Science Cities are uniquely positioned to bring together the public, private and academic sector organisations with a place-based agenda. The Science City Bristol Annual Conference (launched in 2008) therefore provides a unique networking opportunity as well as:
- raising the profile of the initiative with local leaders;
- inputting their thoughts into the ongoing work programme;
- setting the local economy/economic strengths in a national and international context

‘Building the ‘Bristol Phenomenon’, took place at HP Labs in Filton on 18th March, it was Science City Bristol’s 2nd annual event, in conjunction with SPark (the Bristol and Bath Science Park), the Bristol Enterprise Network, the Institute of Directors and the universities of Bristol, Bath and UWE.

It brought together around 120 leaders from the public, private and academic sectors across the city region to discuss how to build the ‘Bristol Phenomenon’. There is no doubt that we are already a world-class centre for science, technology and innovation. The challenge is how to continue to strengthen our position and ensure that the image of Bristol city region reflects this reality. In the current economic climate, this becomes more important than ever.

Attendees had the opportunity to hear from leading speakers from government, industry and academia, those with experience of driving the development of city regions and leaders who have chosen to base their operations here, including Lord Drayson, Lita Nelsen MBE (Director of Technology Licensing at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT), John Manley (Director of HP Labs), Martin Aston (Director, CFMS Ltd), Richard Noble OBE, Joe McGeehan CBE (Director Toshiba Research Labs and member of the SW Science and Industry Council) and the Vice-Chancellors of the Universities of Bristol, Bath and the West of England (UWE).

The day was hosted by Dr Neville Bain, Chairman of the Institute of Directors.

Last year’s event saw presentations from Lord Sainsbury and Hermann Hauser, founder of Amadeus Capital Partners and leading light in the Cambridge Network. Feedback from the conferences have been incorporated into the work programme going forward.

Network mapping

A pilot exercise in May 2008 asked participants from the April 2008 Annual Conference to answer 2 questions about existing and desired work collaborations within the group.

The aim was to evaluate and improve connections across this group of individuals by mapping current collaboration and identifying new collaboration opportunities.

The results showed a current 12% network density, which is good for this kind of network and an appetite to increase this to 20% within the group.

It also showed us the weak points of the network – super-brokers who connect large groups of people together and without whom the network density would significantly decrease.

The pilot was conducted by the social network company, a social enterprise based a The Hub in Bristol.