A Visit From Poland, Without the Travel

A GROUP of Polish professionals enjoyed an hour-long tour of Lutonís leading edge Innovation Centre recently, without putting a foot in a train, plane or car to get here.

They visited, thanks to exciting new technology, through which ëliveí transmission ñ with web cameras, a laptop linked to the internet and a wireless network ñ enabled the staff from the University of Technology in Gliwice in Poland, to see and hear the centre in action.

The Luton and Dunstable Innovation Centre, based at the converted Spires church building under the auspices of the University of Luton, aims to assist with the regeneration and stimulation of the local economy.

The Centre has four locations in the town, where it offers exciting opportunities to locate companies or start-up ventures within an innovative university environment and revitalise the local economy.

Innovation Centre Manager, Mike Anstey, was delighted with the success of the Polish tour. He said: ìThey were very impressed ñ we heard gasps at their end. Even we were impressed at ourselves, just because it worked so well. We are waiting for our BAFTA award now!

ìThis is low-cost technology and very exciting. Itís just one of the innovative business ideas pioneered by us here in Luton that could now help to regenerate local economies in other parts of Europe.î

Zabrze in Poland, one of the newest members of the European Union, is in an area much like Luton.

Mike explained: ìThe Polish entrepreneurs want to have their own innovation centre because, like Luton, there has been a rapid decline of a staple industry ñ in their case, mining and steel. There are high levels of unemployment and they need ways to regenerate the economy. They are keen to set up a centre to generate new businesses as we have done here.î

The wireless technology enabled a full guided tour of the outside of building, through all the floors, introducing the tenants, and explaining the work that goes on there.

Mike added: ìThey were impressed we were in a renovated church ñ it showed them they could transform any building to use for their own centre. And our low cost technology which connects us through the internet, meant we could see and talk to them in real time.î

Now the centre is helping the Polish university with their project proposals, to win funding to establish a centre.

The technology used by the Innovation Centre is part of the pioneering project Devices, funded by the DTI Phoenix Fund, which aims to help people working at home using low cost technology.

Part of the project is to establish a Telework Support Centre, to help anyone setting up or running a small business or social enterprise from home. This is due to be launched by the Innovation Centre in September. The Project was selected as one of only 26 projects nationwide to receive funding under the Phoenix Funds ëBuilding on the Bestí Awards.

For more information about the Innovation Centre, contact Mike Anstey on 01582 743739 or Lynette Warren on 01582 743735 or Sarah Leeming on 01582 743700, email innovation.centre@luton.ac.uk.