The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund Roadshow

Leeds Armouries

Author Xtrmemachineuk Licence CC BY-SA 4.0  Source Wikimedia Commons

 

Jane Lambert

Hours after returning from Estonia, I drove to Leeds to attend the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II Roadshow at the Royal Armouries Museum. Readers will be aware of my interest in this fund from my articles Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II of 4 April 2024, Innovate UK Regional Investment Spotlight – Liverpool of 6 July 2024 and Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II - Meeting the Funders of 14 July 2024 in NIPC Northwest and Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund's First Investment in Yorkshire of 19 July 2024 in NIPC Yorkshire.

The roadshow consisted of an introduction to and overview of the Fund by the British Business Bank, presentations by the Business Enterprise Fund and Mercia Asset Management and questions and answers to a panel consisting of representatives of the funding institutions.   

I asked two questions.   

The first arising from the government's announcement that funding to local enterprise partnerships had ceased in April 2024 which I mentioned in The End of LEPs in NIPC News on 8 Aug 2024 was how well local authorities were coping with their business advice and support tasks that the LEPs had performed since 2010 and Business Link before then.  I was encouraged and not a little surprised to learn that the institutions had found the transition from LEPs to elected authorities had gone well.  My experience had been more patchy.  I delivered a 90-minute introduction to IP law to staff at the London Boroughs Legal Alliance on 1 Oct 2024 which seemed to go down very well.  On the other hand I shared the slides and offered to repeat the talk to staff members of my own mayoral authority but have not yet received a response.

My other question was prompted by a response that I had been given at the Innovate UK Regional Investment Spotlight in Liverpool.   I had asked about going public and was told that the Alterbatve Investment Market or indeed any kind of stock market flotation was no longer available to successful scale-ups.  I did not understand the answer so I asked the Mercia fund managers for their experience.  Several said that they had clients who had made successful initial public offerings.

The event concluded with networking over hot drinks and pastries,   It was good to see Colin Glass of WGN Business Advisers and Stephen Waud, Chief Executive of the Business Enterprise Fund for the first time in years.  I also met Peter Sorsby, Investment Director of Mercia Asset Management.   

Altogether, it was a good day out of chambers.   Anyone wishing to discuss this article may call me on 020 7404 5252 during office hours or send me a message through my contact form.

AI Innovation in Healthcare

John Smith Stadium

Copyright owner Arne Műseler Licence CC BY-SA 3.0 DE Source Wikimedia Commons

 

Jane Lambert

Earlier today I attended the "AI Innovation in Healthcare" conference on the third floor of the John Smith Stadium in Huddersfield.  It was one of the first events of the Huddersfield Health Innovation Partnership.  It began at 09:30 and ended at 15:30. Pathfinder Healthcare Developments C.I.C which helped to deliver the conference has posted some photos of the venue and a summary of the event on  LinkedIn.  The audience included academics, clinicians, computer scientists, healthcare professionals, investors and software developers   As far as I could see I was the only lawyer and I did not recognize any patent attorneys.

The morning started with breakfast.  After registration, attendees were offered a choice of yoghurt and cereal or fruit salad and hot drinks    The programme began with a keynote speech from Dr. Mina Gupta Chair of the Modality Partnership.  She outlined the services for patient care in the United Kingdom, the gradual automation of those services that had taken place in her lifetime, clinicians' attitudes towards automation and the use of artificial intelligence in primary care practices.  As I was mindful of the privacy, copyright and database rights issues that had arisen over AI training I asked her about the training of those systems.  She replied that they had been developed by third-party suppliers but that there had been no data quality or security issues.  I met her during the first coffee break when she amplified her answer and spoke in more detail about the resourcing of research.

The next programme consisted of debates and discussions.  Two panels of clinicians and computer experts discussed four motions relating to the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare.  After each motion groups of audience members who had been seated around tables were invited to discuss and vote on each of the topics.  I can't remember all of the motions but one was over whether leadership was the primary driver for the use of artificial intelligence.

Lunch consisted of a mixed salad with a choice of chicken or vegetarian accompaniments.  I circulated as much as I could during lunch and met an angel investor, a journalist and a sales representative for one of the AI systems suppliers,   I also visited the stands of Skin Analytics and Blue Prism and learnt about their products.  After lunch the auditorium was partitioned and we were divided into two breakout groups.  I joined the regulatory and ethical issues group which was addressed by two very interesting speakers.  

The first was a member of Google Healthcare's team in the UK.  He explained that Google contributes technical solutions to healthcare devices in developed markets such as the UK but did not create such products by itself.  He discussed some of the projects in which his company had been involved.  As I had recently read Lord Justice Birss's judgment in Comptroller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks v Emotional Perception AI Ltd [2024] EWCA Civ 825 (19 July 2024) in which he explained in everyday language how artificial neural networks ("ANNs") work I asked the speaker whether the systems that he had described ran on ANNs or whether digital computers could be programmed to emulate such platforms.  He replied that his systems ran on ANNs.

The last speaker was Michael Watts of Blüm Health and I found him to be the most interesting speaker of the whole day,  He is both an entrepreneur and a doctor which is a rare combination and holds business as well as medical qualifications.   He had co-founded Blüm Health which is described on its website as a one-stop-shop digital health delivery partner.   He discussed some of his company's products and services in his presentation.   Being mindful of the Court of Appeal's decision in Emotional Perception I asked him about the legal protection of his software.  He replied that he was aware of the computer programs' "as such" exclusion from patentability and relied on copyright and first mover advantage;   I was very impressed by his talk and congratulated him on it afterwards.

The day finished with a group photo which was appropriate as it was very much an NHS family event.   I would have appreciated a little more focus on the technology and perhaps more discussion on intellectual property, data protection and other legal issues but then I am a friend and not a member of that family.  From the chatter that I heard on the way out the event had been enjoyed and appreciated.   It was certainly a good use of my time.

Anyone wishing to discuss this article can call me on 020 7404 5252 during UK office hours or send me a message through my contact form.

Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund's First Investment in Yorkshire

Author Daderot  Licence CCO  1.0  Source Wikimedia Commons

Harlow Carr Gardens Harrogate

 

Jane Lambert

On 24 March 2024, the British Business Bank announced the launch of a £660 million fund to invest in businesses in the North of England known as the "Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II" (see the British Business Bank's press release Launch of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II provides £660m boost for small businesses of 21 March 2024).  I wrote about the launch in Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II on 4 April 2024 in NIPC Northwest.   I learnt more about the fund at Innovate UK Regional Investment Spotlight – Liverpool which took place at the Liverpool Science Park on 26 June 2024 and I got the chance to question the funders at Daresbury on 12 July 2024 (see Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II - Meeting the Funders 14 July 2024 NIPC Northwest).

The British Business Bank has recently announced the Fund's first investments In Yorkshire, the North East and North West.  According to the Bank's press release of 18 July 2024  the first investment in Yorkshire was £2 million to Worthenshaws Ltd trading as Kirsty's in Harrogate from Mercia Equity Finance.  The investment will be used to fund the development of new products and is expected to create 15 new jobs. Another aspect of the transaction is that Ian Kent will chair the company.

Worthenshaws Ltd.' first came to the public's notice when the company's founder, Kirsty Henshaw appeared on the BBC's Dragons' Den in 2010.  On that occasion, she raised investment to produce a frozen dessert alternative to ice cream.  According to Megan Dansby, that product was not sufficiently profitable. The company rebranded as Kirsty’s and introduced a range of oven-ready meals (see Megan Dunby Dragons’ Den success stories: Worthenshaw’s (and what you can learn from them) 23 March 2023 Startups). The post contains a link to Ms Henshaw's arrival at the Dragons' Den. 

Anyone wishing to discuss this article may404 5252  call me during office hours on 020 7404 5252 or send me a message through my contact form.  

Hat Trick

Author Edgar Degas Public Domain Source Wikimedia Commons

Jane Lambert

I mentioned The Creative Collective when it hosted Rita Britton in April 2024 (see Meeting Rita Britton, a Living Legend 9 April 2024).  The Collectiive's guest this morning was milliner speaker and blogger Sherry Richardson, another South Yorkshire fashion influencer.

Sherry recounted her life and career before she became a milliner.  She remembered a newspaper report about a millinery course and decided to enrol,.  She hoped that it might be possible to sell a few hats to her friends,  She brought two examples of her handiwork with her as well as a hatter's block which could be anything from 80 to 100 years old.   In the course of Sherry's lecture, I remembered that I had been at school with David Shilling who famously made the most unusual hats for his mother.   Sherry remembered him from a charity event at which he was the guest of honour.

In my previous article, I mentioned that Rita Britton had said that she was designing a bag listing Barnsley among the world's fashion capitals.   Today I saw an example of that product with the latest signage which has evolved as follows:

NEW YORK

PARIS

LONDON

BARNSLEY

That is not entirely tongue-in-cheek. There is a growing community of highly talented designers, makers and distributors in South Yorkshire.

Hats like Sherry's are probably protected from copying by copyright for the rest of Sherry's life plus 70 years as works of artistic craftsmanship.  Designers with reputations should think about registering their brands as trade marks here and in every other country in which they have a market.  Designs of items that are to be manufactured or licensed should be registered under the Registered Designs Act 1949.

Anyone wishing to discuss this article may call me on 07966 373922 during UK office hours or send me a message through my contact page.

Huddersfield Health Innovation Partnership

Author Rlwjones Licence CC BY-SA 4.0 Source Wikimedia Commons

Jane Lambert

The Huddersfield Health Innovation Partnership is a collaboration between the University of Huddersfield, 3M Buckley Innovation Centre, Business Kirklees, the NHS and other local and regional health and wellbeing bodies.  It was formed to offer businesses in the healthcare and well-being sectors:

• business support
• events and workshops
• access to university and NHS expertise
• office and lab space
• funding, and
• facilities for product development.

The University's National Health Innovation Campus is a 7-acre site, with planning permission for up to 7 buildings.  It will include a health and well-being academy, research facilities for skin integrity and infection prevention, psychological therapies, addiction and falls prevention. specialist clinical teaching facilities and space and equipment for teaching members of the public

One of the first events to be offered by the Partnership is AI Innovation in Healthcare which will take place between 09:30 and 15:30 at the John Smith Stadium.  One of the topics to be discussed at that event will be AI in pharmaceutical development.  It is a topic in which I have an obvious professional interest and I have already signed up for it.

The new healthcare and wellbeing businesses that will occupy office and lab space on campus will doubtless require the best possible advice and assistance on intellectual property and healthcare law.  I will continue the initial advice and signposting clinics that I have run for the last 20 years.   In those clinics, I advise startups and other small and medium enterprises pro bono on topics in which I have expertise or refer them to experts in other professions for such services as patent, trade mark or design applications, product design or prototyping, taxation and so on.  As I retain virtual office facilities at the Huddersfield Media Centre on N Northumberland Street I am well placed to promote and assist the Huddersfield Health Innovation Partnership.

Anyone wishing to discuss this article may call me on 07966 373922 during office hours or send me a message through my contact page,

Space Hub Yorkshire

Author NASA  Public domain  Source Wikimedia

 

Jane Lambert

On 8 May 2022, I wrote Opportunities for Yorkshire Businesses in Space about an event at the 3M Buckley Innovation Centre on Opportunities for Manufacturers in Space which was promoted by the Leeds City Region Supply Chaim Programme and Space Hub Yorkshire.  

Space Hub Yorkshire describes itself as "a coordinator of Space activity across the region, a catalyst for new satellite and geospatial data markets, a source of Space expertise, a facilitator of new collaborations, a driver of investments, a champion for Space start-ups and an advocate for Space research and industry opportunities." It offers businesses funding opportunities, business development events and support, a way into cutting-edge research in academia and access to skills,  It has just published its first newsletter which announced a 2-day conference at the Royal Armouries in Leeds on 11 and 12 June 2024 on the theme "Ignite Space 2024".

The theme of the second day of the conference was "How the North of England can make the UK a Space Tech Superpower." This was a collaboration between Space Hub Yorkshire and the North East and North West Space Clusters to launch Space North, a project funded by the UK Space Agency to boost Space sector growth across the UK.

The Space North collaboration is likely to lead to many technical advances,    In The Role of Intellectual Property in Space Commerce I made the following recommendations in NIPC Cornwall which bear repetition here:

• "Unless and until they are ready to apply for a patent, they should take great care to keep sensitive documents under lock and key when not in use and to ensure that all staff, collaborators, suppliers and others do the same.
• Any sensitive information should be disclosed in confidence with the terms of the disclosure set out in writing.
• Monitor any disclosures and require the return of any documents and copies once the purpose of the disclosure has been met.
• For suitable inventions, apply for patents not just in the UK but in all important markets and in the countries of your main competitors.
• Never forget alternatives to patenting such as copyrights for software, database right, unregistered design right and trade marks for brands."

Should anyone wish to discuss this article or any of its contents, call me on +44 (0)20 7404 55252 during office hours or send me a message through my contact form.

Celebrating Barnsley's Intellectual Property on World IP Day

Joseph Bramah

 

Jane Lambert

World Intellectual Property Day is a celebration of creativity, enterprise and innovation.  Over the years Barnsley folk have demonstrated those qualities in abundance.  As for creativity, the composer John Arthur Casken, the playwright John Arden and the poet Ian McMillan came from Barnsley.  So, too, did the entrepreneur Rita Britton whose conversation I discussed in Meeting Rita Britton, a Living Legend on 9 April 2024.  But perhaps the Barnsley scion who has had the biggest impact on the world is the inventor, Joseph Bramah because he invented a device that enables large concentrations of humans to live healthily in close proximity to each other 

That device was the water closet which was Bramah's first and most famous invention but it was not his only one.   He developed a particularly secure kind of lock for which he received a patent in 1784. On the strength of that invention, he set up the Bramah Locks Company which continues to this day.  He also invented a hydraulic press the drawings of which are on Espacenet under the title "Obtaining and Applying Motive Power".  In his lifetime he received 18 patents for inventions that ranged from fire trucks to beer engines.   Wetherspoon has a pub called The Joseph Bramah at 15 Market Hill in Barnsley town centre.

Over the 20 years or so that I have been running a pro bono IP clinic at The Business Village I have seen many budding entrepreneurs and inventors.   Some I have referred to Sheffield Central Library for a patent search,  Others I have referred to product design consultants.   I have introduced several to local patent or trade mark attorneys.  On a few occasions I have helped businesses settle potentially ruinous disputes on advantageous terms at the earliest possible stage.

Barnsley's Library @ The Lightbox where I gave a presentation to local entrepreneurs entitled IP for Startups and Other SMEs in 2019. The Lightbox is part of the Business and IP Centre South Yorkshire which is itself linked to the British Library's nationwide network.  It is possible to access a lot of useful resources including Esp@cenet from the Lightbox and one-to-one interviews with experts are offered on that site.

Anyone wishing to discuss this article may call me on 020 7404 5252 during office hours or send me a message through my contact page.