IndAc 2023 Programme
Explore the IndAc2023 Programme!
Day one focused on industry-academia collaboration with ample opportunities to network with commercially minded academics, industry open to collaboration and organisations that can support.
Day two focused on employability and skills development and run similar to a recruitment fair providing the chance for talented and proactive undergraduate and postgraduate students and staff to network with life sciences employers.
Day 1 – Tuesday 14th November 2023
Target Audience: Researchers considering (or in the early stages of) industry-collaboration or commercialisation | PhD Students, Researchers, Technicians and Professional Staff within Universities | Industry looking to collaborate with Academics
9:00am – 9:45am
Foyer
Registration + Arrival Refreshments
09:45am – 10:00am
Pentlands Suite
Welcome Address
Dr Alison McIntosh, SULSA Director
10:00am – 10:40am
Pentlands Suite
The Art of the Possible
Dr Annya Bruce, University of Edinburgh
10:40am – 11:00am
Pentlands Suite
Interface: Bringing the Right People Together Across Industry and Academia
Amelia Whitelaw, Interface
11:00am – 11:30am
Concourse and Prestonfield
Coffee Break
11:30am – 12:30pm
Pentlands Suite
Panel Session: What Help is Available Along the Way?
Dr Annya Bruce (University of Edinburgh), Kirsty Buchanan (ICURe, Innovate UK), Dr Lissa Herron (Converge), Evelyn McDonald (Scottish EDGE), Frank Tooley (Scottish Enterprise)
12:30pm – 1:45pm
Concourse and Prestonfield
Lunch and Opportunity to Network
1:45pm – 2:45pm
Various Locations
First Breakout Session
View Breakout Sessions
- Lessons learned in Collaborative R&D Biotechnology in Food and Drink
Chair: David Thomson (Food & Drink Federation Scotland)
Speakers: Prof. Giovanna Bermano (RGU) and Dr Lynsey Dunbar (IBioIC) - Lessons learned in Collaborative R&D Health Technology
Chair: Paul Winstanley (CENSIS)
Speakers: Prof. Alistair Kean (UHI) and Dr Soumya Palliyil (Aberdeen) - Lessons learned in Commercialisation in Health Technology
Chair: Eleanor Charsley (ABHI)
Speakers: Dr Ayham Alnabusi (EpitogenX) and Dr Scott Cunningham (Dundee) - Lessons learned in Collab R&D in Treatment of Disease
Chair: Marian McNeil (Precision Medicine Scotland)
Speakers: Dr Obinna Ubah (Elasmogen) and Prof. Cherry Wainwright (RGU) - Lessons learned in Commercialisation in Treatment of Disease
Chair: Dr Chris Van Der Walle (Cell & Gene Therapy Catapult)
Speakers: Prof. Peter Barlow (Napier) and Prof. Joyce Tait (Edinburgh)
2:45pm – 3:00pm
Comfort Break
3:00pm – 4:00pm
Various Locations
Second Breakout Session
View Breakout Sessions
- Lessons learned in Commercialisation Biotechnology in Food and Drink
Chair: David Thomson, Food & Drink Federation Scotland
Speakers: Nik Willoughby (Horizon Proteins) and Dr Rob Hancock (JHI) - Lessons learned in Collab R&D Health Technology
Chair: Paul Winstanley (CENSIS)
Speakers: Prof. David Harrison (St Andrews) and Prof. Marc Desmulliez (Medical Device Manufacturing Centre) - Lessons learned in Commercialisation in Health Technology
Chair: Eleanor Charsley (ABHI)
Speakers: Dr Stuart Hannah (Microplate Dx) and Dr Eve Hanks (MI:RNA Diagnostics) - Lessons learned in Collab R&D in Treatment of Disease
Chair: Marian McNeil (Precision Medicine Scotland)
Speakers: Dr Ryan Kean (GCU) and Prof. Fiona Henriquez-Mui (UWS) - Lessons learned in Commercialisation in Treatment of Disease
Chair: Dr Chris Van Der Walle (C> Catapult)
Speakers: Prof. Iain Hunter (Strathclyde) and Dr Charlotte Green (Dundee)
4:00pm – 5:00pm
TBC
Wine Reception and Event Close
Day 2 – Wednesday 15th November 2023
Target Audience: Students (UG, Masters and PhD) and Postgraduate Researchers interested in career opportunities and building skill sets | Industry and other organisations interested in employing life scientists
9:30am - 10:00am
Foyer
Registration + Arrival Refreshments
10:00am - 10:30am
Pentlands Suite
Welcome Address
Professor Lynne Cadenhead, Chair of Women’s Enterprise Scotland
10:30am -11:30am
Pentlands Suite
Industry Opportunities
Antibody Analytics, Canon, Curia Global, IPG Health, IQVIA, LifeArc, Merck, Sygnature Discovery, Valneva
11:30am - 12:00pm
Concourse + Prestonfield
Coffee Break | Exhibition Stands
Breaks will include a professional photographer taking headshot images curtesy of SULSA for use in CVs and online profiles
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Pentlands Suite
Post-Academic Careers: Policy, Entrepreneurship, Industry, Research and University Roles
Mark Cook (Scottish Government), Dr Derek Gilchrist (Causeway Therapeutics) , Dr Alicia Greated (Executive Leader), Dr Soumya Palliyil (Head of Scottish Biologics Facility) and Dr Jessica Valli (ESRIC Facility Manager)
1:00pm - 2:15pm
Concourse + Prestonfield
Lunch | Exhibition Stands
Breaks will include a professional photographer taking headshot images curtesy of SULSA for use in CVs and online profiles
2:15pm - 3:15pm
Various Locations
First Workshop Session (Pre-Assigned)
View Workshop Options
- Identifying your Transferable Skills
Robin Henderson, My Consultants - Effective Networking and LinkedIn
Laurie MchPherson, SkillFluence - CV Tailoring for Industry
Andrew Lever, Charles River Laboratories - Project Management Through Reflection
Tobias Thejll-Madsen, PhD Student in Social AI
Check out the additional online workshops we’re running after the conference and register now!
3:15pm - 3:30pm
Comfort Break
3:30pm - 4:30pm
Second Workshop Session (Pre-Assigned)
View Workshop Options
- Identifying your Transferable Skills
Robin Henderson, My Consultants - Effective Networking and LinkedIn
Laurie MchPherson, SkillFluence - CV Tailoring for Industry
Andrew Lever, Charles River Laboratories - Project Management Through Reflection
Tobias Thejll-Madsen, PhD Student in Social AI
Check out the additional online workshops we’re running after the conference and register now!
Our Exhibitors
Registration Now Closed
This conference was open to students and staff from within our 13 SULSA members as well as our external partners in the private and public sector.
Registration is now closed and will re-open for IndAc25 in Spring/Summer 2025
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