Tommy Flowers Institute Partnering for a world leading knowledge economy Developing future research leaders
Tommy Flowers Institute Delivering world-class ICT research in the future will require a new breed of researcher. Because we need researchers who can collaborate confidently across multiple academic disciplines - and work seamlessly between academia and industry. That s why we in BT, along with our partners from across the ICT sector, have launched the Tommy Flowers Institute. The Institute brings the ICT industry and UK academia together to produce the research leaders of the future. These researchers will be equipped to take on the complex challenges facing the ICT sector and help our nation to enrich its world-leading knowledge economy. The Tommy Flowers Institute supports the RCUK (Research Councils UK) Research Innovate Grow ambition to make sure the UK remains the best place on the planet to do research, innovate and grow business. It also supports the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC s) accelerating impact strategy which is designed to maximise both academic excellence and impact through building wider and stronger research and training partnerships. And so any organisation that seeks to make the most from collaborative technological research or has an enthusiasm to generate new research challenges need look no further than the Tommy Flowers Institute. Located at BT s Adastral Park, the Institute is at the heart of the UK s digital ecosystem. Adastral Park combines a national operation centre, test facilities, a global R&D unit all set among a thriving industrial community. Fraser Burton BT s Head of University Partnerships
Developing ICT researchers for leadership excellence The Tommy Flowers Institute has been established to create a new breed of well-rounded ICT research leaders armed with a thorough commercial and operational perspective to complement their technical excellence. Industrial experience Our Vision Academic excellence The ultimate ambitions are significant. We want the UK economy - and the innovation sector - to benefit from a reinvigorated focus on articulating and addressing specific societal challenges. As well as developing exceptional research solutions, the institute will also contribute a new generation of outstanding research leaders, ready and able to drive the implementation of those solutions. UK policy-makers Industry and societal challenges In fact, we expect that by 2020, the Tommy Flowers Institute will be recognised as the major national centre for supporting the development of future leaders in ICT research. It will be a growth engine for the nation s ICT sector producing high calibre individuals to drive forward the UK s innovation agenda individuals who can go forward as leaders of ICT innovation. I need to know how I can make a difference with my research I want to know what the real problems are I want to test my ideas in new ways I want more options for my future career The Institute will: Create world-class research leaders who can improve the impact of research for both universities and the digital business community in the UK Partnering for a world leading knowledge economy Improve collaboration between academic research and the business community, making sure that research outcomes can be fully exploited for the benefit of the UK Focus on current ICT issues, and multi- and inter-disciplinary research, enabling rapid and effective responses to current and future industry and societal challenges I want to show I can do more I want to find who can help me get the information I need I want to work with industry more broadly Produce a steady supply of well-rounded ICT post-graduates and postdoctoral researchers with a thorough commercial and operational perspective to complement their technical excellence.
Tommy Flowers A Champion of Purposeful Innovation Tommy Flowers legacy illustrates how the combination of great minds from diverse backgrounds has far-reaching potential. The opportunity for his achievement with Colossus was made possible thanks to the work of two other men - Bill Tutte and Max Newman. Max Newman, Mathematician mechanisation Tommy Flowers, GPO Engineer Implementation Colossus Bill Tutte, Cambridge postgrad Lorenz Code Alan Turing, who broke the famous Enigma code, recognised Tommy Flowers talent and introduced him to Max Newman, a Cambridge mathematician, who at that time was creating the Heath Robinson Machine to mechanise Bill Tutte s process of breaking the Lorenz code. Flowers saw the flaws in this machine and his unique outlook led him to create Colossus, the world s first electronic, programmable computer which is credited with shortening the second world war by two years. The 2016/17 Academic Year The company is bringing together ICT doctoral and post-doctoral researchers from all over the country and developing their skills so they can become the future research leaders of excellence. The Tommy Flowers Institute schedule will align with the academic year, with conferences, internships and mentoring opportunities that fit in with university timescales. UK universities and RCUK already provide excellent research training with demonstrable industrial impact. However, more can be done to make university researchers even better suited for leading roles in industry. So the organisations supporting the Tommy Flowers Institute will focus on developing future research leaders and address the application of cutting edge concepts and technologies in the real-world Mind the gap the disconnect between academia and industry The 2014 BIS analysis paper Insights from international benchmarking of the UK science and innovation system highlights two significant shortcomings: The numbers of researchers: a large proportion of the doctorate holders (a UK strength) do not end up working as researchers; Low scores on management skills, which will limit our ability to capture economic value from science and innovation. 1905-1930 Early years and of career at the General Post Office 1930-1941 Move to Dollis Hill and becomes Head of the Switching Department 1939-1945 Code breaking activities at Bletchley Park 1943-1945 Invention of and building of the Colossus machines Developing future research leaders 1943-1998 National Secrecy Act and return to Dollis Hill 2013 Recognition at Adastral Park
Benefits for industry and academia BT is privileged to open an Institute in the honour of Tommy Flowers, dedicated to developing researchers across both academia and business to use the power of communication to make a better world. The primary beneficiaries of the Tommy Flowers Institute are the post-graduate researchers and the post-doctoral research associates, and the benefits will include: The benefits for universities and specifically for academic supervisors will include: Enhanced networking opportunities across the ICT sector Access to a set of real-world problems identified by major industry players, and government agencies Enhanced opportunities for new studentships, internships and bid support with one or more industrial partners Opportunity to attend, present and help steer regular Grand Challenge conferences Improved employability and the opportunity to maximise the commercial potential of their research by providing exposure to strategic industry challenges Commercial partner organisations of the Tommy Flowers Institute will provide researchers with an opportunity to collaborate with a highly prestigious group of ICT industry leaders. The Future Organisation How to build agility and customer focus? The Converged User Experience How to deliver the connectivity and performance required? Tommy Flowers students will have access to: Office accommodation and facilities at Adastral Park A programme of real-world lectures from industrial practitioners at the leading-edge of operations, technology and innovation Opportunities for building networks with industry players Opportunities to hear the most pressing real-world challenges and pursue placements/internships An industrial mentor to broaden commercial exposure and make introductions February 2017 The Future Organisation June 2017 The Converged User Experience September 2017 Security and Trust Strategic Industry Challenges Real world conferences Security and Trust How to empower and protect all users? The benefits for member companies and other stakeholders will also include: Access to bright minds to work on projects/real-world problems Access to future talent pool for recruitment Visibility of academic work plus ability to engage Potential for collaboration opportunities. Real strategic cross-industry questions Beyond any one academic discipline or technology Provide researchers with unique industrial exposure Offers value to all stakeholders