25 February 2014 – Chris Warkup, currently the director in charge of the Technology Strategy Board’s Biosciences Knowledge Transfer Network, has been appointed as the first Chief Executive Officer of Knowledge Transfer Network Limited. Chris’ appointment will be effective from 1 March 2014.
Knowledge Transfer Network Limited is the new umbrella body which will oversee and coordinate the work of what are currently 15 discrete networks, each coordinating knowledge transfer between businesses and between business and the UK’s research base. Knowledge Transfer Network Limited will start its work on 1st April 2014.
Commenting upon his appointment, Chris Warkup said: “I’m tremendously pleased to have been appointed as CEO at the inception of Knowledge Transfer Network Limited. Having been director of the Biosciences KTN for the past four and a half years, I’m well aware of the success of the industry-specific KTN arrangements we’ve had in place until now. I’m looking forward to the challenge of helping to ensure that the very best of that sector-specific sharing of insight and business-led collaboration is utilised in and between all industry sectors.”
The new organisation maintains the Technology Strategy Board’s role at the heart of UK business-led innovation, while providing increased flexibility in the formation of new communities and cross-cutting activities as needed to support Technology Strategy Board and broader government priorities.