We have a dual focus:

1. New technologies, the industries developing around them, and the sectors on which they impact. This includes financial services as a major user and as a source of capital investment for these technologies.

2. Theoretical and practical issues to do with clusters, innovation, and entrepreneurship, on which the success of these industries rests.

The technology/business interface

The result is a Centre that bridges the technology/business interface through its concern with leading science-based sectors. Within this context we explore the key issues that exercise practitioners, policy-makers and academics, in relation to economic development and company performance.

The Centre brings together staff with common interests and a strong track record of research in the emerging technologies and sectors that are transforming societies worldwide.

Particular technologies of focus include: low carbon energy; biotechnology; telecommunications, new media, e-business (ICT); opto-electronics/photonics; and nanotechnology.

CENTIVE concentrates on the process and practice of innovation in these areas, and the entrepreneurship necessary to apply them.

Clusters

The development of new technologies and sectors has driven the growing role of clusters and much government policy is now heavily influenced by the cluster perspective.

CENTIVE is carrying out significant research into clusters and other networks, such as supply chains.