capacity of the event.
When & Where
Faraday Wharf
Holt Street
B7 4BB Birmingham
United Kingdom
Tuesday, November 16, 2010 from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (GMT)
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